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

other Speakers Take Part in IN Inter
citing Discussion.
The Chttenden county convention OF the
State League for Good Roads was called to
order in the y. NJ. c. A. hall In this city
Friday morning at 10 O'Clock by Mr..
N. E. Clifford of Shelburpe, the county
member OF the directory. He asked for a
nomination Of scme one to serve chair
man OF the meeting, and upon motion of Gen.
r. S. Peck, ex-Lieut. Gov. Woodbury. OF
this city was elected to the position.
Col Woodbury. said that lie understood
that the object Of the meeting was to
slider the advsabiity Of good roads IL was
a matter to which he had not given much
thought but, like most people, he liked good
roads, the movement for which seemed quite
general in this State Leading people and
members of the last Legislature were con-
sidering the subject. Burlington, he
thought, ought to be willing to contribute
for the building OF roads other than her
own, similarity rs she does under the pro.
visions Of the school law, under which the
city pays $4,000 more than is received in
return. The people of the Queen City were
us much interested in tho construction OF
good roads as the people OF any locality in
the State. lie would not weary them with
u SpSCCu, uub WOulu await inc pleasure Oh
the convention. a. Armagnac was chosen
secretary.
No programme having been prepared, it
was proposed to devote the remainder OF
the forenoon session to discussion, but Sen
Rtor Sanford thought it better time to
discuss the question after the papers had
been read aud Gov. Fuller was called for.
In introducing Gov. Fuller, Col. Woodbury.
said that not only in this but every good
object in which Vermont was interested tho
governor had given much OF his time and
money. Gov. Fuller was greeted with ap-
plause as he took position upon the plat
form. lie said tho iect divided itself
into four branches. The agitation had to
go along through the educational and engi
neering stages before we could hope to go
ahead and build good roads. lie had chosen
to speak generally upon the subject SO as to
give ample opportunity for discussion
He became Interested in good roads about
dozen years ago when two residents of
Brattleboro circulated petition for the i'm
provemont Of the sidewalks throughout ths
town. The question was taken into town
meeting, and for several years the battle
was carried on, the progressive element
winning every time until now there were 10
miles Of excellent sidewalks and several
miles OF smooth roadway in that town, and
public sentiment had advanced SO for that
complete plant for modern road making
had been purchased and put in operation. "
This movement" said the governor, sis
widespread the agitation is extensive ard
there is hardly State in the Union but
that is feeling the effects of an awakened
conscience as to public needs end benefits.
Occasionally, there will be found those who
prefer the sand mud, ruts and rolling
stones of some localities to the smooth plat
form which Metcalfe, Telford and Mac
Adam have shown can be built and
maintained at n much less expense
if q given number Of years Is taken into
consideration, than the present cost OF good
roads. And yet to bring about an era Of
successful road making the whole subject
must be gone over, starting from the point
OF agitation, taking it through all Of its va
rioHs stages unsil we reach final success.
Prof. Shaer of the Lawrence Scientific
school Of Harvard, and chairman of tho
Massachusetts, highway commission, ap-
pointed to consider the whole question OF
highways il. that State, says: Judged by
the standard of our local ways, America as
whole must be regarded as the least ad-
vanced of ell countries which are common
ly classed civilized. -
Gov. Fuller then quoted other eminent
authorities AMI told the novel way by
which the Massachusetts commission OBJ
tanned the true condition of the roads of
that State. When it was undertaken to
discuss the roads of any particular town
they found that the people were sensitive,
disliked to have the present order OF things
disturbed-they do not know who will be at
fccted-w whether it cost less or more, in
fact they would prefer that you would talk
about the roads of some other locality than
their own. The state OF things was the same
in Vermont He referred to the differ
ent kinds of roads found by the
commission. In the town of Monterey,
Mass, some figures were given of the roads
there as follows: Width OF road, 10 feet ;
Travelled way, - feet grade, nearly level;
material, sand; sides, slope up from the
gutter CUTTERS right inches deep, left
4 inches deep; surface crowned, in
ches soft, loose sand with ruts Il
inches deep. This road was in the best con-
dition it had been in years at that In
Greenfield where they have purchased a
mscadamazing plant aud have already built
considerable new road the cost OF maintain
ing the highway was 'sl76 per mile.
Other statistics OF road msintainance for
other Massachusetts towns was given and
in one the cost as low as S.. 20 per mile.
Starting out then with some Of the simpler
facts Involved in road-making let us assume
that desirable highway should have hard,
smooth and even surface, that will carry
the wheels of our vehicles with the least
friction. part of our difficulty lies in the
American idea of wide roads, too wide over
to be worked or used, so that the sides OF
the road become the breeding place o.
weeds.
| recognize tbs fact that at present it Is
not possible to macadamizs all OF our high
ways, and that whoever would add Il SO
luton OF tue case must present some eco
nomical system WITH the dirt roads a
they are to-day must secure hard anC
even surface which eau be done by plough
ing, draining auu then scraping into proper
form and rolling into shape, and if steam
roller is at hand a surface can be so com
pacted aud at a minimum of cost, that tn
outlying districts OF our larger towns cal
be made to answer a fair purpose until the,
can be replaced with broken stone
Gov. Fuller next read statement of
gentleman in New Jersey as to the method
pursued by him in road making.