Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-04-05
VERMONT'S ROAD LAW.


Naiuhplc SuSEesbohN'
1t is generally conceded that Nermonts
new road law is step in the right direction,
but that the people are not yet receiving the
degree of benefit from the large sums an
nually expended on our highways which
ought to result thnrefrom, is evident. With
the view of obtaining some idea for the
benefit of the coming legislature as well rs
our people in general Of the defects of the
present law, and securing sugges-
tions for the improvement of our
present road system the FREE PRESS few
weeks since sent circular letter Of inquiry
TO a prominent resident in each town. The
following questions were asked.
|. What j, the prevailing opinion in your
town regarding the merits of the new road law
>. What objections to the road law are raised
by other people in your town.
g. What, in your opinion, are the chief de-
fccts of the road law now in operation;
!. What changes in the road law would YOU
& Would you favor the change from the
State to the county method of distributing the
| proceeds OF the per cent tax
u. DO you think il would be advisable to
| have n practical road builder as supervisor or
instructor in each county, as we have suggest
| ed
We have received n number of replies,
many OF which contain valuable suggestions,
and we trust that the people Of the State
will derive some benefit from these letters
which we shall publish day by day, Two
letters in which our readers will be particu-
larly interested, are as follows:
HON. VICTOR l. SPEAR OF BRAINTREE.
Many have given this question of road
building more thought and study than /
have, though | should dislike to yield to
any in a sincere desire to attain the best
methods and consequently the best results in
our highway work Answering your ques-
tons in their order | will say:
/. There is general feeling of app oval
of the law in this town SO far as my observ
alton goes.
>. | have heard of no specific objections.
Some quite likely would prefer to work their
tax rather then pay in money.
,. In my Judgment the chief defect in
the present law is that IL is not definite
enough in its provisions.
!. ] would recommend that towns be re-
qured to keep a separate account of the
| funds received from the State, and to ex-
pend this money in repairs of IA permanent
nature-not necessarily i'll stone roads but
in improving grades, putting i'll culverts,
drawing road bed or some work that will
render the road permanently better.
D. ! do not think change from
State to county in distributing the
! funds would lie desirable In our State the
county is a division of small Importance as
compared with either the State or town.
The same line of arguments which would
favor the county method would, if followed
| out, bring the matter back to the town.
do not think any radical change should be
made until it has had IA more thorough trial.
| The danger that threatens any new depart
| IRE is that il will be changed SO often that its
features lack fair trial | think the pres
| ent law should be modified and perfected
as far as possible and run another two
| years before any radical change is under
| taken.
| q, Much might be gained by securing
the services Of competent road builder
| to oversee the work of the commissioners,
and more uniform system would result.
| Even meeting Of the commissioners in a
| county for a two days session once a year
in which the various features of road build
| ing should be discussed would do much in
| the same direction and would be worth more
| than it would cost. Papers could be pro
yided for Mt these meetings by competent
road builders if desired.
| This, | think, includes all the inquiries and
may serve to keep up the discussion.
Yours truly,
| V. |. SPEAR.
| DIR. II. II. MINTYRE OF WEST RANDOLPH.
The road law of 1892 was long step in the