St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-09-29
Road improvements.

An Extensive Change to be Made in High
way Near Government Fish Hatchery
Highway Strengthened and Dangerous
Curve 0bliterated.-The State Work.
St. Johnsbury people can see tangible
results of the years road work done in
this vicinity under the authority of the
local and state road officers when this
season is closed. Surveys have been
completed and contract let to William
Bedard to make very extensive change
in the highway in front of the Govern
ment Fish hatchery on the North Dan
vile road. The sharp turn around the
pointed headland. just this side of the
hatchery is to be done away with first
by removing the bank of earth itself and
then by changing the location of the
road above there. The course of Sleeper
river which makes sharp turn towards
the highway in front of the fish hatchery
will be turned to the east and straight
ened and the earth taken from the bank
will be moved into what is now the river
bed to make the new road, which will be
continued in straight line to a point
about half way up the hill just below
Emerson Falls. The fill at some points
will be ten feet or more and its length
about $50 feet Mr.. Bedard will begin
work there very soon.
This change will obliterate one of the
Aa nDio+c a., he b;r
of this vicinity for automobiles and
teams alike. At present the turn is so
short that one can see but a few feet
ahead and if an automobile should meet
frightened horse there it would give no
opportunity to control either until they
were in very close quarters. 1t will also
improve the grade in the highway there
and give high and dry road bed.
Another improvement on this road is
the construction Of fine strip of gravel
road between the two covered bridges a
short distance above Emerson Falls.
The road has been graded and turnpiked
and covered with heavy coating of
gravel which gives a very firm and dry
permanent highway work for the year
and was done by Charles Owen. The
two changes make great improvement
in the North Danville road
The unused portion of the State funds
for permanent roadwork will be used for
this work and the town will bear the
rest of the expense.
A step in the right direction has been
taken by the village trustees in purchas-
ing a concrete plant. The work of con-
GREETING sidewalks and crossings has
formerly been let to contractors, but
now the village is in position to do it's
own work better and cheaper. Up to
the present time only repair work has
been done but on that at least so per
cent has been saved and no reason is
apparent why the same ratio would not
| obtain in new work.
| Another argument in favor Of NUM-
cipal plant is that the contractors make
but one visit a year to the place. Any
break in the walk that occurs after they
leave must go until the next year, in the
meantime growing worse and more ex-
pensive to mend, while now the repairs
can be make at once. Main street,
Eastern avenue, Railroad and Portland
streets have been much improved
during the past week and other bad
places will be patched up before winter.
The plant is located at the gravel pit in
Paddock Village and the work is in
charge of Superintendent M. J. Russell.