Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-02-18
ROADS IN VERMONT
state Eigiway Comniesionrr sanford
Writes Cnnccrning Eristirg Conhi-
Gons---@tntc ArrrOrristiOns--
burlington Narl.
CWrittcn for the Free Prcss.)

NV field nate book contains data gath
cred from moro than one hundred towns
in various paIts Of tho State, through
which l drove last Year inspecting new
ruId WORK. comparison of the cc;ldi-
tion OF roads built in previous years
with state money and an Observations
Of town management OF road AFFAIRS
shows some TOWNS AS having poor roads
and little progress made in road i'm
provemcnt. The number of towns in this
class IS compa. atively small.
\ large majority of the towns have
greatly improved their roads and have
something to show for State aid tina t
has Dctn used for permanent road work.
and the State work is we'll preserved
H. these towns VIC md Il good system
of road management with 4 continuous
road policy and the retention of the
same road commissioner year after year.
The records SHOW Il good list Of road
commissioners who are serving long
terms. In such towns the people are
pleased TO talk about their good roads
ana III come elton mention the name of
Ihyir road commissions They appreciate
Tho good roads and their commissioner rs
wei, ana it is easy 10 see that good roads
are the result of q live and Intelligent
iutc.est OF the people.
Roads are poor because they are not
made good And yet poor roads are
more expensive for the people. II costs
moro to maintain them, and much more
10 use them. Why then are they kept
poor? There is no necessity for It, There Ia
generally Sufficient money and labor eX-
pended if thoY were rightly used. Tho
trouble seems to he in the town manage
ment, ana new men elected as road com
mi sion, to try experiments. The time
o! experimenting by the people is past.
The cAp.Iimont stations now perform tina,
class Of Wort. ut The expense of the gen
eral government The principles of road
building are as well known and firmly
established gospel truth and everybody
should know that the time to Xix u road
is when il is dnmdg cd-the sooner the
better
Men are often selected for road Office
tor their rusged strenGth-Ability to 10
"A lot of work. There is TO much work
done already that is not worth the cost
| Business ability should bc first con-
Brain work Is of greater importance
| than muscle power. AL other material
| used for road construction or maintain
auce is Of little Importance compared with
brains The loss from INSTRUCTED and
| unTca -ouabio road work is am1zirg.
| II is evident that something should he
| done TO change conditions in those towns
tat have pooc roads. And ] would sus.
COST that first, Il revival Of road intercst
| Is needed 1t needs no juror. 1t nocii
! no tra,clur cXhorter Tho facts and
Ian necessary Information ara at hand
! Hold a. public meeting OF the town ofHcial.
| with as many Of the people a. will attcnt
Iurd reason tQpethrr with the purpos,
iof so improving town road manasculon
Ir.pt thalr rpa5. win gradually ana surc
"a. in!,,roye. al know LAT ar
! about m savin., this can he done without
Iadduiouai cost.
The blame for poor roads is often lai.
upon tla shOuld, rs Of the road cgmr1,ie
islorcr. whore the fault Is with tho town
4 back Of iltellistnt interest is ruinou,
to any lusiqoss.
rr following is quoted from letter.
received from a road commissioner. |
g. sfariucart ana 10 the point: Il am eorr,
To- have YOU find fault with my roac
woilI anl disqllow IL part Of nv claim
! hut know the road was not finished
| The selortmcu wanted me to leave II
las you saw 1T. am glad YOU are look
linr lp those things. for the state none,
has been badN abused"
| I'm reuIviug to him it was pointed on,
lth4C the fault wns the towns and moi
Ibis: that in driving Through has tour
vcrv little gravel road was found. Tn,
state Worl, Of previous wears had ron.
TO wreck. everything indicating poor towr