Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-02-16

mile on Its highways Gov. Barstow
thought if it was not advisable for us TO
build stone roads now the less said about it
the better. a recess was taken ut II 40
till 2 O'Clock. Tho attendance was not so
large as expected at the opening of the con-
vention, but many farmers from surround
ing towns came in during the course of the
session aud at adjournment the hall was
well filed.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Chairman Woodbury. called the afternoon
session to order at 2 o'clock and introduced
Col. g. w. Hooker of Brattleboro as the
first speaker. Col Hooker began by telling
what had been done in his own town
| within the past two years in the way of
road Improvement The town wa, divided
into sections; every looss stone was taken
out of the highways every two weeks
throughout the township and every week in
the village; the cost is 30 cents an hour for
n man, horse and cart this one thing will
do much toward Keeping roads in good re-
pair Col. Hooker then read extracts from
the road commissioners report to the
, taxpayers Of Brnttloboro, saying that what
| was good for that town was good for all
other towns in the State. Starting with ar
appropriation of $4,000, something over
| $4,000 was spent in buying machinery aad
land on which 10 place it. Fifty TO 10 cents
u ton is paid for field stone which is better
| and cheaper than crashed stone taken from
| a ledge. The money paid Tor the stone is
| all kept in the town. Earth roads are never
satisfactory in tns long run. The dirt
wears out and in dry weather the roads are
dusty, end in wet weather they are muddy.
| MacGlam roads are not now The only
changes are in methods and means OF arrv
! 4 IL. .,,l,.,a IS
crushed or rubb'e stone, packed with u
heavy roller MAKES the best road. The
grade must be always borne ia mind. After
the excavation is made aud the foundation
is laid keep the roller going until the road
bed is packed hard and all dcpressions are
| filed up. Exercise as much care with the
| foundation as with tho top Three
inches of No. 2 stone should next be
| put and then one inch OF No.
3 stone, !. e., stone which will pass
! through one inch ring. The whole should
he rolled until it will support water. A
mile of - foot roadway built in thi, WAY
! costs in Brattleboro S3035 A - foot road
way wouli cost $3llS. Under more favor
able conditions perfect - foot macadam
road could be built for $500. But all
roads cannot be macadamlzed because OF
the expense and intelligence should be exer-
ci;eI in other kinds OF repairs. Cut down
the bills as fast as possible; replace wooden
| bridges with stone structures; when the
stone is near by the stone bridge can often
| be Quit for lese money than
would be necessary to repair the
old structure and the need OF constant
renewals will be done away With; the work
OF repairs should be kept up constantly
from early spring to early winter; much
depends on the tools used; make tho sec
tons decided on for Improvement as long
| as possible to avoid the energy lost in turn
ing around employ system in all the
work; build culverts Deep excavats muddy
places and build up from the bottom instead
of throwing stones into the mudhoie: a
small gang of men will work to better ed
vantage than large gang; business tact and
business methods are needed in the con
struction OF good roads Got the best men
| 10 your towns tor road commissioners under
| the new law.
j. o. Sanford Of Stamford, the member
| of the Board of Agriculture who has made
the subject of roads n special study, was
next introduced MIR. Sanford said that
tho State was under Obligations to Gov
eruor Fuller for his active interest in the
matter of good roads, Ths speaker thought
that the five cont tax from the State should
~
tax aud expended in permanent improve
ments. He gave some instances of foolish
expenditures is road building in severa
towns of the State. Stop temporary re-
pairing get rid OF the water bars; conduc,
the water down until it is necessary to build
culvert; get the water under instead Of
on the road; keep up the agitation.
Col. Woodbury. called up G. Ii. Peck Of
Hinesburgh. Mr.. Peck spoke Of the neces-
sity of selecting good men for road commits
sioners. 1t had been intimated that we
could not make permane roads. 1t struck
him if We were going to instruct and
educate the people we should make piece
OF permanent road every year.
President Buckham, who spoke next, so i'd
that the instructors OF the university had
foreseen that this kind OF agitation was
coming
The University had been educating men
for this work and as Gov. Fuller had said
that there were only 80 competent road
mekers in the United States, he would have
! to claim 20 per cent of that numbsr for the
University Of Vermont. All must be con
WINGED by the statements made by the
speakers that road making was a science.
1t WAS very easy to expend great amount
of money on roads uselessly.
Col. Woodbury. thought it was good
time to hear from one Of the educated road
makers OF the university aud asked Mr.
Hayford of the senior class, for instruction
upon the subject He related the way som
towns waste money endeavoring to repair
the highways. He informed his nearer
that the university ranks second in this de-
partment among all the colleges of the coun
try.
Mr. j. H. Holton of this city, who wa
called on, was glad this issue ha
been taken up and he though
the most enduring monument tina
would ever be erected to Governo
5 Fuller's memory as chief executive of Yer
mont would be his pressing forward tn
= Importance Of having and sustaining goo
roads. He tapped his fountain of storis
4 and found attentive listeners and announce
that he would be pleased to get money t
defray the expenses of the meeting, whic
were $l5.
A gentleman from South Burlington
without rising 10 his feet, at once move
that the governor pay 1t and charge it t
5 the State. Chairman Woodbury. conclude
that the gentleman was speaking facetiousl