Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-09-13
GOOD ROADS CONFERENCE
Convention to Be Held Later in
Month.
Work to TIC Accomplished Outlined by
w. r.. L.oucks of the National Good
Roads Observation-Disclosures
Appointed.

A enthusiastic good roads conference
was held Friday night at the city hall and
as n result a convention Will he he'll
September 20 and Il to promote this
work in Chittenden county. An executive
committee of nine was appointed and
this committee met and appointed sever
al sub-committees which will have the
work in charge. The proposition of the
National Good Roads association was
outlined by wellington f.. Loucks of ST.
Louis and his report of work accomplish
I'd in other States was received with
much interest.
The meeting was called to order by
Mayor Burke, who acted as chairman.
He introduced Mr.. Loucks. who describ-
ed the association. the good work 1t had
lone and what it intended to do.
He said that the main purpose of the
convention was to get the men OF the
different parts Of the State together for
the purpose OF organizing and securing
funds for the betterment Of the high
ways. Statistics. show. he continued, that
R per cent. Of the output Of the forests
and farm have TO be hauled 70 miles TO
find a market. In Vermont the average
'ihui AZ dpbhL San IllISS, NiINH ''NNS a.
good deal more than % cents q ton per
mile. With good roads that expense
would he cut down and marketing he
made a Measure instead of n wallow
through mud for about nine months in
,he year. He then explained how the
association had caused miles of perman-
ent roads to be built in other States
and how money had been saved be-
cause OF the work.
He said that nature had been extreme
~ good to Vermont in the matter of
road making material and that on every
hand he had seen plenty of material so
that the State need have little expense
10 have 1t utilized.
The speaker said there were 3. POO. 600
miles of primary roads In this country
md that less than five per cent. of them
were improved. He said that the good
roads In Europe were caused in a way
by war measures, for the purpose of mob
liking the troops and armies. In England
= farmer hauled three tons and 40 pounds
Of baled hay to market with one horse and
when told that it would take four horses
80 haul the same load through country
roads in America, he called Il a rich mans
rountry. He could not afford to use both
horses for the purpose of marketing, be
.ause 1t was necessary for one horse to re-
main in the field.
Mr.. Loucks said the roads in this city
were very good as far as engineering and
yeneral outline was concerned but that the
~,urface work could be greatly improved.
tie analysed some of the macadam used
Ind found the top part to he about three
quarters dirt instead of gravel, He said
that the problem of macadam was to get
q pood solid parmarept surface and that
mud mixed In with macadam breaks the
solidity and wears away into its original
ttate.
He said that Burlington was the best
renter for a good roads movement and ex-
planned how that after the convention the
members could meet in a mass at Mont
pelier and influence the Legislature tn
pass acts TO help the cause in every way.
He said that II the roads leading out of a
county seat We're in good condition u
months in the year, It would both help the
county seat and the surrounding country
10 a remarkable degree.
He said that the convention would he
N the nature of n big school, instructing
It's members in the art of road building,
lided by views of the roads of the world.
Three sessions will be held the first day
of the convention, at ten o'clock in the
i''ihits' y" aa., 49,, +horo
Wv '. sora+.s b. orconi,-
WIN !" WV
Ing.
cor" uoa ho,,,
y" vac ~ $1,000 An,artoar
roads the equal of those in Europe. He
said that 1t would cost $500 for the ser
vices of himself and Col. W. II. Moore
a.-..z .ko ,oz,o,+ion u.s., e,,D, pniDy In