Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-10-13

| Congress TO adjust the whole matter. !
should come short OF my duty were to
omit to accord Il large measure Of credit Tor
tho favorable outcome of this matter to
Hon. H. Henry Powell who as state auditor
gave to It's adjustment large amount OF
patient, pains-tnking labor.
IMPROVEMENT IN HIGHWAYS.
There is and should be u healthy public
sentiment in opposition to creating new of
flcss Of any kind to be supported out of the
public treasury, and dislike very much TO
urge upon you any course conflicting with
this sentiment but believe the time has
arrived in the history of the State when the
question Of improved roads should receive
a measure OF attention not hitherto accord
ed to it, Some OF our sister States have
deemed tue subject OF highways of sufficient
Importance to warrant tho expense OF
/ State engineer whose duty it ia TO counsel
with aud advise the road commissioners Of
the different towns upon this important
topic [ think / am justified in saying that
the needless waste OF tho peoples money IN
the department Of highways is larger by
far than in any other branch OF public eX-
/ pcnse and warrants n careful investigation
ut your hands. Whether you will think 1t
wise to appoint supervising engineer or
simply to appoint a commission to inVesu-
gate the subject and report at the next Sos
sion of the Legislature with reference to
roads, your Own good Judgment will die
tnte. But whatever course you may deem
it wise to pursue, earnestly advise that
YOU take some decisive action at this Bessiun
looking toward an improved condition OF
our roads
10 is evident that the prosperity Q! cur
State is retarded by the lax aud unsatisfac-
y. IiCb nreVnils a large
aiority of the towns. Nearly all OF our
sister common ea!ths are moving ia this
/ matter while it is asserted 10y many that
Vermont is positively on the retrogrado
THE is not sound economy or wise policy.
1t is penny wise aud pound foolish for Yer
mont, which is to-day entering, as | believe,
upoa a new era OF prosperity, 10 turn a
deaf ear to the increasing demands of com
fort aud commerce by neglecting to pro
vide for better system of highways. !
hope you will adopt broad minded and
liberal policy in dealing with this most i'm
portant -ubec
DEVISED EO~rEE.
BY the authority Of an act approved
November 26, lSc9, there has been prepar-
ed, under the supervision of the adjutnnt
and Inspector general, revised roft'r of
all tue troops furnished 10y Vermont ia the
wax oA Tue 'eDe'llon' ~ mas oeen an eN''u
s'Fe an" la'ot'ou' WORK, nUv IL nus eo'''oI-
Gu a muiti'uue Oh errors an" n'u 'ne %
DIeh none oINer IMAM Tue COZ lec',ou u io'
ncr reports relative to deserters from Yer
mont fc,,ments the volume would be
worth its entire cost. In the valuable re
ports of Adjutant General Wash6urn, made
during the tendency OF the conflict, missing
soldiers were often entered upon the roll as
desorters, while subsequent evidence dlS"ios-
es the fact that they had been taken prison
ers and had met thGt fate which so many
northern soldiers suffered in the prison pens
Of Andersonvilie ana Salisbury. In other
cases the Simple error Of entering the word
"dcscrter' upon the wrong line il the
muster roll had placed that helnous oiiense
to the charge OF the soldier VINO would have
surrendered his life a hundred times rather
than been guilty Of the alleged crime.
You will have the volume before you for
inspection. 1t is credit both 10 AdJuJau'
General Peck and to our State Its publ
cation has been an act of simple justice te
tho soldier, Il Id in coming years II Will be