Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-04-04
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS
FACTS AND OPINIONS GATHERED
FROM CONTEMPORARIES.
HIGHWAY WORK IN THIS STATE.


HIGHWAY WORK IN THIS STATE.
The state highway commissioner VIII
soon meet the various road commission
ers of all the towns and cities of Yer
mont in county meetings. These con-
ferences are for the purpose of planning
highway work and for exchanging ideas
and experiences in road Improvements.
They cannot fail to be very useful and
helpful meetings. 1t Is needless to say
that every road commissioner interested
in thoroughly performing the duties of
the Office will make every effort to at
tend the conference in his county. Sc
lectmen should also make it a point to be
present.
At these conferences it is hoped that
the systematic buildlng of permanent
roads will be discussed. Nothing could
advance Vermont's material prosperity
more than good main-traveled highways.
We would like to see the Massachusetts
plan of Joint state-town road building
tried in Vermont. That 1t is working
well is evident from manifold reports
from that state. The Pittsfield (Mass.)
Evening Eagle says: Years ago when
the suggestions for state road building
were first made, it was advanced in favor
of the policy that if the state should go
into the business of building good and
permanent roads, scattering them at
convenient points throughout the state,
the system would be an incentive to the
cities and towns to build more permanent
roads and to improve the character of
tho common dirt roads "a well,
"How true these forecasts were is be-
ing brought to light now by the recent
report of the state highway commission,
which shows that the towns are even
now ahead of the state in building mac
adam roads. AS since the state took hold
of permanent road building the towns
have constructed about 800 miles of mae
adam roads, while the state has built but
35S miles. There seems to be nothing
like example-good example. '-Rutland
News.
SHlNPLASTERS.
The fractional paper currency consist
Ing of three, five, ten, fifteen, twenty-five
and fifty cent pieces, and known rs shin
plasters, which was issued by the gov
eminent when silver had disappeared,
during the war of the rebellion, was in
many respects Objectionable. 1t was TO
some extent counterfeited and il became
so soiled by use that it was difficult to
tell what was genuine. 1t was also worn
and torn so as to be irredeemable and
there was considerable loss to the holders
AS we remember. twelve or thirteen
million dollars worth of it mad not beer
returned to the government for redemp
ton ten wears after silver and nickels
reappeared and drove it out of genera
circulation. Much of this was kept in
good condition by collectors who saved
specimens of the numerous issues anC
have them now, but more was destroy &c
or was left in the hands of the people IL
such small amounts that they did moi
think 1t worth while to turn ii into coin
OF course all that was not returned fol
redemption was so much gain to the
national treasury, but it was loss to tht
public.
On the other hand this currency wa'
the most convenient for transmission
through the mails and for some othe
purposes that was ever issued. As /
was nothing but bits of paper, consider
able amounts of it could easily be carried
in pocketbook and any sum which i
was desired to send away could be pu
in a letter without extra postage an
without advertising that 1t was money
Before it came and after it went int
retirement, postage stamps were genel
ally used in sending small sums throug
the mails. These were and are Il grea
nuisance as money. They stuck t.
gether, were torn, and those to whOl
they were sent were obliged to mark'
them at great expense and sometimes ;
considerable loss. Time was when
took clerk most of the time to sepdrat
straighten out, sort and count the postas
stamps sent to the Mirror Office for su
scriptions.
Since then the check, the money ord
and the devices for sending silver throue
the mails have to great eXtentrelegatt
the postage stamp TO its original us
But even now every publisher and ever
trader who receives small orders by ms
gets more stamps than he wants al
would welcome something like the o
paper currency if it could be had witho
the defects we have mentioned. In r
spouse to this feeling Senator Mason
Illinois has introduced bill providil
for the issue by the government
postage stamp certificates of small 81
and various denominations up TO fiji
cents, which can be bought at the pos
offices at their face value and eXchang
anywhere for stamps of the sar
amounts. As they will not be mucilag
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