Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-09-29
GREEN MOUNTAIN FREEMAN
Hamage on the Highway.

Elul1Tt OH tne HIGHWAY.
Here. in Vermont, we have taxes in
creased enormously some years by dam
.,,,r ON the highway. Men and women
w,lkinc. riding in sleighs, wagons OF carts
,.mb!r. Slip OF fall, and everything that
: piurel must be paid for by the town.
nj the amount claimed is usually fal
.I, v, HE damage suffered. In these
inns no omissions are made; hOr- es
HARNESSES. vehicle loading. body, and cloth
-u,, Of person, if damaged, must be paid
tor. Many of these claims for damage ar
-, uur, a>onabc and eXorbitant that when
they 20 before the courts, they are closely
contested. 1t is Il common saying that
town, always get beaten in such cases and
such is usually the result. 1t often hap
pens hat when a person Is injured, the
!,rm j useless, or the leg has a limp OF
LrIplc,,ncss, until verdict is rendered
wien A speedy recovery is the result
Within Il few years this town has paid
about 5000 for such injuries other towns
have. paid more, and one town has claims
:oa;nst it for So, 900 for damages received
on the highways. The evil is so great that
several toWns instructed their representa-
tiyrS to try to secure the passage of Il law
ea!irinr all persons to use the highway
ana bridges of the state ut their own risk
Such a bill was introduced, but am in
formed that lawyers were opposed TO ii
and ii did not pass. All persons are well
aware that there was Il time when there
were no roads The early settlers fOrled
streams, and passed over or around OBJ
,truc;ion, in he most careful manner t.
reach ;hrir homes in the Wilderness They
had no thought that any one could or would
pay them anything if their sled CT cart
wa, broken in the journey. As fast a
mean, would allow. the roads were i'm
proved. and those most used received tn,
mot labor Now there are many roads
anon. the hills and mountains that ar
very rough, while those near the village
are tolerablv smooth and level.
Now the tendency is to light wagons
slrigh- and harnesses. ana drive rapidly.
and if ANYTHING breaks. or if the driver j.
th!pwn. the town is required to pay, not
onlv the rcal damage, but in many case,
exemplary damages. The town taN'
p3yrr- .Ie mostly farmers. The men who
work the roads are also farmers; they OWL
tine team and tools and have the strength
10 l.~r .hem. Farmers made the first road,
of tn, state or their own Use, and improve
t!cu every wear Tor their better accommo-
,,tion. and law, thaJ tend to keep pun
l-hmcn. or PENALTY of great severity hang
ing over the farmers heads must and will
be- rrpca.cl The farmers work upon then
farms with colts. steers, and all sorts o
teams and loads, without any roads
and with few accidents. They desire tina
the good roads they make be used Will
reasonable care by everybody who please:
t. u~c them, and they Will tax themselves
every year to keep the roads in repair
IucIc the responsibility must cease. There
viii hc dark nights, drunken drivers
frightened horses, weak carriages and har
n,~-,-,. ;,nd general >ma>h-ul>, but farmer
must hrtxcu>td from liahility,and i'll tutur'
the wonder Y i'll be- that towns bore the III
fiction Of claims ana suits for damages, :,
the, have done the past ten years II. T.
.itt,,.u. in Nttc Enyhfud ftruler.