Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-10-28

be pleased. Good roads are a conven-
ience in all communities and necessity
in many. But why should this senti-
ment, if it really exists, show itself no.
where but in the Legislature? If there
were real demand for better roads-if
the business and local pride of towns or
counties called for it-would it be long
before good roads would materialize in
various sections of the State P Mont
pelier Watchman.
If our friend of the Watchman will
come down here we shall be pleased to
show him spots outside the legislature
where the desire for better roads shows
itself and in practical way, too. He would
be obliged to confess after looking over
this region that at least a part of Addi-
son county appreciated the difference be-
tween good and bad highways and was
bound to have them if it could.
The remarks of our esteemed contem-
porary are called out by a proposition of
the St. Johnsbury Republican, that the
State build two macadamized roads-one
running from sSwanton down the
west side of the mountains to Benning-
ton and the other from Newport to Brat
tleboro. The Watchman is not particu-
larly struck with the necessity of the
proposed roads, nor is it apparent. An
other proposition, embodied in a bill
submitted by a Windsor county senator,
is that the State bond itself for 81 ,OOO,-
600. the money to be laid out for the bet
terment of the highways of the State un-
der the direction of a State engineer and
county engineers.
Both of the schemes above set forth
seem to us of questionable utility. In
certain localities there may be need for
State aid; but in the main what is want
ed most of all for the improvement of
the roads is not more money, but better
knowledge of how to expend what is
raised by the usual tax. Nor are State
and county engineers demanded. The
tendency in these days is toward CEN
tralizaton, but New England and Ver-
mont have been and are what they are
because of the absence of centralized
power They have produced first-cass
men because town and school district af-
fairs have been under the direction of
the people, who have, in conducting these
affairs, been obliged to work out the best
that was IN them. The way to get and
to have full-fledged men is not to do all
their business for them, but to let them
educate themselves by conducting their
own business.
BODYBUILDING is not a mysterious art,
revealed only to State engineers. 1t can
be learned by intelligent men such as
every Vermont community contains. Its
principles are neither numerous nor hard
to grasp; nor is it impossible for the
average highway surveyor to obtain
facility in applying these principles to
the varying soils and situations which
the State presents.
The chief things to be attained in this
road-building matter are: First, to
spread among the people comprehen-
sion of what good road is and of the
benefits of all sorts it will bring to the
community that has it, and, second, to
enlighten those having charge of the
building of roads as to the best methods
to be followed.
Unless the people are stirred up to the
advantages of improved highways the
officials charged with the care of them
can do little, for they will not be sus-
tanned in their efforts, but will be re-
legated to private life at the end of their
terms of service.
How either of the ends suggested may
be reached most effectually we cannot
undertake to say. Up to date the news
papers appear to have accomplished con-
siderable. Perhaps, if they keep up the
discussion for few years, there will be
no use for anything further.