Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-02-13
THEIR IMPORTANCE REALIZED.
What Two Great Newspapers Have to
Say About Good Roads

fully aroused to the importance of good
roads.
The Tribune says:
The impression is evidently spreading
that if rapid transit is good thing for
the cities, something of the sort would
not be a bad thing for the country.
Cou- ~oads were one of the subjects
81, G1,-. rT''l discussed at length
in his message of 1890 to t,,> i'i'''o'rT'
and also in his recent message. no
spoke of the unsatisfactory condition Of
most of the country roads of this state,
asserted that they were growing worse
instead of better, pointed out the causes
which contributed to their decline, and
suggested that "the state should proceed
to construct through every county two
highways running in different directions
and intersecting each other in about the
center of the county, such roads to form
a part of a complete general system"
The legislature of 1890 did not act
upon the governors suggestion The
probable cost of carrying out the gov
ernors scheme has doubtless set q great
many farmers and other conservative
taxpayers against it. Nor is it necessary
to adopt it in order to render travel in
the country much easier than it is at
present. If our existing highway laws
were properly amended the result could
not fail to be better roads. We read
that the state road commission of Penn
sylvania has prepared country road
bill for presentation to the next legisla-
ture of that state, (which will practical
ly do away with the shiftless working
out of road taxes" A measure warrant
ed to bring about the same reform in
this state is urgently needed. Writing
on this subject last year a Buffalo news
paper stated that one of the road dis
tricts of Erie county was behindhand in
its work upward of 200 days. If the
highway laws were what they ought to
be such shameful negligence, it is need
less to say, would be impossible.
Our next Legislature can render the
farmers of our state excellent practical
service by thoroughly overhauling the
highway laws. Rapid transit for the
metropolis and better transit for the
country are two pressing needs of the
hour in this state. The law makers who
supply these needs will earn the public
gratitude.
The Times says, in part
No one who has Travelled the common
highways of the Jmmonwealth will
pretend that they are as good as they
should be. No Intelligent man who
knows anything of the amount of money
levied for road taxes will even claim
that they are as good as they might be.
1t is easier, however, to ascertain and
point out the defects of our existing road
system than to devise better one, as
the present state road commission is
learning to its cost. There are so many
interests to be reconciled and so MANY
points at which township, county and
state authority come in contact, that it
is very difficult to put in force system
that shall be directed from a common
center, and quite as difficult to secure
permanent results from our present sys-
TEN, which leaves everything in the
hands of the local authorities.
There are portions of the state in
which it will always be difficult and
costly to build and maintain permanent
roads. Only in the mountainous and
limestone districts can the material for
permanent roads be found close at hand
In all other sections it must be trans
ported long distances at greater or less
cost.
The dirt roads might be made much
better than they are with very little in
crease in cost if the money Were proper
ly applied. In this direction the com
mission, and after it the legislature. can
do some good. practical work. Under
the existing law the taxpayers are left
the option of either paying their road
taxes or working them out on the high
ways. Worse than that, they can work
on the roads about when they please.
1t is needless to add that work done at
the wrong seasons might better not be
done at all.
a change in the law compelling the
payment of all road taxes in cash, or re-
quiring those who work out their taxes
to do it at the proper season and under
proper direction, would doubtless improve
the dirt roads in many sections. Specific
requirements as to the kind of work
that must be done, as we'll as the season
at which it should be done. would also
be advantageous. Under the present in
definite law, if the supervisor happens to
be good road builder he will secure
pretty fair roads, but as nine men out of
ten are not born with genius for road
building the result is about as bad as it
can well be. 1t would be good plan to
set aside a portion of the road taxes for
the purpose of making permanent road
improvements, this money to be applied
at first ON the most important highways
in each township, and extended to the
next i'll Importance as fast as possible.
No change should be made looking to
state bureau of highways. The law
should be made as rigid in its require
ments as possible, but its execution
should be left to the county and town
ship authorities. A state bureau, with
salaried officials, would only serve as an
addition to the spoils to be scrambled
for by partisan leaders. 1t might be
well enough to offer a premium in the
way of state aid to the townships and
counties that would build Il certain
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