The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-10-06

| udins Oh lne COnneCblCut dI uOlyOhe
and Turner's Falls, and by system
OF canals affording succession of
mill sites. The same policy has been
followed on the tributaries of the Con-
necticut and on all the power produc-
ing streams of the state.
Vermont should obtain similar re
turn from her streams.
Let a commission be appointed to
act without compensation, which shall
adopt plan covering the entire state
| for the pre- servation and utilization of
its water powers, for the construction
OF reservoirs and reserve ponds on the
streams, for the regulation of the flow
and use of the water and for its pro-
| lection from waste.
In this connection | would call at
| tention TO the general abuse of the
streams of the state, by turning into
theE: the chemical dyes and waste ma.
terial from manufactures and the sew
| age from the towns, all of which could
and should be takencare of by modern
disposal plants.
This nation, under high pressure,
duri ne the past thirty years has been
building over one hundred and thirty
thousand miles of steam railway; and
during the past fifteen years twenty
five thousand miles of electrict rail.
way.
Is 1t not time that equal energy be
expended during the next five or ten
years on general system of improv
ed highways throughout the country?
NO man can calculate the resulting
benefits, in the increase of farm values,
in the enhancement of the wealth, the
comfort, the health, the happiness of
our people, lifting this nation to
higher place in the scale of the worlds
civilization.
| am not believer in nation aid to
the states in this matter of road build |
ing. Every state in its own interest,
should be allowed to work out it's own
road system. There is now quite
general movement in this direction
throughout many of the states, and in |
our own State some permanent road !
building has been effected.
There is no magic in this matter of
road building. 1t will require the ex-
penditure of time and money. But in
the future the labor and cost will be
repaid ten fold in the benefits which
will accrue. And it is easily perceiv-
able that the benefits will be proport-
ionately greater to the smaller towns,
which are more inaccessible to other
lines of communication.
have not been able to work out for
this message complete or satisfac.
terry scheme for permanent highways
in this State. can only give a skele-
ton.
Let Commission of three or five
prominent men OF the state be appoint
ed by the Governor, with the advice of
the Senate, to serve without conpensa-
tion during the time requisite to work
out road scheme: the commissioner
OF highways also being member of
the Commission. Let the Commission
adopt scheme for the construction
OF improved highways, of course uti.
lizing the present as far as may be, ,
providing for, say, two or three lines
north and south, on the west !
and east sides of the state, and six or ,
seven lines east and west across the ,
state, aggregating eight or nine hun
ired miles of highways altogether. ,
" it'll the materials for road building :
which this state so abundantly fur A;
lishes, this is feasible.
Does any one believe that consti.
utional convention would increase the
wealth or population of Vermont? !,
Does any one believe that an increase :,
II representation in the larger towns :,
Tould add dollar to the states
'ealth? Frequent changes in the fund
mental law are an injury to any r
The provision of our :.
like that of the Federal .
that makes it difficult of
has received the highest =.
ncomiums of modern political philo- y
ophers as one of the wisest guar
ntees of good government Such pro- :,
isions insure solidity and security, :,
hich are the vital attributes of fun r
law. The towns have always,
nd it is to be hoped VIII always fur -
ish such legislation as is best and :
isest for RETROSPECTIVE communities. =,
hey are the governing republics of
le state.
Following Gov McCnllough's mes :.
age Gov Bell was sworn in and this o
tternoon read his inaugural message. y
WAS unite short ."