Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-12-01
FOR GOOD ROADS.


o7rom the Brattlcboro Phoenix)
The Legislature has an Opportunity tt
mako a record FOR itzef which Will meot
with the approval OF progressive people
generally, by passing the bill introduced
BY Nj Babb,rt Of RocNngham. calling
for an appropriation of s2C1,oro yearly foI
permanent road building, The bill does
not change In the least the plan of help
ing the towns which want to le hsped
TO the extent of the special appropriations
which they vote a the March meeting.
but it raises the limit OF possible state
help for each town from 500 to 1000.
The natural result would be for the larger
towns which are situated mostly on tha
trunk lines of the State. to take al.
vantage OF the $1,000 limit. so that we
should have a large increase in ths
amount of money available upon the
trunk lines in the larger towns from this
feature Of the Ian
Other towns al over the State will vote
as they choose, but probably this would
not vary very much from the sums al
ready being voted, so that the net result
will be a large sulplus from This APP
Precipitation that VIII not be called for by
the towns that are willing TO match the
States appropriation dollar for dollar,
, The bill provides shat this surplus can
he used on hiSLWays that are of special
public importance, which naturally means
trunk lines. under any agreement that
the state commissioner may deem visa
to make with the towns in which ths
highways are located.
Another section provides that the state
commissioner shall have authority TO en-
ploy such aid as he may deem necessary
in carrying out the prov sions Of the act.
which would give opportunity for Tho
employment Of engineers and expert
builders on all the larger 'ohs of Stats
work, in the discretion of the commission
er The state commissioner would he
able TO concentrate a good sum of money
upou the trunk lines of the State, helping
such towns as are in hard straits tinan-
cially. by making such nrrangeme MIS-
with him as would seem reasonable un-
der tho circumstances. For instance, the
town of bolton, in Chuteuden county. has
| long stretch Of unsatis factory road
! which is on the main line between Mont.
! pelier and Burlington. The town is small
and comparatively poor, and unable to
| put this highway in flrst-claSs cOndi-
| ton The town of Bolton could be asked
| to vote all the money II can reaSona bly,,
! ana to put all the money that is coming
| to 1t from the State into the trunk line.
and then the commissioner could supple
ment this work with tho surplus money,
to the extent of putting the road In good
condition as quickly as possible.
This Is only one OF the numerous in
| stances which might be cited. There are
various towns IN which there are bad
hills and turns which should be clint
mated. but the towns should not he ca He'd
! upon for the entire expense of improve
ment, as it will be OF general benefit 10
! travellers over the highways In such
cases al over the state the surplus would
tie available in improving the wors,
stretches OF roads on the trunk lines and
in doing this We would not be taking
away one cent of the help. which IL COM
mg to ench town OF the State under th'
present law