The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-04-09
Can Be Had If Wanted.

The communication of Editor Howe
of the Bennington Banner that ap-
peared in the preceding issue of The
Landmark, and that gave in clear
and comprehensive detail all that
pertains to his plan for the construc-
ton. of system of state highways
should be read and considered by
the people of Vermont. AS a men,
Der of the legislature from Benning-
ton Mr.. Howe at its last session in
troduced a bill which embodied pro
vision for the building Of state high
ways aggregating some eight hun
bred miles. The bill, for various
reasons, fell by the wayside; but
nevertheless, its presentation awaken
ed an interest that was state wide
and withal so manifest as to portend
continued consideration on the
part of the people and it is as good
as settled that in the legislature of
1901 the bill, broader than ever in
it's scope, will be reintroduced and be
backed by a compact and well orga-
lllASA VI TIC pCOplCs
In speaking of Editor Howe's com
munication the Randolph Herald
says I'm practical value it is worth
all the platforms of petty platitude
and glittering generalities that have
| thus far been put forth in this cam
paign.' The communication is clear
cut, practical in its every detail, and
free from anything that is in any
way visionary. Its main topic is
How to finance state roads,, and
| that there may be no need of bond
| ing the state Mr., Howe proposes that
only one hundred miles of the total
fifteen hundred miles as contemplate
ed, be built in year. BY this plan
it would take full fifteen years for
the completion of the system, which
| is too long to wait for the complete
utilization of so small a state inn
provement 1t is at this point that
! The Landmark differs from the plan
of Mr.. Howe. 1t would bond the
state that the proposed enterprise
be completed at the earliest possible
date. New York built the original
Erie canal by bonding the state.
Massachusetts built wholly or in part
every railroad within her borders by
bonding herself, and every few years
she is out of debt and then she will
bond herself again to aid some other
enterprise. Today she has three mil
lion people simply because she was
ever aiding some state enterprise.
This bonding of Massachusetts be-
| WhOn hn Daarftnn a
Boston was scarcely three years old
and 1t has been kept up ever since,
and she has grown without a single
day of hesitation or stagnation. So
why not bond Vermont and build
these state trunk lines in FIVE years
and not fifteen, as planned?
Mr.. Howe says that the proposed
system can be financed by devoting
the natural increase in the states
income to the purpose, providing only
one hundred miles are built annual
ly. This is wise and iustifiable
position. AS things are today this
increase In the states income goes
TO the creation of new offices and the
increase of salaries Once let the
state enter upon some enterprise
and the politicians will be slow to
suggest that more Offices be created
But It is easily practicable for Yer
mont to enhance its annual income
by at least $4,000 by reducing the
size OF the legislature and the aboli
ton OF many needless Offices. The
legislature would be far more efici
I ent were its membership reduced one
, half, and in addition there would bs
the saving OF a great sum to be ex
pended in road building; an enc
that would benefit the entire state
This income Of the state belongs {,
, the people, and II they will they car
have II expended for state improve
ment rather than have II expende,
for junkets and useless officials.
= The state highways, as embodIe,
r in the plan Of Mr.. Howe, the peopl
can have by simply electing men I,
: the next legislature who will vote 70
such a system.-White River juno
t ton Landmark.