Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-06-10
State Highway Commissioner
Tells How Auto Fees Will
Be Spent.
ARE NOT A GIFT TO TOWNS
Will Improve Main ThoroughfHrcs
Providing the Town Matches the
Money Expended Dollar for
DOllar-Rutlnnd to Wood
stock Road Planned.


Gates. State highway commissioner, ir
response to inquiry has told represent
tative of the Free Press the essentials
80 far as they can be outlined now. of the
policy he will adopt IN expanding the
money coming to his department from
automobile registrations and chauffeurs
licenses. the amount and county appor-
Aonment Of which. accruing to June I
vas reported exclusively in these columns
last Wednesday.
While the apportionment among the
rounties is fixed by law the methods and
locations within the respective counties
are matters wholly in control Of Mr.
Gates. and It is his purpose to use every
dollar available. with due reference 70
the source from which It comes and N
season for the automobile traffic Of the
present summer to receive proper meas
ure Of benefit. In general sense. this will
be accomplished by a watchful atten-
ton to the emergent needs Of the main
Travelled roads such as the modiica1 ion
Of needlessly abrupt water-bars. the
bringing to level Of sunken places. the
correction of ruts. removal Of annoying
stones widening Of narrow places. lower
ing OF sections menacingly crowning and
Immediate repairs following upon wash
outs.
This will be done In all counties. Where
the apportionment is small as in tho
counties of Addison. Essex, Grand Isle.
Lamollc and Orange. it is probable that
the full amount available will he needed
In this way. IN the other counties where
sums Of sufficient size are applicable and
where travel needs would be host served
by bringing a main thoroughfare up to
an approved condition, improvement Of
considerable distances will be carried
out.
CRoss-sTATE BOULEVARD
One main thoroughfare of this sort. to
which Mr. Gates will give early atten-
tion is that connecting Rutland on the
West and Woodstock on the East This
road passes through the towns OF Mem
don and Sherburne in Rutland county
and Bridgewater and Woodstock in
Windsor county and the distance is said
to be approximately % miles. For the
purposes OF its improvement, money can
he drawn from the appointments OF
both counties, which are large. Rut-
lands being at present above $500 and
Windsor's above 5000. These sums
however, do not suggest the full amount
that will be made available. for, besides
the additional income that may be ex-
pected to come during the season from
automobile registrations MI Gates will
insist that all towns wherein this money
is spent, in every county, match UP
dollar for dollar OF their own highway
funds for the same Improvement. This
plan. it will be understood, should bring
Just twice as much money into the work
as the automobile registrations yield. that
Is, If from the latter source there comes
a total Of $4,000 for the whole state. the
localities considered must contribute as
much more to get the benefit This plan
is one OF the unique things about Mr..
Gatess policy.
Rural communities not unnaturally.
object to taxing themselves to make
good roads for automobile traffic and
automobile owners, just as naturally,
complain OF a taxation through the
registration idea for road Improvement
that benefits every other class of traffic.
perhaps even more than their own. With
each contributing equal amounts for the
same purpose In the same place and
with the State highway commissioner
made directly responsible for the most
beneficial use Of the money. the plan
feasible. but one that may be developed
TO produce very satisfactory results.
MAY SPEND $500 PER MILE.
IT, In the instance of the Rutland
Woodstock thoroughfare. $500 OF the
Putland county apportionment is used
with $3.50 of the Windsor county nppor-
tionment, together with an amount equal
TO the sum Of the two from the locali-
ties, $500 could be applied to improve
ments on the 3-nle distance. Granting
that a considerable portion Of the dis
tance Is in good shape now. it IL not i'm.
possible that as much as 500 per mile OF
even more may be available for such
portions Of the road a. need improve
inent most. Just how that may work out
In detail will appear as the undertaking
progresses, IT Will be Mr.. Gates espec-
ial care that IN outlay applied to such
distances. the thoroughfare be made ar
average good road with no stretches OF
poor road alternating a. Is now the case
Ii almost every o5-rile distance.
with this plan carried out. it will b,
understood that the much asitated eues
ton OF cross-State roads will have be,
Pinnings made on its solution. The
Rntlan Woodstock route will be the
first as 1t is plainly the most in demand