The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-04-07
MfETINCHfLD YESTERDAY

Yesterday on Constructing ana
Keeping State Roads In Coed Repair
R. II. Currier, w. ii, Crockett, j..
NJ. Boutwell, and Others Also Spoke.
Grand Army Hall was the scene of
an enthusiastic gathering of road
commissioners and selectmen from
the towns and cities of Washington
county yesterday, and those who at
tended left with a fuller and broader
knowledge of the needs of Vermont
in the matter of good roads and i'm
provement of those. We now have
Many spectators were also present.
State Highway Commissioner c..
w. Gates of Franklin, was the prin-
cipal speaker at the morning session,
being introduced by Mayor Dawley.
He discussed the past and present
conditions in the State, some of the
faults of the present system of road
work and some ways in which he
hoped to improve the highways of
the State. Mr.. Gates went on record
as being we'll satisfied with the pres
ent scheme of road building as a
whole, at the same time suggesting
some changes as to detail. He spent
the greater part of his morning talk
on the construction and mainten-
ance of roads, especially what is
known as State road and selected
highway.
When the road men assembled in
the afternoon everyone had a smoke
on j. NJ. Boutwell, and started the
afternoon right Mr.. Gates contin-
ued his talk, devoting some time to
the matter of keeping State roads in
good repair after they were built.
X. H. Currier, County Commissioner,
spoke a few words as to his plans
for the spring, stating that he would
call on the selectmen and commits
sioners of the various towns in the
county within short time, with a
view to getting the work on State
roads started. He said that it ought
to be decided at the March meetings
of the towns whether or not the COM
missioner was to do the work or
someone from outside and the work
should be taken up early Greater
promptitude in starting the work is
needed, said Mr.. Currier.
Mr.. Gates stated that in his last
report to the Legislature he asked
for some fund for keeping roads in
repair after they had been built. He
said that it was not enough to build
a first class piece of road and then
let it take care of itself State roads,
other roads as well, must be taken
care of every year and all through
the year. The auto tax law gave the
State about $4,000 last year, the
money being divided between the
towns on a mileage basis. This mon
ey, the speaker said, should be used
to blAld new roads and keep the old
in repair. Referring to waterbars,
bridge approaches and culverts, Mr.
Gates said that they should be taken
care of better than is the custom
Waterbars, said the speaker, should
be done away with or leveled off
He told of one man who made them
to see autos jump.
Last year something over $4,000
was received from the auto tax, and
$500 from other sources, making a
total of over $4,000 OF this $14,5OC
was spent on regular work, $500 in
special work on roads used largely
by automobiles. This left $1,000 bal
ance at the end of the year. With
this balance and the estimated in
crease in the auto money, there will
be over $4,000 for use this year, sc
that every town will get as much as
last year and some will be able tc
get more for special work.
county who reported last week tha
he had been over three-fourths of the
roads in his town this spring. Thi.
same man aid eight miles of the bes
road in the State last year, simply
by looking after it and doing the
needful thing at the right time. Mr.
Gates told his hearers that what on,
man had done they all might do ant
he urged them to follow the exampl,
~ of this man. He regarded the pres
Ent duty of the road makers of tn,
State 10 be TO see that the presen
law is carried out in every detail.
In order to see themselves as oth
ers see them, or in other words t.
get broader idea of the work, Mr.
Gates called on several auto owners
to speak on road building as seel
from the seat of an auto, ]. NJ. Bout
well being the first speaker.
Mr.. Boutwell, said that the grour,
had been so well covered that he wa
loath to speak, but appreciated IN
honor of the call and would touch o
some points which came to mind. H
regarded this as being time for edu