Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-06-10
TRUNK LINES OF HIGHWAY.

IHuNN LIN ES OF HUT w AL
The Importance Of establishing
trunk lines Of highway is likely TO be
penditure Of the proceeds Of the auto
mobile tax. It has already been stated
in these columns that the law pro-
vidcs for the expenditure Of the money
realized from the tax on automobiles
In the county in which they are
owned. state Highway Commissioner
c. W. Gates Is now considering the
various roads on which the money
thus secured is to be expended, and
as we understand the situation an en-
deavor will be made to improve the
main lines most used by the automo-
biles.
Any money expended in the vicinity
Of Burlington. for example, would
naturally be put on one or more OF
three main routes Of travel. Automo-
biles coming from Shelburne or GO
ing to that place from this city use
Shelburne road almost exclusively
Tourist parties passing between Bur
lington and Montpelier either over the
Williston road or the road to ESSEX
Junction leading through Winooski
Those going north from this city also
go through Winooski, and take their
choice Of the different routes thence
diction when we say that the road
between Winooski and the permanent
road leading past the military pos,
via Winooski Park is the worst piece
Of road pretending to be trunk line
in the whole Champlain valley. The
authorities Of Colchester ought to be
ashamed Of 1t, and II the road car
be fixed in no other way 1t should be
taken in charge by the State road
department and managed indepen.
dent OF the local authorities.
The desirability OF constructing
connecting links between the perma
nent highway constructed by Burling.
ton over the lower road to Winoosk
and the military post road. Is evident
The same thing Is true Of similar sit
uations in other parts Of the State
The Enosburgh Standard says in thi.
connection:
IT is utterly impossible to have con
.!nuous system Of permanent highway.
in Vermont under the present methods
Take a local illustration Of how the .ys
| tenn now In vogue operates. Last yea
n. town Of Sheldon and the village o
Enosburgh Falls joined In building
section Of modern highway. meeting n
the town line. but instead Of continuin.
the work this year. making 1t possible
for this section Of road to be part o
trunk line from st. Albans to Richford
| all OF Shedon's money this season will
be used in other parts OF the town ant
| it may be years before this section q
permanent road will be further extended
1t il impossible to look for a system
OF State highways from the individual
ard inha rmonious action Of A6 units
presenting as many different problems I,
road work because Of local conditions
where the work depends on the person
aity Of the individual road commission
ets. and where differences Of opinion
fcuds and factional contests delay pro
s"essive movements for years. II the,
do not entirely prevent them.
Vermont should enter upon the con
| struction Of a system Of trunk lines be
ginning at the south part OF the Stat.
and extending throughout it's length
following the same plans Of hishwa,
construction adopted by the other New
England States. Tho work should b,
done at once. in the same manner tina
cities and villages now construct sew
err and walks, by the issuing Of bond.
ant the payment OF the same In install
| mnnts.
In this manner will be obtained the i'm
| mediate results that sound BUSINESS ant
| hood economy demand, and the presen
generation will realise some OF the bene
nts that accrue from coed roads.
Until road authorities have succeeded
IN solving the problem how TO make
| country road that will stand the wea
and tear Of the automobiles II may b,
we'll to go slow In the matter OF bondin,
| the State for a large sum for the pur
pose of building an elaborate road sys
tenn.
There is no good reason. however. VIII,
short connecting links like those pointed
cut to join permanent roadway shoul,
not be constructed with funds availa bl
| for the purpose, and IL the authorities
| have used good judgment In selecting
highways for the construction Of per
manent roadway 1t will be an easy mat
ter for the State commissioner to sup
PIGMENT such Improvement to certain
degree.
THE TERCENTENARY As vIEWEI
OUTSIDE.