Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-10-14


sumed the trip, reaching South Deer
field at 1925 They kept on until they
reached a point in North Hatfield where
a temporary sign on guidepost conveyed
the information that the highway a little
beyond was closed because of repairs on
a bridge. Mr.. Whitney did not notice
the sign and kept on, but an automobile
party on a branch road gesUculated to
such an extent that the others stopped.
Soon Mr.. Whitney discovered that the
others were not following and stopped
his car. Mr.. Cowles started ahead TO
discuss the situation with Mr. Whitney,
and when the latter saw him coming
he supposed everything was all right
and started on again.
+. H. Rabbit started on the branch
road in order to make a detour around
the bridge and the three remaining cars
waited for developments. Finally they
followed in the direction Mr.. Rabbit
had gone and soon found him beside the
road cOgitating as to whether he would
better keep on or return to the junction
of the roads. All hands stopped again
and were having a little council when
they saw the Whitney and Cowles cars
coming on the branch road. The party
now was together again. but some Is
minutes had been lost and 1t was now
O'Clock and so late that it was decided
not to go to Whately but to return to
Greenfield for dinner.
In IS minutes the Mansion House had
been reached and it was in the last
minute that the accident happened to
Mr.. Whitney's and Mr. Rabbits cars.
As they were going up the Hill in the
approach to the business section Of the
village from the south n team suddenly
turned in front of Mr.. Whitney, and he
stopped his car quickly. Mr.. Rabbit
was following SO closely that he was
unable to avoid an accident and his car
ran into Mr.. Whitney's machine The
fender on the pilot car was crippled and
one of Mr.. Whitneys rear tires was pune
tured by the point of the spring on Mr.
Rabbits car. Mr.. Rabbits crankng
apparatus was damaged and lamp on
each car was put out Of commission
The passengers were given a jolt but
were not hurt.
While the company were ENJOYING "A
fine dinner at the Mansion House Prcsi-
dent Cowles announced that President
Herbert c. Parsons Of the Greenfield
board Of trade. who had been invited to
dine with the good roads party had an
engagement at 3 O'Clock and he there
fore would ask that dinner be suspended
long enough for Mr. Parsons to extend
greetings Mr.. Parsons spoke very
briefly compimenting the visitors upon
their good judgment in coming to Massa-
chusetts whenever they wanted anything
good. I'VE get good roads by going after
them" said the speaker. at is of in
estimable value to any community to
have such roads as you have seen here
1t is worth while for any state to spend
money in this way"
After dinner President Cowles stated
that the trip was arranged so that the
party could go over both good and poor
roads. at is up to you to make choice
between them" he said. He then called
upon County Commissioner Perry TO
talk about the construction of state
highways
| little on the practical side of road build
ing. When Massachusetts began to build
state roads she called on him to build
them, and he was in the work nine years.
The important principle that Massach-
sets has held to rgidly has been thor
oughness. Every inch OF the road Is
well surveyed and plotted on profiles and
then worked to the line, and the drainage
is thoroughly provided for" He said
the clay sub-Soil was eXcaVated and
sand put in its place. Tarva is used as
binder and sand is then rolled into the
| surface with steam roller making a
perfect road. Sand is better than stone
for the sub-grade. The cost varies with
| location and materials at hand. but the
average is about 5000 a mile on a basis
Of a 2l-foot roadway, of which three
feet on each side is not treated Tran
rock. which is found in large quantities
in Massachusetts, is not available In
| Vermont and can he used only in the
! southern part of the state without en-
failing large expense in transportation
but with the new tar treatment native
stone can be used as well and at less
cost and the state is well supplied with
gravel which is as good as anything If
properly screened. with such material
the cost in Vermont is from $1,000 to
$500 a mile.
Senator Adams was the next speaker.
He referred to the trip as being one Of
nf
has been demonstrated that Vermont
can make better roads. We can make
| them without trap rock as there is no
better material than gravel The time
Is not far distant when Vermont will be
abreast of the other states in making
roads"
Representative Babbitt, who Is vice
president and chairman of the transpor-
tation committee OF the Bellows Falls
board of trade, spoke of the enthusiasm
shown by the representatives when he
called them together in Montpelier to
talk up the good road trip. In his town
both macadam and gravel roads had
| been built and the latter We're the more
satisfactory. Good roads help a com
munity in many ways Vermont would
be utilized as affording a natural auto
mobile route to the White Mountains II
only good roads were provided He ex-
pressed belief that important highway
legislation would be enacted at the pres
ent session of the legislature.
Representative Wells made n good
| point when he said that it was as much
pleasanter to drive a horse over a good
road as 1t was to ride in an automobile
over a good road, as compared with a
! bad road. He was much in favor of i'm
! proved highways for Vermont and
| thought the state should improve them
as much as po sible according to her
means. He would favor the general prin-
ciple of expanding the money equally
| throughout the state, although many ex-
ceptions to that rule would have to be
| made.
That the standard of all our roads
should be raised was the opinion ex-
pressed by Senator Butler. "A thoroughly
built gravel road well protected and well
| cared for is the most practical for Yer
mont" he said. He favored treating the
roads with a preparation of petroleum,
but he was not in favor of bonding the
| state to make trunk lines.
! There is no question in which the
| members of the legislature seem more
interested than that of highways" said
| Representative Stafford vermont has
been pursuing just the right course in
| adopting the pay as you go policy and
| in educating her young men to make
| roads We have the men and the mater
! ial. There never was a time when Yer