Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-02
WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS SAY
Good Roads in Vermont and Connecti-
cut--Methods Of Construction.

rut-Mcthods OF Constructi0n.
(From the Northhed News)
TO those who advocate bonding the
state for the purpose OF building trunk
lines OF permanent highways there IL
much for consideration In recent adj
dress by James RI. Mcdonald. highway
commissioner of Connecticut, who mas
accomplished highly satisfactory results
IN permanent road-making In this state.
Mr.. Mcdonald says on this point:
1T Is unwise for any State In my
judgment, to appropriate too large an
bid for the extravagant and wastcful
expenditure OF the money. by reason
Of the fact that no commissioner can In
diligently and economically spend 100
large sum wisely and economically
excepting he has q full knowledge or
every condition by which the require
ments Of his State are surrounded. 1t
has been the policy Of this State Con
necticuO to make haste slowly. Nav.
In my Judgment, any State will act wise
~ when she carefully considers that par
tcular feature Of how to economically
use the money At her disposal for high
way improvement.
practically the position Of vermont's
State highway commissioner Charles
w. Gates. Another point made by Mr..
Mcdonald In his address also agrees
win the views OF vermonts highway
commissioner. in regard Ia road material
and building. He says In part;
After you have commenced under n
small plan OF operst ting. .nd It would
- r,is IN hn
smallest plan under which you can work.
indeed very few States can AFFORD 20
establish a macadam system. We do not
tind even IN our own state. small as 1t is,
that we can yet afford to import material
into the several towns or the state TO
use; We purpose to use the material We
have IN thcns towns n /. vise at all
times TO reduce grades to minimum; it
Is good road making to take out all I'M
necessary rocks and boulders from the
road, to properly underdrain and take
care Of the surplus water, and then wait
until such time as tho people can feel
the Importance OF further improving the
roads. and can contribute Of their means
without running into any large expendi
turs OF money II IL better TO have
road system grow along with the times.
people rather than TO be a constant bur
den and menace to the citizens
We have built some very good gravel
roads that have accomplished the pur-
pose just a. we'll a. the best mecadam.
and even better in their own particular
section We have built other roads of
nothing but the natural earth We found
In the locality. and have made some
splendid roads doing nothing but putting
In culverts. raising the road and putting
in proper drainage"
Greater progress has been made in
good roads for Vermont than is shown
In tho number Of miles bunlt. because
each pisce OF road scattered over a good
many of the towns Of the State has
been a valuable object lesson. To-day
there ia not - mush need to advocate
the advantages OF good roads as to dis
cuss the most practical methods OF OBJ
tanning a larger mileage in continuous
length each year, and thus make more
rapid progress in depriv!ng the greatest
benefit from them.
Good roads could we'll be made a lead
Ing issue In the coming State political
campaign. Not merely used as a slogan.
but definitely discussed with plans and
purposes to attain . practical end. In
such discussion. however. 1t will be we'll
to keep In mind that an attempt to do
too much. like shouldering a big debt
onto the State for trunk lines, would
pdobably defeat the object hoped to be
attained.
NATIONAL GUARD REGULATIONS.
(From the Barre Times.l
It must be more than a coincidence
that four captains In the Vermont Ma
tional Guard have resigned within two
weeks. Capt. Waterman of the Brattle-
boro company, Capt Moseley OF North
field, Capt. Parker of Burlington and
Capt Gushing Of st. Adams, four of
the leading militia men Of the State.
are the ones who have handed their COM
missions TO Adjutant- General W. n. Gil
four men to lay down their commissions
thing by having an investigation made
OF the conditions In the Vernon Ma
tonal Guard which should cause these
four men Il lay down their commissions
at this time. II the conditions are not
such as to encourage good men to remain
IN the leadership Of companies. they
ought TO be remedied; at least, tho pub
purely local. or whether it lies higher
up in the management OF the military
arm OF the State. Four designations
within short time cannot be over
looked
A GOOD SUGGESTION.