Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-04-06

from l.. A ". Buetnl
subject Of roadmakng and the prep.
aration of a comprehensive measure on
the subject, to be submitted 10 the next
legislature In January, 1901
The president Of the commission, Mr.,
Worrell. has been for more than ten
years an earnest student of the vari-
Gus road systems In Pennsylvania and
other states, and he is at present chair
man OF the state highway committee
Of the League of American Whcelmen.
He Is the right man in the right place
and rs the head Of the commission
will be able to furnish valuable infor-
nation on the question ut issue. In
discussing the matter he continued:
There is nothing more important to
state than good roads, and it canItot
be denied that under the present super
visorship system in this state there IS
not much hope for Improvement. Just
how bad the system is can perhaps
be best indicated in words by stating
that year after year sufficient money
has been collected in the shape of road
taxes not only to maintain improN ed
highways, but also to extend the work
Of making new roads. Progress has
been impossible because of the great
waste of the peoples money, which it
must be admitted can hardly be avoid
ed under the prevailing system.
"Our commission must consider first
Of all the interests of the farmers,
who are large taxpayers and are per-
haps the least able to bear the burden.
We desire to prepare a law which will
give them good roads, SO that they
will be able to get their products to
market without increasing the burden
Of taxation.
I've should, Of course, have state
aid. and there should be provided a
system of supervision different from
the present. The new township gov
ernment bill is good law and is an
Improvement on the old one, but it af-
fects only a few townships, which will,
I have no doubt, be greatly benefited.
One feature Of the present law now in
force In nearly every township which
Is very Objectionable is the privilege
extended to some to work out their
road tax. This should be abolished, for
the reason that the farmers and 9th
ers who are given the privilege put
their own people to work on the roads,
men and boys who are generally in
competent, and bad work IS the re-
suit. Thus there Is waste in the tax
payers money in that feature of the
present system.
Beyond Il doubt the present methods
must be revolutionized, but just what
shall be done is the problem which we
must solve. If a system could be de-
vised whereby roads could be built by
contract. the taxpayers money could
be made to go much further than It
does at present The cost of construc-
ton would be less because of the com
petition"
Secretary Hamilton Of the Pennsyl-
vania department Of agriculture says
a good road, dry. solid, smooth and OF
easy grade. Is no longer to be classed
among the luXuries, but it is Il business
necessity not only to the farmer, but
to every industry and enterprise in the
state. The manufacturers, merchants,
the railroad lines, the boroughs and the
cities are equally benefited by improv-
ed highways with the farmer who re-
sides In the immediate vicinity of the
country road.
Heretofore our public roads have
been maintained by the citizens in
whose districts these roads are found,
continued Mr.. Hamilton. There are
at present about 100000 miles of coun-
try roads in Pennsylvania, which cost
annually about $4000000, or about $40
per mile, to maintain. When the I'M
serylccable condition Of these roads ls
considered. Notwithstanding the cnor-
nous sums expended annually for their
repaIr. the conclusion Is forced that
there Is something radically wrong
with a system that has this part OF
our public business In control.
"Ap examination Of the fact shows
that there is no single system of road
management In this state but many,
and in most Of the 1900 townships
which the state includes there are no
continuous boards of supervisors. The
officials change every year, and as
consequence no we'll considered plan
for road Improvement Is possible While
this condition exists"