Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-10-07

former shiftless and asteiul methods of
road construction. The feature which
survived was the state highway tax, hut
the proceeds of this tax have come to be
so misdirected as to defeat the end which
the tax was expected to accomplish.
The manner in which the revenue re-
ceived from the state road tax is disposed
Of in many towns is nothing short of
scandalous. The fact was developed at
the good roads meeting in Vergennes
that the fund has been diverted to all
sorts of incOngruous purposes One
man announced that town of which he
knew diverted its share of the proceeds
to its pauper fund, other towns cover it
into their general fund and in nearly
every instance the money is not used for
the construction of permanent roadway,
as was the original intention.
In many towns the amount received is
so small that it would cut very little fig
ure in the direction of permanent i'm
provements. and the most satisfactory
solution of the problem was undoubtedly
embodied in the resolution introduced in
the Vergennes convention by Hon. w. j.
Van Patten, calling for the modification
of the law so that the fund raised in each
county shall be expended therein under
county supervision, in constructing per-
manent roadways on thoroughfares con-
Meeting the respective towns OF the
county with the shire town.
Mr.. Charles T. Harrison, the United
States special agent and road expert, was
70 NJ
Press. while in this city, for a practical
recommendation as to highway legisla-
ton in Vermont. He was not surprised
that our highway law produced no salts
factory results, with the fund resulting
from the highway tax distributed as it is
at present. He thought there should be
restoration of the highway commits
sion, whose reports would have been
worth thousands of dollars to the people
of Vermont, if adopted and carried out,
and he also heartily endorsed the idea of
county expenditure, which has been in
PRODUCED in other states with excellent
results.
The county method of handling the
permanent road fund raised by state
taxation makes it possible to give each
town the benefit of constructing machi-
merry, which many towns could not af-
ford if left to themselves in the matter.
The expenditure of the fund in per-
manent improvements on the roads lead
ing to the shire town results in the
greatest good to the greatest number as
all residents of a town use these high
ways to a greater or less degree. The
following of this system for a consider
able period will result in the permanent
Improvement of our principal highways,
the object lesson thus afforded will tend
to the Improvement of all roads and our
farmers will realize marked benefit
through the increased ease and conse-
quent economy of hauling their products
to market.
1t is understood that Gov.-elect Smith,
who is an enthusiastic advocate of i'm
proved highways, is formulating a re-
commentator embodying the most ap-
proved Ideas in relation to good road
construction, and the adoption of mea-
sures that will lead to the adoption of
modern methods in the building of road
way. 1t is to be hoped that the legisla-
tors-elect will give the subject the atten-
ton which its Importance deserves before
the legislature meets and be prepared to
enact highway law that shall embody
the public spirit and progress which the
public has come to expect from the
Green Mountain state. Good roads
would be a lasting monument to the
Vermont legislature Of 1898, and by
providing therefor the members would
entitle themselves to the gratitude of the
people for generations to come.-Bur-
! lington Free Press.