The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-13

Hon. j. o. Sanford, State highway COM
missioner, has sent notices to the road com
missioners OF the towns and cities of the
State to attend the county meetings which
he has appointed, under the law of 1898, to
be held at the following places and dates
Addison county, at Middlebury, In the
Addison House, on Tuesday, March &C.
Benningtoa county, Bennington, at the
Putnam, Thursday, March %.
Caledonia county, st, Johnsbury, at the
Avenue House, Wednesday, April II.
Ohittenden county, Burlington, at the
Van Ness Tuesday, A pril o.
Essex county, Guildhall, at the hotel,
Thursday, April %.
franklin county, st. Albans at the Amer
ican, Thursday, April IL.
Grand Isle county, South Hero, at the
hotel, Wednesday, April 10.
Lamoille county, HYDE Park, at the PhB-
nix, Tuesday, April 16.
Orange county, Chelsea, at the hotel,
Tuesday, April 2.
Orleans county, Newport, at the Mem
phremagog, Thursday, April 18.
Rutland county, Rutland, at the Bard
well, Wednesday, March o.
Washington couny, Montpelier at the
Pavilion, uesday, April %.
Windham county, Brattleboro, at the
Brooks House, Friday, April 8.
Windsor county, White River Junction,
at the Junction House, Wednesday, April 3.
The State commissioner informs the town
road commissiO ners that the circular letter
provided for in section q act 80, OF the laws
OF 1898, will be distributed at these meetings
and the requirements of the law will be
explained and discussed Towns should
be represented by their road commission
ers. II anything prevents their attend
log. they are asked to see to it that the
town is represented by one or more of its
selectmen or prominent citizens.
The Importance of good roads has been
al Il,
out the country in late years. Their bear
ing upon the material prosperity OF town
and State has been set forth. There is no
question as to the Importance or value OF
good roads. The practical question ls how to
build good roads and how to maintain them.
An essential element in this question the
cost. A good road for city, and it's cost,
is one thing; good road for a country town
and the cost, Is an entirely different thing.
The city has stone crushers, steam rollers
and the other machinery or implements for
building streets that are practically solid
bed of TO X, and, what is more, the city has a
large grand list and wealthy taxpayers to
provide revenue for macadamized streets.
City methods of road bnilding are not coun-
try methods.
Now, at these meetings the practical
question of how to build country roads that
will be permanent, within the limitations
of that term, and the cost OF such roads,
will be the tirst subjects OF discussion. On
these points the State commissioner has his
ideas, and the town commissioners have
theirs. Experience is better than theory
By interchange OF experiences, by COM
parison Of ways of doing things, materials
used and the cost, wages paid, etc., all 4,
even the officials of largest experience, may
learn something, the Inexperienced may be-
come informed and the doubling have their
minds cleared up.
1t is Of the very highest importance that
road commissioners attend these meetings,
and get the largest possible benefit from
them. But the meetings are not designed
exclusively for the road commissioners.
The selectmeD, or any other town officials,
and citizens generally, are earnestly invited
and urged to be present aud give their ideas
on the subject OF good roads and how best
to make and keep them,
The State commissioner earnestly enjoins
upon road commissioners especially the
duty Of being present at these meetir gs,
prepared to realize the full OBJECT OF the law
in providing them.
| He also asks the press OF the State %
| publish the notice OF these meetings, par
| ticularly the newspapers published at
county shires, and to bring the matter con-
| spicuously to the attention of their readers
| the week before The date OF the meeting at
any particular locality. They are also asked
to urge upon the public the considerat tions
! presented above, or any others that may ad.
vance the cause OF good roads in this ate
The papers will thus have the thanks of the
| State commissioner and ought TO earn the
commendation Of their local constituencies