Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-10-13
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
Vermont Is Entitled TO Better ROndS-
A Woodstock Resident Replies to
missioner Sanford.
TO the Editor of The Free Press:

issue with the republican state platform
for plcdging the party 20 the building or
''pcrlnanc highways constructed upon
modern scientific principles ard en-
beavers to show that his laoors in the
past years have already placed the roads
Of the State in the highest possible con
dition.
10 he sure he Is himself the principal
witness in the case and according To MS
observation We already have good roads
lie then INDUCES in sncer at "scentiilc
roads" This is an appeal to ignorance
Science is merely applied knowledge. II
our roads were really laid out and built
in accord with the most perfect knOwl-
edge Of tho art of road making no one
would say that an error had been made.
1t is we'll known that the laying out Of
our older roads was done before the
woods were cleared from the face Of the
country. Th" deer track across the
ridges was followed by the explorers and
surveyors. 1t was cleared and levelcd in
places for the passage of tho first OK
team that brought in over the snow the
furniture of the first settlers. This lum-
her road was gradually Improved into
highway which was travorsed by horses
and has been remade each year for a cen
tury or more. ow that The country is
cleared any one can soc where a better
| line might be made with less Of climbing
over steep hills and descending into deep
valleys
our ancestors were not to blame for
this random road building. They could
/ not then know the lay OF tho land nor
Coresce the future prosperity Of the state.
! rte earliest roads in Vermont did not fol-
! low the streams nor the lines Of easier
grad, The larger streams were border
cd with swamrs and these lands were
| not the first to be cleared.
When the valleys became settled the
surveys were often OF the crudest kind
1
as to the grade Of roads their drainae &c
or their pormanence. rs consequence
nearly every town in the STATE makes
its roads" every year The freshets Of
spring and summer acting upon loan
sand and ilre gravel sometimes sweer
| them clean to the bare rock beneath
| these are not permanent roads nor arc
they sci ntinc roads. If they were scien-
tic they would be permanent and Il they
wire truly scientific thoy would he tn.
cheapest roads that could be built.
y great many people arc easily led y
| believe that scientific roads are costly
and extravag CANT. on the contrary it i,
easy to prove that had roads are costly
and extravaneant. Vermont spends cacf
year thousands Of dollars in each county
and the roads are merely repaired. They
may be no worse; but they are no better
The money has been expended but tn
people have no better ROADS, They arr
the same roads.
Occa sonallv a town is so wise as t,
elect n man of good sound judgment Il
care for the roads Such a mar vii
temporarily make the common roads bet
ter; for he has seen that water is tn,
great destroyer Of common road. and h,
viii take steps to carry the water off anc
thus lessen the loss of road material. Bl
such men soon wear Of the thankess tasl
and the office passes into tho hands o
. some blatant numbscull who will do NOR
=
paired in six years.
Some States have begun the building O
permanent roads which they intend T.
Jay out on correct methods. \ nermaueI
road is one that remains for all time sub
stantially unchanged. 1t is not built @
loan or sand. it is hard firm road. 1t
good ~ all times. OF course even Per
man"nt roadwaYs need some care and at
tcntion; but they don't have to he remad
every year and they are not washed ava
by every freshet. II they arc scientiticl
~ made they do not climb a hill for tn
sake of going down on the other side no
} do they descend into raVires when the
1 can go around them more cheapiy !
: they are scientifically made wisdom
their foundation and economy is thci
. basis.
a The civilized nations OF Furone hav
a have permanent roads that are built O
= scientific principles At the time of on
{ revolution there was not n good road j
England or Scotland. The farmers wer
I satisfied with their common roads vhic
. had to be remaNe every year. Now all I'll
y main roads are well graded, firm and per
mnnent The business of tho CoUntr
:. could not be carried on If the old mu
:. roads existed
! We like to ho fatteret and told that "
have in our natural roads" the hest road
q in the world 1t is not true and h
: who SAYS so is either a fool or knav,
Flrt. ,l,s,.