The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-09-29
AS TO GOOD ROADS LEGISLA.
TION.

llOht " VI ohAOa 0Nob 10 10
commissioner, in a recent communion
tion to the st. Adams Messenger,
written at that papers request, stated
plainly his position as to changes in
the highway laws of the State. He
made it clear that he believes, not in
any radical change in the present road
system, but rather in it's further de-
velopment. He fatty oontradinted
the statements of certain people who
would have it appear that Vermont's
roads are abominable and far behind
those of other States in quality, and
presented strong evidence that they
are not only as good as but better than
those of the States which surround
Vermont. The so-called scientific
roads''-the kind that are being advo-
Gated by the recently formed Good
three or four thousand dollars per
mile-he is not in favor OF building
in this State at State expense. He
believes thoroughly in the idea of the
present road system which works to-
ward the elimination OF the poor roads
in all of the towns.
The Journal believes that Mr.. San
ford is right. The kind of scientific
roads that Vermont needs is the kind
that it is practicable to build-the
kind that practical Dad builders, who
know existing conditions and the way
to deal with them, recommend. YER
mont g roads on the average are very
good. Her country roads compare
very favorably with those OF Massa-
chusetts and Connecticut and New
York and the other nearby States, and
are far better than those of New
Hampshire. The worst trouble with
them is chat they are not built on the
level, and only the hand of Provi-
dence could so change the landscape
that level roads would be possible in
the greater part of the State. AS Mr..
Sanford reminds the Messenger, Ver-
mont was one of the first States to
take up the question of State aid.
The first legislation-which was not
o very long ago-was crude, as a mat
er of course. The value of the mon
ey expended was not received. But
the amendments and additions to the
law have given the State highway
commissioner more power. Each
town must now satisfy him hat il is
putting the State money TO good use
putting it into actual, practical, SER
viceable, we'll built, permanent roads
before IL can draw its portion from
the public fund. Towns hat do not
build permeuent roads that are salts
factory do not get the State aid.
Any person who travels much over
Vermont roads knows that there has
been a marked improvement in them
during the past few years A person
who passes over any given road finds
an especially bad section in it, that is
the part that impresses itself ON him.
Twenty rods of poor road makes a man
forget miles of decent road. 1t has
been the policy of the highway COM
missioner to have each town attack
these very poor strips on much trav-
elled roads and there put in perman-
ent roads. AS a result, all through
the State the pieces OF road that have
been the worst are 10Y the best. A
chain is only as strong as it's weakest
link. 1t may almost be said that a
road is only as good as its poorest part
for it is the load that can be drawn
over the poorest part that will be
drawn over the rest OF it.
The work that is being done at
present on the roads of the State is
practical and effective. 1t is being
made more extensive and more effect
i've each year, and to Mr.. Sanford is
due no small part Of the praise for
that result. The meetings which are
held in each county and which the
road commissioners and selectmen and
others attend in constantly increasing
numbers are of great benefit, Town
officers in former days have made poor
roads, not because they did not want
to make them good, but because they
did not know how. Mr.. Sanford ahd
+. other men who have made a speciality
OF road building and have studied con-
diuions thoroughly talk over the sub
1ect at these meetings and instruct the
town road builders in the way to get
the good of the money they have to
expend, The results Of this instruc'
ton and the close supervision that is
given the permanent road work,
coupled with the State aid for per
manent roads, built also under close su
pervision, is seen in every town. Th'
progress in methods and results i
marked.
The Journal has long been an ad
vooate of good roads. 1t has Tough
for State aid for road building, TO
permanent roads, for better methods
But it believes a gradual and stead,