Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1875-03-25
BREAKING OUT ROADS.

Nearly Every Vermont man knows
what this means. AS the SHOWS Of our
long winters fall, they are heapedup by
the winds ard create a most serious OBJ
structiou 10 travel upon the highways.
A larger expenditure is often required 10
keep the roads open in country towns in
the winter, than TO make the needed re-
pairs upon them through the rest.0f the
year. The reports which come to us of
the late March meetings, show that
much angry discussion has been had in
many towns over the bills which have
been presentrd for breaking out roads
In the good old times when every far
mer kept a yoke Of oxen and several
pairs Of steers. 1t was considered about
as good fun as the season afforded to
hitch them all together, beginning with
those at the end of the district and add
ing to the, team from Barn To- barn, unut
all the men and boys on the road To, the
village, with all their oxen and steers,
were mustered in, and not forgetting to
stop for the drink of good old Vermont
cider at every house, drive with great
gusto through the main street in the VIII
lage, rs far at least as to the post office
No one in those days thought Of charg-
ing ANYTHING TO the town for q half
DAYS work, or rather sport, Of this
kind, any more than for day spent in
going To the June training. These far
mer's had no thought of allowing them
selves to be blocked up at home in a
"tumuhuOus privacy of storm. They
liked to break out roads so wellin those
days, that they even. located their roads
across the tops of hills, where they could
get the full force of the wind. and its
obstrnc,ing effects, Instead Of winding
around the sides of the hills, or seeking
some valley route beneath The shelter
ing forest. But now, either because
there are less boys at home to do this
work and enjoy the fun, or because OF the
prevailing custom for every one Il
charge for all public services, it i be
coming 8 serious matter to keep th'
roads open during the winter without {
great expense. it is not easy to recon
mend any change in the primitive prac
tees of our fathers Of positive value, bu
some reforms in the present method
NAV be suggested. Where it is not pos
sible, by skilful engineering, to proven
the exposure Of some section OF roa
to drifting SHOWS, the obstruction
should be removed and the wind give
free course, so that the snow will pas
over the road or else, on the windwar
side q barrier should be erected sufflcieI
tn exclude its entrance within the limi
of the road. Sometimes in exposed pos
lions all trouble has been removed, Z
rather prevented, by widening the roa
and drawing back the fences or /
constructing them of some open-Wol
pattern,- or better still, of wire, and thu
obviating all Accommodations OF snoH
Much may tie accomplished by tn
common sense legislation by allowiI
highway surveyors to take down befo
winter those fences by the roadsi
which only serve to admit and retain 8
most impossible drifts.
1t is a good plan, early in the seaso
to select the exact line to be trayele
and mark it ont by stakes or eVergre
bOughs, and then adhere to this ii
through the winter The route,
course, should alwaysbe within the hie
way limits as straight and direct as pt
sible. Then we know Of no better W
than to keep always above the sno
tread it under foot, press it down
heavy weights, and make the foundati
as solid and substantial as possible. I
Oldest method OF all, of digging CHI
nel.through tho snow, either by ren(
iar it or forcing it out on either side
s,lue sort of snow pillow, generally Il
To give satisfactory results.
But one of The best things to be do
Ia Prevent these snow drifts in the w
ter, andio increase the attractions
our country roads in the summer, is
planttna Of trees by the roadsiaes.
thick row of eyergreens, spruces. 2
hemloc1s, on the windwards side. OF
roads. iaexposed sections, would $
out the wind and make the roads wa
er. and prevent obstructing drifts:
the citizens should make a beginnins
setting out these trees, and add II
wear to veal, to the numberit would no
long before our Vermont roads would
protected from drifting SHOWS. This &C