The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-03-04
Trunk Line HIGHWAYS


discussed in these columns. the sub
ject of good roads is well worthy of
all the attention it can get The let
ter is as follows;
Editor of the Londonderry Sitter:
~ have noted from time to time the
opposition expressed by the Sitter
to the building Cf a system of trunk
line highways b. the state of Yer
mont but it seems to me that the OBJ
jections of the Sitter have been at
least partially due to a misconcep-
ton of the plan as originally propos-
ed and as since advocated by some
at least of those who have borne a
part in the discussion With your
kind permission | would like to pres
ent a plan~which | believe does away
with most of the objections you have
listed and a plan which am convinc-
ed is feasible and desirable.
The bill before the legislature OF
1908 provided for the construction OF
about 500 miles of main line high
ways, including two roads the length
of the state and six cross state lines.
Even this limited system would in
clude a part of the roads in some 1870
or over one half of the towns in Yer
mont and an average of about six
miles in each OF these 1870 towns. 1t
could thus hardly be said in fairness
that il was a scheme to favor few
towns at the expense OF the majority
as has been charged.
In this case however as in all
others, discussion of the matter
brings suggestions of improvement
and it is agreed by most of those who
have given time and thought to the
matter that a state system of roads
should include considerably more
than the 500 miles originally propos-
ed In fact it is already definitely
planned by some of those interested
to present to the legislature of 1910
bill calling for the building of about
1900 miles of state roads with the
proviso that as fast as they are built
they shall become the property of the
state and the state must thereafter
maintain them, thus relieving tk
towns of a part of their burden and
at the same time enabling the state
to control the property in which it
has invested its money
Such a system of 1900 miles OF
state roads would pass through ap.
proximately 215 of the 246 towns in
the state, while in most instances the
towns not touched would be directly
benefited through having a part OF
these roads forming a link between
them and their market towns
To make up the total of 1900 miles
there would be added to the 500
miles suggested in the bill Of two
years ago the principal county roads
in each of the several counties of the
state, connecting the chief market
| towns with their principal tributary
| villages as, for instance, a line down
| the West river valley from London
/ derry to Brattleboro and connecting
| in the north part of the town of Lon
! donderry with the trunk line across
/ the state from Manchester to Spring
field. This is but a sample sugges-
/ ton All over the state there would
be these main county roads and con
Meeting links and bringing the total
up to about 1900 miles that | think
should be included in a state system
of road building.
Now | am very much in favor Of
the state rebuilding these 1900 miles
OF road and maintaining them as a
state system and | believe il can be
done without bonding the state. am
unqualitiedly opposed to bonding the
g q a ,,f "a
and | do not think that the necessity
exists in this case The roads can
be built at the rate of 100 miles a
year without bonding
To finance such a system of state
roads during the next few years it is
chiefly necessary to devote the nat
ural increase in the income of the
state to the purposes of road build.
ing instead of blowing the money for
less important things.
Few people realize it but 1t is a
fact that the income Of the state OF
Vermont is increasing at the rate Of
more than fifty thousand dollars a
year. In 1895 the gross income of
the state was S470,5S7. In 1908 thir-
teen years later and the latest year
OF which a report is available the
gross income was $1,195,55O This
Increase means that the state has
practically S725.OO0 more to spend
a year now than it had thirteen years
ago.
This Increase in state income con.
tinues right along. The tax on say.
ings banks deposits this year will be
sixty thousand dollars more than two
years ago and 100000 more than in
1902 Don't think this money will
be left in the state treasury for it
won't. 1t is bound to be spent but
the state can have it spent in build.
ing state system of main roads if
the voters of the state will send men
TO Montpelier next fall pledged to
that purpose.
SO far | have dealt only with the
natural increase in state income but
1t is possible to do better than that.
The state is already appropriating
$4,000 a year all of which practically
goes into work on those roads which
would be included in a state system.
Surely $4,000 of the $4,000 appropri.
alton could be added to the trunk
line fund without injustice.
All this, remember does not take
a penny of income away from any
| town In 6guripu tbo et,to l,....,.