Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-04-04
THE GOOD ROADS QUESTION,


Discussed at Length by the Commissioners
of the County at Their Meeting with the
State Highway Commissioners. W, Gates
of Franklin Tells Some of His Experiences
and Favors the Gravel Road for Vermont
in Place of Stone Highway.
Good roads and how to maintain
them was the subject which interest
ed the road commissioners from the
Windham county towns yesterday
when they met with j. O. Sanford of
Stamford, state highway commissioner,
for their annual school of instruction.
Among the commissioners who were
present at the meeting which was held
in the Brooks House were Brown of
Athens. Eames of Brattleboro, Hale of
Dover. Walker of Dummerston, Prouty
of Grafton. Thomas of Guilford,
Stearns of Londonderry. Whitney of
Putney, Allen of Stratton, Akeley of
Vernon, White of WaIdsboro. Butter
field of Westminster, Barker of Whit
ingham. Gleason of Wilmington and
Jennison of Windham.
Mr.. Sanford opened the session with
brief talk TO the commissioners. He
spoke in approval of the interest shown
by the men in the work but objected
to constantly changing the incum-
bents which hinders progress along
regular lines of work. He also men
toned the attempt which is being
made to get the selectmen interested
in the meetings in order that the com
missioners may have more help and CO
operation in that quarter Mr.. San
ford emphasized the great need of
good permanent roads in this country
and told of the fine highways which
are the possession of nearly every Eu
ropean country.
Hon. c. W. Gates of Franklin was
present at the meeting and gave an
exceedingly instructive discourse on
facts in connection with his expert
ences as a road builder. Mr.. Gates
was member of the Legislature when
the law of 1898 regarding the state road
money was passed. He gave a descrip-
tion of the system which he adopted
when he was commissioner to keep the
highways in thoroughly good condi-
tion. Men from different sections of
the town were selected and given a
certain portion of road to look after
with instructions that every little
while. and especially after rains, a
careful inspection of the roads should
be made and any needed repairs made.
By this method the entire highway
system in the town was kept in the
best of condition.
Although an advocate of permanent
work Mr.. Gates is in favor of stone
roads only under certain conditions.
With the present amount of money to
do with Vermont cannot afford TO build
many stone roads. Reports from Mas
sachusetts. New York and New Jersey
where large appropriations are made
for state roads, show that the cost of
stone roads is largely in ex-
cess of the care needed for dirt high
ways The average cost of keeping in
repair dirt or gravel roads is from Sl5
to - a mile while the cost on stone
roads is at least $50. With good con
struction and proper drainage gravel
roads are the best and the most sue
cessful for Vermont unless the people
wish to spend about three times what
they do at present.
After Mr.. Gates's address the meet
ing adjourned for dinner. In the af-
ternoon Mr.. Sanford defined what he
thought was permanent work. and the
different commissioners told of toeir
experiences and gave and took advice