Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-22
GOOD ROADS
The Subject of Discussion at
Convention in Vergennes
Tuesday.
AMENDMENT OF THE Law
Asked by the Road Commissioners Pres
emit w. j. Van Pattcn Presented u
Resolution Asking For County SUI
pervisors For Expending the
State Tax.
AMENDMENT OF THE Law

Vention held here to-day was Il success
in every particular There were about 100
people present, most of them being road
commissioners, who came here to discuss
how to make roads.
Among the prominent people present
were Hen j. O. Sanford of Stamford, Hon.
Alpha Mcsser of Rochester, Hon. G. j.
Bell of Walden j. *. Curtis of Georgia,
members of the State board of agricul-
turC; Irof. c. IL. Pettee of the New
Hampshire Agricultural College, Marcus
Peck Of Brookfeld, ex-member of the
State highway commission, and Hon. w.
j. VAN Patten and wife of Burlington.
The forenoon was devoted to looking
over the stone crushing plant and view
Ing the construction of sample road. In
the afternoon "a meeting was held in City
Hall with Hon. j. o. Sanford of Stamford
as presiding officer Mir. Sanford in talk
ing the char, described the methods of
road building in Massachusetts and New
Jersey, where they are clamoring for bet
ter roads and more of them. The first law
for the bctterment of roads in the State
was in 1892, when Gov. Fuller was i'm
charge. lie appointed IL highway commits
sion which was allowed a salary of slCO,
who reported to the Legislature of 1894
of ;he condition of the roads In the State
which was worth thousands of dollars to
the State. The commission was continued
for two years, and II made another excel
probably because it cost too much to sup
port. Some towns are making good
roads because they continue to
Keep good man in Office as
commissioner. During the first four
years of the present law roads were i'm
proved because the State commission LOOK
ed after them, but since then they have
not because the smaller towns did not use
the highway money in proper manner.
He described the condition of the roads
in Randolph and Pomfrct, where they
were good because these towns used the
money properly and left good commits
soncrs in office. There should be some
system In road construction for the 1900
miles of dirt roads in the State which
ought to be improved. The present State
ala law should ne changed so that money
would be expended judiciously.
Frank l.. Fish was called upon He
said he was enthusiastic for. good roads.
Nothing will build up 4 town better than
good roads. The greatest crop Vermont
has is summer visitors. who are willing
to spent thci. money but they want good
roads over which they can drive.
Hon. Marcus Peck said that as a former
member of the highway commission, he
knew that in many towns the money was
used in the usual way. Instead of making
permanent roads the money was put into
the general fund, for which the law was
not designed In Randolph and Brook
| neld, good roads were made by excavat-
Ing the centre OF the roads, placing i'm
large stones, and covering them over
with gravel Besides this they made. good
bitches to drain the roads which WAS nee
essary. Randolph kas laid miles and
miles of these roads and not at very
large expense considering the wearing
qualities. He believed in keeping in a
good highway commission
Hon. {. j, Bell was next called upon
He replied in rather humorous strain
telling of how ne would like to see roads
built.
\ Pref. c. II. Pettee of the New Hamp-
shire Agricultural college, said that the
main thing in highway Improvement Is
expert supervision and n system for eX-
pending money under a State aid law.
Mayor Fuller c. Smith of St. Adams
says that he is an enthusiast over gooc
roads because he haf neen obliged to re-
ceive lot of kicking on account of the
improvements they have made in st. Al
bans.
Charles j. Harrison of the road inquiry
office then told of many different method.
of building good roads. He explained thu
Massachusetts and New Jersey laws. IL,
believed In intelligent supervision.
Clark Is. Roberts of Montpelier told o.
the way he built roads in Montpelier
Were the roads cost $50 a square yard.
Hon. W. j. Van Patten Of Burlington
was called upon and said that he wal
! glad to say good word for Burlington
: He then told how they had expended 500.
600 In the past five years for roads and tn,
citizens were satisfied with them. Their,
) are ii miles of roads in the city, 16 mile
of Macadamized roads. and l6 miles o
gravel He believed that the present Law
should be amended so that 1t would b
expended By a county commission nstea,
of town commission. He then offere,
the following resolution:
I Whereas, the experience in this State o
distributing the money raised by the Stat
road tax of per cent. 10 the towns IL
the State according to the mileage o
; roads has not resulted in procuring tn