Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-10-13
INAUGURATION THE WEEKS FEATURE.
Exit Mccullough, Enter Bell, Each With a Mes
sage--Caucus Bills Already.

ton. For the benefit OF those towns IN
which the traffic is licensed, there are sew
eral amendments which the experience OF
two years has demonstrated should be
made to the present law. 1t q important
that no change therein should be made
which tends to lessen the independence
from politics and the stability OF the liz
censing boards.
II would recommend that the vote on
license or no license should not be taken
in any town or municipality oftener than
once In three or five years, and the other
recommendations in my former message
relating to this subject, again press upon
your attention.
Gov Mccullough alludes TO the neces-
sity OF forest preservation and favors
a commission of experts who shall adopt
for the state a comprehensive forestry pol
icy, covering protection OF existing for
ests, replanting, etc. Nermonts forest
product is ble-second only TO hay
and forage and should continue to be one
of the states assets.
The retiring governor favors protection
OF the states natural water powers Tor
manufacturing and electrical purposes.
Concerning highways he says
II am not believer in national aid to
the states in this matter OF road building.
Every state in its own interest should be
allowed TO work out as own road system.
There is now quite general movement IN
this direction throughout many OF the
states, and in our own state some perma-
nent road building has been effected.
"rhere is no magic in this matter OF
road building. 1t will require the expen-
diture OF time and money. But in the fn-
ture the labor and cost v III be repaid ten
fold in the benefits which Will accrue.
And ii is easily perceivabie that the bene-
fits will be proportionately greater to the
smaller towns, which are more inaccessl-
bic 10 other lines Of communication.
"Let a commission OF three or i've prom
inent men OF the state be appointed by the
governor, with the advice OF the senate, 10
serve without compensation during the
/ time requisite to work out road scheme,
the commissioner OF highways also beng
a member Of the commission. Let the
commission adopt scheme Tor the con-
struetion of improved highways, OF course
utilizing the present as far as may be, pro-
viding for, say, two or three lines running
north and south on the west and east sides
% the state, and six or seven lines east ana
west across the state. aggregating eight or
nine hundred miles Of highways altogeth-
er. With the materials for road building
which this state so abundantly furnishes,
f this Is feasible.
s'By improved highways do not neces-
Z sarily mean macadam road, for II Is eN-
+ tremely doubtful whether such roads are
the best, the most economical or the most
permanent for our climate even II they
/ could be as choaply constructed as roads
/ OF other materials. An important factor
+ Is to see to il that as and when permanent
/ roads are built they are kept in repair.
III Vermont is to increase in wealth and
I population a. her position entities her TO,
+ Then some scheme for the impr ~vement Of
her roads must sooner or later be adopted.
+ can anyone doubt the resulting inflow Of
visitors a. well as the increase in perma-
nent residents ~