The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-05-12
GOOD ROADS


attended the me Getting of the Good
Roads Association in the opera house
on Thursday afternoon and evening
they were very enthusiastic over the
subject and enjoyed profitable day
of discussion.
After the address of welcome by
Mayor Cory, F. O. Smith of st. AL
bans gave practical paper which had
some specific ideas. Said the speaker:
1.-THE present per cent highway
tax yields 800, 329 annually. divided
among the towns of the State accord
ing to the milage, or $500 per mile
for each mile of highway in the State.
Abolish this method of distribution,
Issue 40. year 3 per cent bonds OF the
State for $4, 500, 600; add to the five
per cent State highway tax and to
one-half the amount of the revenue
from the liquor licenses another three
per cent tax on the total grand list of
the State 1or sinking fund, a part of
which shall be applied to retire the
bonds at maturity. The total grand
list of the State is 81, SOC, 500, the five
per cent State highway tax raises
500. 329, the additional three per cent
tax will raise $54, 1877, onehalf the
revenue from liquor license fees is
now $35, 414, making total of $780,
600. Three per cent interest on "a, $780,
600 bonds will be $195, 600 available
each year for the sinking fund, $40, GOO,
the interest at four per cent for AZ
years will be 81, III, 015, enough to re-
tire the bonds, and pay the salary of
the State highway commissioner In
directing the work. II the entire
revenue from license fees be applied
to this fund the sinking fund tax
might De reduced 10 one per cent in
stead of three and perhaps wiped ont
altogether. -tll'- s.- =, fsss
In speaking of the roads he men,
toned several that should be built
naming the places through which they
would run. These highways would
aggregate 900 miles and can be built
for So, 600 per mile. They would pass
through 143 towns and cities, which
have 8 per cent of the grand list OF the
State. Thew would touch every shire
town except Newfane and North Hero
and serve directly large majority OF
the population. These roads would
make of Vermont a paradise for sum-
mer visitors and tourists.
Hon. W. J. Van Patten of Burling-
ton gave short talk ON the subject
saying that he believed the unit OF d.
vision Of. the State highway tax should
be the county instead of the town.
George NJ. Powers of MorIisville
spoke OH "Do We Need Better Roads?"
and pointed out Barrie and Hardwick
as examples of what improved trans
portation will do in the development
of committees. The chair appointed
as committee on permanent organ
ization, George Aiken of Woodstock,
Frank Walker of Barre and Ii. M.
Mcintosh of Burlington; on mem.
bership, j. G. Brown of Montpelier,
@. r. Allen and f. S. Billings of
Woodstock.
Prof. j. w. Votey spoke on 6 Road
Construction, 4" U. r. Allen of Barre
gave an interesting talk on Estate Su-
pervision" followed by the last speak
er of the afternoon, John W. Gordon,
whose subject was General Condi-
tions.' The evening session was not
largely attended. John H. Senter
was the first speaker taking.for his
subject, "Oan Vermont Afford Good
Roads?'
The temporary organization was
made a permanent one the officers OF
which are as follows: President, h.
S. Currler of Barre; secretary and
treasurer, H. M. Mcintosh of Burling-
ton; vice presidents, Addison county,
F. e. Foote of Middlebury; Benning-
ton. f. E. Howe of Bennington; Gale
donia, M. J. Russell Of st. Johnsbury;
Chittenden, E. f. Moore of Burling-
ton; Essex, o. M. Gallup of Victory;
Franklin, H. F. Lincoln of st. AL
bans; Grand Isle, N. W, Fisk of Isle
La Motto; Lamoille, G. A. Barrows
of Morrisville; Orange, J. B. Wells of
Randolph; Orleans, G. f. Read of
Barton; Rutland. A. O. Grover or
Rutland; Washington, @. X. Allen,
Jr of Barre; Windham, j, +. Hooker
of Brattleboroo Windsor, f. S. Gill
ings of Woodstock. The chair was in
structed to appoint legislative COM
mittee of three. A. J.'Sibley, j. G.
Brown and f. A. Rowland of Mont
pelier were named. The committee
On ,no,,n hnrrh1n rannrtnd nrni M auarr