The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-11-13
TRUNK LINE HIGHWAYS

in some parts of the state there is
considerable bowling for trunk line
highways in Vermont. Trunk line
highways are all right-when they
are paid for, but to start now to build
several hundred miles of that kind of
road would be folly. 1t is
better to let good things come slowly
than to plunge heavily in debt for
then" Londonderry Sitter.
The Sitter mistakes the intent of
at least some of those who have ad-
vocated and urged the building of
trunk line roads. The plan proposed
to the Legislature last fall did not in
volve the necessity of running the
state into debt 1t is not necessary.
The trunk line highways can be built
without bonding the state and with
out a penny increase in any towns
tax rate if the Legislature will lop off
few extravagances and turn the
money where 1t will do more good.
In addition to this the natural in
crease in the state income should be
used for trunk line highway building.
1t may not be generally known but
there is natural and healthy in
crease in the states revenue. Con-
secutive legislatures, VIGOROUSLY the
last, though only in a little greater
degree than its predecessors, have
thrown this money away or voted it
where it did less good than it might
had it been used for road building.
This increase of state income will un-
doubtedly continue in the future as
our savings bank deposits grow and
our other business interests develop.
The corporation taxes from which the
state derives its income are very
moderate now and might be increased
slightly in one or two instances with
absolute justice. At any rate there
should be no diminution of these cor.
taxes and il is therefore evi-
lent that the state treasurer will
handle more money in the future than
he has in the past.
Don't fear but that this money will |
,e spent. Vermont, and no other
state so far as we are aware, ever
lad legislature that couldn't find a
way to spend money. 1t is only a
'hoice of directions. If the state OF |
Vermont wants it's available money |
spent for road building it must send
men to the legislature pledged to that |
dea.
When the next legislature meets
here will be plenty of schemes put
Onward for spending the available
tate money. The legislature will be
lsked for money for trunk line high |
ways, for a central normal school, to |
,oost up the present normal schools,
o add to the permanent school fund,
o build an addition TO the statehouse,
or increased salaries and new de-
'artments. for the suppression of tn
'erculosis and other contagious dis
Eases and for numerous other purpo.
'es that cannot now be foretold.
Many of the things proposed will be
worthy and deserving of aid but the
state is precisely like an individual
md cannot get all it wants in a day
Or year. 1t should take on advan-
ages only as it can pay for them. The
Banner does NOT believe in plunging
he state heavily into debt to build
.runk line highways but it does be-
ieve that improved highways will do
more for the progress and upbuilding
Of the state than any other one thing
and that a reasonable scheme for
system of trunk line highways to be
built at the rate of so to rs miles a
year should be the next important
step in the development of Vermont 4
and should come before the other
things that will be proposed
We heliave that the natural in