The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-11-14
The States Highways.

The first annual report of State COM
missioner of Highways Wall makes a
pamphlet of 81 pages and gives a very
full review of the work done with the
State highway tax and the kind of
roads built with the States money.
The summary of 1899 shows that
S112 1910 was expended on perma-
nent roads and that SS7,774 81 of this
was paid for by the State. The total
mileage of the roads in the State that
year was 14,804 2-3 miles and a total
mileage of permanent roadway of
Stone and gravel, 26 miles; macadam,
q miles; gravel, los 13 miles.
In 1900 the total mileage OF the high
ways was IA 1926 miles and 124 miles of
permanent roadway divided as follows
was built: Stone and gravel, 80 2 8;
macadam, 1875 miles, gravel, SO IL
miles. This was built at a cost of
S10l 331 "a and the State paid $751;
257.17 of the cost.
The report gives list of Vermont
road commissioners and a digest of the
road laws of the State thus making it a
very handy reference book. A state
ment given by state Treasurer Bacon
shows that 81 ,36339 in interest is saved
bynot being obliged to furnish the towns
their portion of the State highway tax
until after the permanent roadway had
been completed.
Mr.. Vial makes the following recon-
mendations:
hof oil
road work should be completed and the
road commissioners report filed with
the state highway commissioner on or
before September Is in each year,
this, in my judgment, is very import
ant, that the public may have the
benefit of such improvement at the
earliest time possible. This is also very
necessary that the state commissioner
may make his report to the General
Assembly at its opening, as contem-
plated ay law.
"Towns not complying with this and
other provisions of the law should be
deprived of 80 much of their proportion
of the highway money as they have
not expended and reported, such un-
expended money to remain in the state
treasury, as now provided by Sec. of
No, 65 of the laws of 1898.
"The importance of the attendance of
road commissioners at the county board
meeting each year is, in my judgment,
30 great that l advise that those who
do not attend at least one such meeting
in their own or another county, unless
prevented by sickness or other unavoid.
able reason, be made subject to fine.
'Sec. 3433, Vermont Statutes, pro-
vides for the assessment annually, by
the selectmen, of highway tax of 20
cents on dollar of the grand list.
recommend that one-fourth Of that tax
in addition to the five per cent high.
way tax now used, be expended by
towns and villages in permanent work
on the highways. In this way, without
extra tax upon the people, l believe in
few years. time the roads of the State
will be greatly improved and the main
highways will be fret class roads.
"Sec. 3460 should be 30 amended as
to require the removal OF all loose
stones from the travelled track once in
two weeks, instead Of once q month.
There should be a penalty for failure
by the road commissioner to cut trees
and brush as required by Sec 3464,
Vermont Statutes.
at should be made the duty of each
town and city clerk annually, within
two weeks after the annual March
meeting, to report to the State highway
commissioner the name and post Office