The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-02-17

4
that at this same time there was a
startling number Of abandoned
farms in Vermont. Naturally a cause
for the abandonment was eagerly
sought. Consequently the poor roads
had to take their share of the blame.
Thus it was that in the midst of this
economic fernent speakers and writ
ers agitated the project in favor of
better highways with good deal OF
zest.
In the Agricultural Report of 1892
1893 an article appeared fresh from
the pen of G. NJ Winslow of Bran
don, VT. This instructive article was
issued in March, 1898 and copy was
! sent forthwith to every town road
commissioner in the State AS re-
suit, the substance came to be
moulded into public opinion.
That same year another interest.
ing article appeared in the Agricul-
tural Report, entitled: Roads and
Their Management" This article was
written by Mr.. Wells of Randolph. 1t
showed how inc population in this
State varies from 33S inhabitants to
Burlington, to per mile in MARI
boro. 1t also contained a classified
ton of roads as follows: Urban,
Rural, and Subrural. This article
further showed that only Sc towns
out of 24G have, on an average IS in
habitants per mile of highway. OBJ
viously the support of the larger
towns was sorely needed and in
fact obtained, through the medium of
the present five per cent highway
tax. in return for this aid the pen
dulum swings back and the larger
ltowns are benefited by the thrift
and prosperity of the smaller.
In his retiring message in 1892
Gov. Page recommended more eX-
pert supervision of highways, say
ing, that Improvement in roads
meant more comfort and more COM
merce.' Gov. Fuller in succeeding
Gov. Page caught up the spirit of the
hour and urged the appointment Of
State road commission. IN due
time the resolution was passed and
approved. 1t read in part as follows:
The Governor shall appoint a COM
mission whose duty it shall be to
make an examination of the highway
system in the State and to make
such report as in their judgment
may be deemed eXpedient.
On retiring Gov. Fuller urged tn,
State Legislature to apply the five
per cent State road tax to a more
permanent use in roadbuilding,
pointing out meanwhile, the tendency
to use that money when re-appor-
toned for local purposes in keeping
in repair ordinary highways.
Since Governor Fuller's term o!
office, every Governor either actual
or prospective, has felt it to be in
cumbent upon him to say something
about road improvements. All the
goes to show that the subject OF
good roads" lies close to the hearts
of all wide-awake Vermonters.
A State Commissioner.
In Governor CIRCUITS term of Office
$S7, 900 was re-distributed annually
from the five per cent tax. Owing
to the increasing laxity with which
that money was applied to perman-
ent highways, the Legislature OF
1898 created a State Highway Com
missioner to see that the five per cent
tax was properly expended for moro
permanent highways and not for the
ordinary repairs which the several
towns themselves were bound to
make Since that time much has
been accomplished in the way of I'M
provement in our main highways. The
office of State Highway Commission
er has proved so important that 1t
affords opportunities for internal
Improvement seldom equalled
throughout the State in any other Of
fetal capacity.
Thus we have seen how the con-
ception of good roads has enlarged
its scope. 1t began with the indivd-
ual then passed over to the town,
county, State and today may be call
ed a somewhat national conception
Evidence that the good roads agita-
tion has transcribed the confines OF
our State is shown by the fact that
there are now in active operation
such organizations as the National
Good Roads Congress and others Of
less Importance. Another sign of the
times was made manifest a little
over a year ago when the Hon. WI
liam Sulzer. Representative TO Con-
gress from New York, made a
speech in the National House OF
Representatives, entitled THE Gail
of the People for Good Roads" 1t
was an enthusiastic address and will
: doubtless prove the herald of Ma
tional Post-Road legislation in the
near future.
In conclusion we have traced the
evolution of highways in Vermont,
presenting at the close, the possib.l-