Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-12-28
pRArTLEBoRo, FRIDAY, DEC. ss, 1905
BETTER ROADS.

BETTER ROADS.
Rapid advancement in highway i'm
provement is expected TO result from
Vermont S new law providing for the
appointment of county road supervi'
ors and setting aside the sum of $780,
900 to aid in the construction of per-
manent thoroughfares, States Highway
Commissioner Charles w. Gates has Civ
en- an interesting interview on some of
the important provisions of the recent
w enacted measure, calling attention to
its local.option features and its re-
ouirement for direct supervision of
every dollar of the state money ex-
pended. Under the section. providing
county supervision the state commits
sioner is authorized to appoint corps
of supervisors whose duties shall be to
aid the town officials in selecting the
highways ON which permanent work
shall be done, to lay out, supervise and
approve all new work done, to inspect
work done with state money in former
wears and to see that the highways
selected for improvement are always
in good repair. The'number of supervi-
sors shall not exceed one to each county
and their appointment shall be subject
to the governors approval In dis
eussing that portion of the law rela-
tive to state aid Mr.. Gates says:
Another section of the new law APP |
propriates $4,000 each year for high
ways which is available as follows.
After paying the per diem, $500 per
day., of the county supervisors and
their necessary expenses and the eX-
penses of expert road engineers IN
Incorporated villages and other work
as provided by other sections of the
act the balance is available to towns
in sums not less than 800, and not
more than $780, to any one town in
any one year wherever towns vote to
expend an equal sum of their own
money with the state money under the
rules governing the expenditures of the
state highway tax.
To Illustrate this and other optional
features of the new law let us take
for example the town of B. Under
the old law its apportionment of the
5 per cent. state tax was $500. Under
the new law it will be practically the
same and if the town is satisfied to
20 no further it may expend its $500
As heretofore except that it must be
done under the supervision of the
county supervisor who must approve ,
IF the work before the money can be
paid to the town.
If, however, the town of 'B wishes
10 get a share of the $4,000. and
votes, will say, the maximum $500, !
md makes claims for aid, then '
{ the claim is in season a like amount,
$500. will be apportioned to the town
rom the $4,000 fund so that the town S
will have the 800. and $500 and $500. a
IT $1,000 to expend in building i'm q
proved highways for the year. If for
my reason the town wishes to APP !
Joint some other man to expend this
money besides the town road commits
Toner it can do so with the approval
# the state commissioner If the town Il
or any reason wishes to expend two $
,ears appropriation in one year it n
an do 50 with the approval of the :
tate commissioner and in the case
f 'B taken as an example it would h
i've $4,000 to be expended in the one
ear.
Further if the town of 'B. thought il
would be more economical or for A
ny other reason wished to let the IL
york by contract it may do so if APP
roved by the state commissioner who q
n all such cases would furnish plans
nd specifications and could employ u
road engineer to make surveys, etc,
c the Importance of the work seemed
D demand it. ii
Incorporated villages can have no IL
art of the $4,000, but may, by making SC
ppicatiOn to the state commissioner,
ave the services of skilled road en- 81
ineer if the amount to be expended in
Dad improvement is at least $1,000,
rovided, however, the expense of such III
id does not exceed 5000 to any one
illage in any biennial term.
There is crying need of good roads in III
ermont. Their installation will bene-
{ residents of the state directly by al
wing easier intercourse among COM
unities and indirectly by making it be
lsier for outsiders to learn of the nat cl
raj beauties and resources of Vermont. ~
he new highway bill makes possible ~
uniform system of improvement and VI
'ovides for generous assistance from ag
lie state under reasonable conditions. sc
the towns throughout the state will
osen up enough to secure the maxi
UNI allowance from the state treasury
ey will have made an investment
hich will prove of untold value. VI
AN EXPENSIVE PROCESS. ~, nv
The legislature is deserving of seri- w