Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-26
THURSDAYS SESSIONS.
]. Ware on Good Roads.

The Thursday morning session opened
with an interesting address by John II.
Ware of Townshend, who said that the
good roads of a country are a measure and
u promoter of civilization. The cost of
transportation is in many cases a great
burden 10 farmers few miles from mar
ket. Good roads have more than a COM
mercial value, facilitating travel and con-
ducing to the comfort and pleasure of the
traveller. They are of special benefit to
country towns, increasing the value of
real estate. This is an age of improve
ment and we should not be satisfied with
the methods of our fathers. The highway
law of 1892 is step forward, and has
done much toward improving roads at a
lower cost. A well-qualiied road agent is
worth 100 per cent more than an incompe-
tent one. The conditions will be improved
as men become better acquainted with
proper methods of road building. The
state levies tax of 5 per cent 10 be APP
piled to permanent repairs. Commits
sioners of this state should adopt the plan
of building one mile sections of permanent.
road, to be finally united into continuous
roads of the best kind.
In the past, at least one half of the high
way appropriations have been wasted
After planting, all the farmers in a school
district would turn out for a general holi-
day and FIX the roads. All had a good
time, the old, the young, lame, halt and
blind were there, and with lemonade and
cider the time was put in. This system
made little permanent improvement in our
roads. The new plan is vastly more eff
fectual and economical. Each man has
his part of the work and has the knowl-
cd 10 md tnnls fnr la
ecution of his work. Roads should be re-
paired as soon as the frost is out of the
ground so that the people may have the
benefit of the work. Section men are rec
commended to care for contingent damage
in the same way as provided by railroad
companies.
If money should be expended today in
the manner in vogue Is years ago the COM
missioner would be considered a proper
candidate for the insane asylum. Put as
much as possible into permanent improve
ments. A great many of our hill roads
have dispensed with water bars, but these
are often necessary, and if properly made
are not Objectionable. Understanding
with tile will often be practicable and
avoid the construction of water bars.
Roads should be kept in good condition at
all times.
J. o. FOlIett ON Culverts and Bridges.
j. o. Folett of Townshend then spoke
upon the construction of stone culverts and
arch bridges, stating that an iron bridge of
30-foOt span had cost his town $500 and
still the roadway was of wood. A stone
bridge of 20.foot span was built for about
the cost of the abutments of an iron bridge.
Any kind of hard stone that can be drilled
and split will answer for the work. Gran
lite can be had at any place adjacent to the
railroads, and bridge of 100feet span 40
miles from the quarrles can be built as
cheaply as can an iron bridge and abut-
ments. A stone arch of 225 feet span sup
ports the aqueduct at Washington, d. c.,
and our short bridges can be much more
economically built of stone than of iron.
A 5O-foot arch bridge would probably cost
$500 to 5000.
G.. W. Pierce of Brattleboro spoke of
having arched several small streams and
recommended the practice.
p. $. ERmes on Road Making.
p. S. Eames, Brattleboro's road commits
sioner, then spoke, saying that one import
ant point was early work in the spring.
He wol Id start the scraper on some soils
Continued on the 9Th page)