Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-11-27
VERMONT'S RESOURCES.
GOOD PUBLIC HIGHWAYS
An Important Means for their Devel.
Opment.

4
professional Club by Hon. James VI.
tyler.
Judge Tylers paper opened with an al
usion TO the importance of the farming in
tercst, and to the intimate way in which
the prosperity of every other business in
trrcst is dependent upon the general state
Of thrift and prosperity in the agricultural
districts. For a hundred years Vermont |
has held high rank in the sisterhood of |
states on account of the character of her |
people. The natural resources of the |
state in her deposits of slate, limestone, |
granite and marble are very great, and she |
IS unsurpassed in the healthfulness of her |
climate and the beauty of her scenery. In |
some portions of the state-as along the
river bottoms and on the shores of Lake
Champlain-the fertility and productive
ness of the soil are not anywhere surpassed.
Many of her hill farms are of excellent fer
tility But while the advantages of seem
rly. climate, pure water, water powers and
generally good soil are ours, the fact is UNI
dpniable that in districts remote from viii
lagos. upon the hills and along the mount
ain slopes, there are many farms that have
fallen out of cultivation and are properly
called deserted. In many cases the process
leading to this state of things has been
very marked The reasons for it are va
red, but foremost among them is the fact
that many of these lands, now fallen into
disuse. never should have been used for
purposes of cultivation. Nature did not
design them for any such use, and the won
der is that the mistake was not sooner dis
covered. Admitting the decline in pros
perity, in the value of property, and in
population in the rural districts, and after
making every allowance and explanation,
the question which remains is, how can
fuller development be given to the agricult-
ural and other resources of the state?
How can we develop an increased attract
ivcncss so as to offer greater inducements
to our own people to remain at home, and
to citizens of other states to become per-
manent or at least summer residents among
us?
Public Highways.
An obvious means of developing the state
is bv having it traversed by the best prac-
tcable public highways. During the last
so years the people of this country have
been intensely engaged in building rail
roads and perfecting their railway systems,
which now surpass all others in the world.
In the meantime the common country
roads, the medium of communication for
every class of people, and especially for
the farmer, in going to mill, to market and
to meeting-thOse most important links
that bind communities and even states to-
gether-are sadly neglected. Not in all
localities, but generally, and as systems
having in view the best interests of the
people. they are neglected. All the farms
cannot be near the limits of villages and
cities. Most of them must be remote,
II, IL a
that the best highways practicable should
reach out from the business centres into
the agricultural districts. No more effect
ual means could be employed by towns
that are from their location centres of trade
to cultivate and increase their business anC
promote their own interests, than by invit
ing the farming population to them by easy
and attractive roads. Take our own case
for instance The main roads leading t
the surrounding towns should be made 81
rood that the traveller would know by it
quality when he struck a road leading t.
Brattleboro, Just as the roads were recog
nized that led to ancient Rome.
The best roads ever built were those o
the Romans. They were made of block
Of stone laid in mortar, with heavy sion
foundations underneath, and were con
structed with such care and skill that POI
tions of them still remain. They were eH
pensive, but their permanence proves thei
economy.
Travellers are always impressed with tn
character of the English country roads
During the first third of this century En-!
land gave much attention to repairing Int
public roads under the superintendent {
John Macadam. 1t is said that 25,Ot
miles of country road were improved |
him and attested his skill as a road builde
Most of the European states have adopte
the system of building state roads throug
the rural districts. France, whose roa'
surpass even those of England, has thr'
systems-frst, the great national highway
second, the principal roads radiating fro
them into all the departments or state
and third, the township roads. In our oW
country the building of highways by Il
government would be impracticable, tn
being a duty or privilege which pertain
peculiarly to state rights.
Recently this subject has come into gre
prominence in several states. In Ne
York road improvement association h
been organized, whose purpose is to pr
mote system of country roads througho
the state under the authority and supery
ion of the state. The legislature OF 10
was asked for 10000, 900 to be used in u
way, the agricultural districts to bear Oh
their proportionate share of the eXpen'
The plan is that each county shall &C
Struct and maintain two principal coul
roads that shall intersect near the cent
and that the county roads OF each coul
shall connect with like roads in each
joining county. In New Jersey an ent
prise has been inaugurated which conte
plates the construction of two state rof
to ntersect as near the centre OF the 81
as possible at an estimated cost OF S2,OC
600 or 100000. Union county in u
state has just built 40 miles of road, gu
tering the county, at cost OF 9lu,OV
mile 50 for each person in the county,
the investment has proven good one.
The Kentucky roads are said to be
best in the country, with the possible
ception of the suburban roads near Bost
Their general features are that the CEN
or main track is macadamized, slgl
arched, and designed only for heavy tea
while there are side tracks for lighter u
el. These roads are divided into sectl
of five miles EACH which are gone q
every working day by competent supe
tcndents. AlusiOn was made to the
tom which exists in England OF break
stone by hand and placing it i'll piles
convenient points near the roadsldes
readiness for immediate use when wal
for repairs.
In the states named and others WI
movements for better roads have been
augurated, the interests of the tall
4. Al. g.tfW IN