Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-18

Mr.. Greenleaf Advocates a New
Plan Before Committee.
Tells In Detail How He Thinks the
state ms a whole Could Reap the
Most BENEFIT with the Least
Expenditure Of Money.

mittes on public improvements the other
afternoon. says the Concord Monitor. and
presented the following argument and
plan for State aid for highway improve
ment:
The three routes Of state highway
specified in the bill comprises about 800
miles to be provided for. As l under
stand 1t the people OF New Hampshire
want to improve their roads-not In one
section nor in two sections. but In many
sections, for their " use as we'll as
for the use OF the strangers who may
visit the State for business or for pleas
ure-and desire hrst-class roads at as
low a cost as possible to the State. l
know the difficulty in pleasing all the
people as to where the expense for work
OH such roads shall begin and think l
have a remedy for this difficulty. There.
fore I make the following suggestions:
Let the State give $500 for each mile OF
the full distance OF the 200 miles OF
routes specified. or $50, 600. each year TO-
FIVE years, to be expended in this way
that every city and town through
which the road runs shall take full care
Of the bridges. long or short. and also
the culverts in such city or " MS AZ
present. II not so we might see IN the
end many new bridges ana culverts ana
less completed road work. The 800 a
| mile need not be expended on earn
separate mile, but distributed or con-
centrated within tina town or said ROAD
according to the need in different parts
OF the road. For instance: II a town
has 10 miles Of the proposed road calling
for s.. UO), the full amount would be put
On tho full 10 miles in those parts hat
need It most. It Is the old story-"a
stitch in times saves nine. "If you have a
a beautiful rug on your floor and discover
a tear or hole in it, you fx it at once and
save your rug. And II you fix every
worst place In your road first you vii!
soon have no very bad places. Surfaces
I'D the road with nothing but gravel OF
other best material available.
Tho selectmen or road agent In each
town through which the road runs shonld
expend the money. under the direction
OF the State highway agent, and all OILS
end accounts should be approved by MIN
the full cost for such work to be Just
the same as the town agent pays TOT
, ether work Of the character In his o~n
The money allowed to each tow should
be expended within a certain time II
tho early summer In order to be avail
able for summer business In that sea
sen.
Nv this means the full 900 miles Of thf
rroposed highway would practically al
he worked at the same time and people
I'm different sections would be satisfied
that they were being cared for As wei
"a their n%eighbors in other parts OF thu
State. The existing State highway
should have the same amount proper
ticnately allotted TO be expended pei
mile on them, the State OF course carine
for the bridges and culverts on sucf
roads the same as the cities and towns
en- their roads.
The Governor and council should ap
point for different sections OF the stat
highway intelligent business men hv!nI
near the route. to advise and plan Tn
expenditure Of the appropriated none,
with the State highway agent. but with
out pecuniary compensation. Good road
will be compensation enough for givinI
a little time to the subject.
The laying out OF Sso.Oo in this way
yearly for Ave years will give Us bette
roads by far tina We ever had before
| ma edCH CIV II WV "'' "
In its " particular portion Of tn
scheme. The sum Of S\So.ooo expended !
five years will do more for good road
IN New Hampshire thar twice tins
amount In any other way. In my jnds
ment. or twice as much as was ever re-
, ceived for that sum. At the end OF nv
, years the State will want to cont'n"
this system OF road construction. tn
> roads becoming better and better fror
year to year, the labor and compensate
all going to our own people. The cite
end towns should Of course furnish the
own tools and equipment, and hire laoe
> by the day in the same manner as O
{ their own roads, the State simply payIn
-. $500 a mile for surfacing up the road
. with good material, and no other 81
pcnse whatever.
. The highways should follow the pre-
ent roads as far as possible through IN
towns designated TO save the expense
land damages to the State. and an
changes necessary should be made b
the town or city. No commissions q
wear and tear OF tools. no land damsl
would be incurred. Simply the 500 p'
u mile would be paid by the State and
YOU don't get good roads by the mons
expended in this way | cannot see no
r YOU can get them at all.
Gentlemen, l doubt II any plan can
devised that would locate more OF II
appropriated money on the road ot
than this one. The people OF the Sta
want good roads now. ! would
see a bill drafted covering fully the SUI
sestions, asking for $500 a mile for Il
u" proposed highways.
Now about the House bill No, 1911 ca
ing for about 81. 100000. No man In Il
State would be more pleased than !
SEE three magnificent roads, as propose
b. that bill, but, gentlemen. IN my JuoI
ment no man present will ever i've
see the plan accomplished for one mi
lion or two. Twenty-Five per cent
/. that amount would never move q shov
FUN OF earth. Commissioners, surveyor
hookkeepers, stenographers and all sor
Of buildings. implements and mater'a
end land damages would absorb 30 niue
and every nation on earth would ne ~
resented by hundreds scattered all ov
tho State as laborers. What would
the result at the end OF hve years!
o cannot guess at the expense. can your
Only a small portion Of the entire
r. miles can be built the first year-or q
second, and 80 on: and where are I
favored spots in which to begin wor'
While the work IL going on In a II
rlaces what Is being done In the man
VI ~ a..o1 u,nlttpn VnP tho Slate