Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-02-20
ToWNMEkrIHo DAY coNINa.


THE HIGHWAY QUESTION A. DISCUSSED rf W
EDITOR AND A COUPLE OF CTrtEEss.
OF the 10 articles contained In the var.
rant for the annual town meeting, those which
most intimately concern the comfort and CON
venienoe of every voter are the three which
relate to the highways the way they shall be
managed, and the money which shall be raised
for them. Under the law passed by the legis
lature OF 1884 the old system Of highway dis
tricts and highway surveyors is done away
with, and the entire management OF the high
ways is vested in three road commissioners,
or, 10 the failure of the towns TO elect such
commissioner in the hands Of the seleotmen.
There is also a change as to the size OF the
highway tax 10 be raised, the law now pro-
viding that the seleotmen shall assess high
way tax Of Is cents on the dollar, but II the
town votes to pay such tax in labor the tax
shall be 20 cents instead Of 10. II is not oP-
tional with the individual whether he pays 10
cents In money or 20 cents in labor. II the
town votes the money tax, IL cents on the dol
lar pays it If it votes labor tax Of 20 cents,
then the man who prefers to pay money in
stead Of working out his tax must pay 20 cents
on the dollar. In regard TO the first Of these
changes we think there is no question but
that the town should elect road commission
ers instead Of leaving the highway manage
ment in the hands of the seectmen. As re-
CARDS the second, no one will doubt for mo-
ment that tax of 10 cents paid in money is
better for real practical benefit on the roads
than tax of even 25 cents would be paid in
labor. Two correspondents discuss the high
way question elsewhere, and both Of them
have suggestions which are worth careful con-
sideration. Our own suggestion is that this
is a good time for the town to break away
from the shiftless, uncertain and Improbable
methods under which the highways have been
managed in the past, and adopt some definite
system which it means to adhere to. The
trouble in the past has been-not that there
has not been money enough e1pended-but
that there has not been a settled policy in the
management of the highways, and those who
have bad them in charge have gone on q
make-shift, hand to- mouth basis which ia the
end leaves nothing to show for the money ex-
pended. We would be willing to see our
highway management vested in the control
Of a single agent for the next ten years, pro-
vided only that he should be competent for
the place, that he have some definite policy,
and that he have something to show for his
work and money when his term is through.
We want to get rid Of the cradle-holes in
! Main street and the water bars on High street
hill We want to get rid of the mud hole
which, in spring and fall, reaches from the
new bank building to Asylum street. This
village wants, and should insist on having,
some benefit Of the highway money, which It
pays with liberal hand, in the shape OF ex.
tended and permanently improved sidewa
| The subject is one which should be thorough
| ly discussed and understood, both before the
town meeting and in the meeting. We shall
be glad TO open our next weeks paper 10 its
| discussion, provided only that the articles be
short and to the point
WHAT COL. FULLER THINKS.
Mr.. Editor The Law approved Nov
20, 1884, abolishes the office of highway sur
veyor and makes it obligatory upon towns to
elect street commissioners to have charge OF
highways, or else the work falls upon the Sc
lectmen, but towns may II they choose enter
| into contract with responsible parties to keep
! the roads in repair. / do not think the
changes in the law, abolishing highway sur.
veyors, etc, are generally understood, and
| believe that a fair discussion Of TIE best
methods Of keeping the roads in repair will
be OF benefit. Two years ago motion was
! made authorizing the selectmen to purchase
a stone crusher Last year vote was passed
which should have compelled the selectmen
to have bought one Certainly the town so
directed and ;he selectmen had no discretion
but somehow they have grown bigger than
the town, and declared by their action that
the town has no voice in the management Of
its own affairs.
BY the change in the law the selectmen be-
come highway surveyors collectors, treasurers
and liquor agents II there are any other town
Offices left not filed by them, they are Of so
little consequence that practically the select
men have the entire swing. Under these
circumstances, If the citizens Of this village
desire the extension Of good sidewalks and
decent roads, at a moderate price, they want
to look after the matter before town meeting
day, as they will Rrowl about it afterwards.
L. X. FULLER
SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS
Our annual March meeting is at hand
and many matters OF importance must be
acted upon. The last legislature in their acts
dispensed with the office of highway survey
or, and under the present law the money
must be expended by the selectmen or road
( commissioners, who must be elected by the
legal voters of the town at their annual March
meeting. Without rejecting on the past sys-
ten or the men that have expended our mon
ey, we make the following suggestions Let
highway districts Nos. and 3 (this villaee)
be united. Let man be elected commits
sioner who understands building and keep
ing in repair roads. 1t is not necessary that
he should have diploma or understand the
weather signals. 1t is not necessary that he
should use the shovel and pick himself. But
1t is necessary he should be on the ground
himself all the time. Let the town buy suf.
fcient OK teams TO do the work, selling them
when the season is through. They can be so
cared for as not 10 suffer loss they will per-
| form as much labor as an equal number Of
horses, and at a greatly reduced expense.
The town reports Of 1875, &c and II show
the result The labor cost not to exceed Z L
per day. The teams should be fed at noon
on the work if the stable is far away.
TAXPAYER.
| THE REcoRD MATCH At oAE apovr y.vov