The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1906-10-12
GOV. PROCTOR'S MESSAGE.
(Continued from page 81

Government aid for highways has
been urged by some. 1t is, however
contrary to the whole spirit of oul
governmental system, nor for Vermont
is it practical or desirable policy
Not only is it wrong in principle but
in the end it VIII be less burdensomt
for us 70 work out our own highway
problem and leave other states tc
take care of theirs. Nor am | il
favor of issuing state bonds for the
purpose of building state highways
We are a rural community, our in
come is not large, and to load upoT
the state a bonded Indebtedness with
a fixed interest charge is poor business
management. The condition of oul
highways at the present time is moi
such. nor the advantages to be de,
rived from more perfect highways
great enough to warrant the creation
of a state debt. We are practically
without debt at the present time and
it should be our fixed policy to so con-
tinue.
In 1892 the state first began to as
sumo positive responsibility with ref
erence to highways by the enactment
of a law providing for cents state
highway tax, paid into the State Treas
ury and redistributed to the towns on
the basis of their highway mileage.
| While in some towns this money was
expended according to the spirit of
the law, it resulted in but little per-
manent work for want of proper sup
ervision. In many towns it was not
in reality spent for permanent work
but used for ordinary repairs. The
Legislature recognizing this fact, in
1898 provided for the appointment of a
state highway commissioner and the
creation of a state highway depart
ment which should supervise as far as
possible the expenditure of this state
highway fund This was a decided
step in the right direction and there
has been a marked improvement since
then in the method of expanding this
fund and in the results obtained.
There are many sections of excellent
well constructed permanent road.
Each year is showing an increase in
amount and an improvement in quail
ity. Soil, accessibility of good road
material, and other natural conditions
enter largely into the results obtained;
but the greatest factor is the method
in which the money is expended.
Towns that have been fortunate and
careful in the selection of a road COM
missioner, and when securing a good
one have retained him, have invari-
ably had splendid results from the OPP
Grafton of the law. The county meet
ings have been very educational and
have created a genuine interest which
has resulted in much more efficient
work
Notwithstanding the Improvement
that has been made in the method of
expanding the state highway fund and
in the results obtained during the past
few years, some towns are today gain
ing nothing from the expenditure of
this money in the way of permanent
road and others but little. The larger
.s4. .aI, Iii,
large contribution to this fund GER
tainly have a right to demand that it
should be expended in such a manner
as to yield the best possible results
The state has not fulfilled its duty I'M
til it has provided for the expenditure
of this large fund according to the
best and most up-to-date method.
firmly believe that in every way much
better and more satisfactory results
can be obtained from the expenditure
of the states highway money under
more complete and rigid supervision.
1t is utterly impossible for one man to
supervise the expenditure of
over 100000 distributed in small and
varying amounts in every town in the
state. In the expenditure of this
money we should aim at two important
results: First, to procure its eXpendi-
ture in accordance with the best scien-
tific methods, and secondly, to have
these sections of permanent road so
located that in the end they will form
ways. The only way to bring about
these results is to provide more sup
ervisiOn for the work The state COM
missioner should give his entire time
to outlining the work and to it's gen
eral supervision and should be a sal
aried officer with reasonable allowance
for office and clerical expenses. There
should be also a supervisor for each
county appointed by the State High
of the Governor. The state highway
fund should be expended in accordance
with plans and specifications laid out
by the state highway department and
under the supervision of the County
Supervisor, both as to its location and
method of expenditure.
To further encourage the construc-
ton of permanent highways l recon-
mend that any town or city making a
special appropriation for permanent
work should receive an allow
ance from the state for This purpose