The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-07-19
MR. vANSANTvOORD
SAYS ROAD IS
DISGRACE
Criticises Highway Work of
Town Road Commissioners
APPEALS TO SELECTMEN
SeIectmen However Have No Power
or Authority In Matter and Com
missioner Has Whole Say

To the Selectmen, Bennington, VT
Dear Sirs:-I wish to file with you
a serious complaint against the con-
dition of the highway from the cor
poration line to the Furnace bridge
on the direct road to Woodford. This
roadbed is not only a positive dis
grace to the community but at the
present time is actually in q danger
Gus condition and a menace to the
travelling public. For a considerable
distance of the portion referred to
the road Is worn down to the hard
heads, which were brought to the SUI
face at the time of the food some
twelve years ago. Many of these
hard-heads have been worked loose
by passing vehicles and are now lying
loose in the road, some of them
weighing as much as fifteen or TWEEN.
ty pounds. This highway, as you are
well aware, is one Of the most tray
eled OF any leading into Bennington;
many people assert that it is the
most travelled of ALL Notwithstand-
ing this fact it has received practic-
ally no attention from the highway
commissioner during the past ten
years with the exception of an occa-
sional use of the road machine, which
latter in itself Is positive damage
to the road and an absolute waste of
money, for the reason that IL results
merely in loosening additional stones
which are afterwards worked up by
passing vehicles. | understand that
the laws OF Vermont require that
loose stone be raked out of the road
at frequent intervals Even this re
quirement Is not observed in the pre-.
sent instance, and as far as | can
Judge this roadway has not received
from the highway commissioner what
a celebrated New England statesman
called "the cold respect of a passing
glance
Although not a legal resident OF
Vermont |, as you know, spend a
large portion OF the year in Benning
ton and pay very considerable sum
In taxes. | have tried to remain pa
tient under existing conditions be
lieying It impossible that the obvious
neglest OF this important road
would be continued any long
err This patience, however has
ceased TO be a virtue un
der present conditions. which ar,
such that | really dread to have any
OF my family drive over the road. AZ
ter conference with many others. res
idents and taxpayers in Bennington
county, ! am writing this letter o.
complaint and protest In behalf of {
large number OF persons, urgentl,
asking your honorable board II II /.
not possible TO give us some immed
late relief ! beg that you viii kind
ly advise me upon the following
points.
First. Has your board any auth
GRITTY to compel the road commission
er to repair this road?
Second. II the answer TO the fore
going question is In the negative, II
Il within the province OF the Select
men themselves to repair the road
that Is to say. have you authority {,
do this work?
Third. II the selectmen are power
less In either Of the foregoing, Is 1
possible TO secure any relief by al
appeal to any state authority
Disagreeable as Il Is to be a public
faulthnder. / am willing TO assum,
this disagreeable role u that wonll
probably bring relief and Is the onl.
method which obtains.
In considering this letter, which
beg to assure YOU is intended to b.
most respectful, howsoever emphati
} rs terms may appear, beg that yoi
viii have In mind that the summer 1
already far under way and that an
relief which may be possible shoul
In the nature OF things be arrange
! for Immediately; and | appeal to yo
, to ut least personally inspect thl
! road. with the express agreement 81
Z my part that II you find that hav
In the slightest degree exaggerate
the conditions. you shall be free
: from any further attention to IN
, matter, with a full acqulttanoe on m
, part.
/, Respectfully yours,
|