The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-08-26
CORRESPONDENCE.
The Road Question.

Mr.. Editor.-That knowledge is
Power" is true as it is trite. AS applied
to the road question it means that some
way should be provided by means of
which our highways should compare
favorably in efficiency with the advance
made in other means of communication.
In 1910 the stage coach and canal boat
furnished the necessary means of COM
munication with the Western part of
New York and Ohio and the great North
west Territory. To-day it is the loco
motive and steamboat. In 1910 it was
the old cumbersome Concord wagon
(thorough brace). In 1892 it is the light
spring wagon.
In the matter of roads l see that some
OF the enterPriaing lumbermen of Ben
nington county who have To uainuaiII
their own roads understand the advisa-
bility of looking into the future some
what, for they are laying roads that
with little repairing will last many years
and that no amount of rain or frost can
disturb. In the days of the great Roman
Empire it was said that ''all roads lead
TO Rome" and to-day some of those
roads are still in use, monuments alike to
the engineering skill and the greatness
of the Roman Empire.
1t was by means of these roads that
Julius Caesar was able to cope with the
hordes of Northern Barbarians of which
he speaks in his history of the wars in
Gaul and Gormania.
This part of Vermont in which we live
is the very garden of the State for sum-
mer tourists AID boarders. Being as it
is, only six hours ride from New York
CITY and much nearer to many other
| large towns and smaller cities, 1T remains
| with the citizens of this part of Yer
mont to say whether they will so i'm
prove the condition of the highways as
| to add special comforts of travelling to
! the natural beauty and grandeur of the
scenery and secure for themselves at all
| times of the year easier travelling and an
ability to haul larger loads to the depot
| and to neighboring towns to the markets.
| | frequently meet people who come to
| Vermont for a portion of the summer
| and criticisms hear are not directed TO
the natural beauties of scenery and so
| forth but conveniences in general and
the highways IN particular. A gentle
! man from abroad recently remarked to a
friend OF mine that the only thing that
hindered New England from being the
very Paradise of the tourist and pleasure
seeker was the condition of the roads,
which in most places made life burden
rather than rest and comfort. l am
pleased to note that some of our people
are beginning to wake up to the fact that
| something must be done and that right
away, or this part of Vermont will lose
what it might have, almost without the
asking.
At this writing the roads in town are
| in exceptionally good condition but far
very far from the ideal. An advance
ment in this or any direction can not
be made until the matter is brought to
the attention of the public and those
most interested.
Would it be matter of any impor-
tance to Arlington, SALISBURY or Sum
derland if they were to entertain at a
good price twenty families each with
their horses and carriages and all that
that implies? These are things that
wish to call to the attention of thinking
men and women in these towns.
know where there is a hotel proper.
ty that at the present time does not pay
the owners one per cent, which if there
was a good road leading to ii could east
ly pay 100 per cent at the present valua-
ton.
Our teamsters, farmers and gentlemen
of leisure will for the most part vote the
lowest possible sum for improving the
highways and then blame the road mas
ter for the work done. The road master
is not civil engineer. 1t is rarely tha
you find one who has any idea of the
value of different kinds of soil or grave
for making the best road in a giver
place. For this reason then, If We are Il
have the best roads possible here in Yer
mont something must be done either h
inform people in general, or the town
county or State must take hold of tn,
matter and as do the railroads secur
the very best engineering skill possible
that can bring to the work a knowledg
that will make it power.
Il. R. CLARK, N. d.