Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-12-16


not be greater than that of our siste
states in contiguous territory, and ever
other New England state is putting il
trunk lines Of highway under state 50
peryision and not only putting them il
but maintaining them after they ar
built by the state.
The state OF Rhode Island has jus
spent 1880, 900 on state highways au,
next year will see the completion Of tn
trunk lines which reach into every sec
ton OF the state, forming q netW orl
OF splendid thoroughfares. The las
legislature OF Connecticut appropriated
millions for trunk lines, OF which Their
are to be eight lines north and south anC
the necessary number east and west
bringing all parts of the state into clos
connection by means of first-class high
ways. The Massachusetts, highway com
mission announces that within two year.
the trunk lines trayersing every part o.
that state will be completed, so that q
person can go from one section OF he old
Bay state to the other on modern roads
New Hampshire has appropriated Il, 600.
600 for three trunk lines and the routes
have been selected and the work com.
uenced These lines stsrt at three differ.
eni points in the southern part Of the
state and converge ia the White Noun.
tain region. The state OF Maine has fall
en- into line and the last legislature ap-
I propriated money to build trunk lines OF
highway.
I Now what is Vermont doing
Since the highway Law OF 1905 was
passed there has been expended practical
~ S650,000 for permanent roads, and
what is the result OF this expenditure OF
money towards giving Vermont trunk
line highways?
To answer the question properly and
ithout any bias, let one start to 90 from
Richford ia Bennington on the west side.
from Newport TO BrattIeboro on the east
side, from White River junction to Bnf-
lington through the center, from Fair
Haven to White River Junction across
the southern part, from Burlington to ST.
Johnsbury across the north central sec
tion; and how much highway will be found
that will compare in the slightest degree
with the roads in Connecticut, Rhode Is
land, Massachusetts or New York The
standard ventures to say that we have
practically none.
for trunk lines we would have 1870 miles
OF splendid macadam roads in Vermont. a
strip that would reach from Richford to
well beyond Rutland.
Let us look at it from another stand
point. Suppose we take the $3.50. 900 for
eight years and put it into trunk line
highways, which would mean ~, 600, 600.
giving US 400 miles OF hrst-class roads
Would not this be better business in
vestment than the way in which the
money is being expended at the present
time, resulting practically in patchwork.
piece here and pierre there, with no
connecting links and with no reasonable
OF there ever being any.
Another fundamental weakness in our
present law is The fact that when piece
OF permanent highway has been built.
instead Of being maintained by the state.
1t Is turned over TO the different town au-
thoritles IN short time, as shown in va
rious instances that have come under our
observation, il is seen that the large
laid out for good roads has been
wasted, as the local highway commits
sioner 10 most towns is wholly ipeompe-
tent to keep these highways up to The
proper standard. This is not good bust
ness management.
The Standard has said, and now repeats. |
that good work bias been done under the |
present law and here and there notable /
improvements have been made, but the |
whole present policy is too narrow and
provincial and will have to be displaced
by more sound, progressive and con-
tinuous policy.
The problem OF financing a plan of
trunk line highways is not insurmount-
able. The Standard would not advocate
merging what is now known as the five |
per cent highway tax into trunk line
fund, for this money is needed and |
should continue to be used in improving |
the minor highways in the respective |
towns
But the remainder OF the state highway
money could be made the Ducleus OF /
financial plan, which the Standard con-
siders feasible, and which would guaran- /
tee system OF trunk line highways, so |
vitality necessary il Vermont is to keep
pace with her sister states ia material /
progress and development.-Eno
Standard.
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