Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-02-09
NEW HIGHWAY LEGISLATION.

fact that the Legislature has made
possible still more rapid progress In
the matter of highway Improvement,
and In view of the campaign TO be
made for summer business our read
ers will be interested in the summary
of the good road situation based upon
Information furnished the Free Press
by Hon. c. w. Gates, state highway
commissioner.
The plan of highway Improvement
MS inaugurated by the law passed in
i'oo' ana as amended in 1908. is con
tinued in force with two slight
chanses The apportionment of 1906,
the first one that the State ever made.
was $4,000 annually. with mini
mum limit of one hundred dollars.
and maximum limit of three hum
dred dollars to the towns that wished
TO vote to take advantage of this law.
This sum Was practically all used up
in both years, and in 1908 the amor.
Torment was increased to $4,000 an
nually, and the maximum limit to
towns was raised to $500.
The present Legislature has in
creased the appropriation to $4,000,
and has increased tie maximum limit
to towns to $3.50 In tho years 1909.
and 1910 there was small surplus
OF from twelve to fourteen thousand
dollars each year that was not called
for by towns and under a provision OF
the law Of !e0S this money was used
in towns that had roads that were
not Of special Importance 10 them.
but were Of large public Importance
under such terms as the State com
missioner could make with the selec-
men OF those towns. The work I'M
der this provision proved very salts
factory. and enabled the department
to improve several sections of road
chat would not have been improved
for long time. II the towns were to
vote money or help do the work.
Under the present law this provis-
ion is enlarged by allowing any OF
tho surplus money from the appro-
?riatior Of $4,000 not called for by
the towns to be used on roads OF
spccIa, public Importance, on terms
that may be agreed upon by the state
Highway commissioned and The scloct-
mon Of the towns in which such roads
are located. This means that the do
rartment can now develop series Of
trunk line highways throughout the
state, improving the very worst
places. whether those places are If
special Importance to the towns in
which they are located or not.
This will be especially helpful to
the poorer towns through which the
trunk lines pass. and which may be
burdoned with large mileage OF
suck road. and with n Grand list 80
small that they would NOT he expect
cd to vote the necessary amount 70
Improve the roads as rapidly as tho
"1hlio would demand /, will also bo
possible 10 employ steam drills to 4,
work in towns that could not DO eco.
ironically done by themselves. ana 10
continue Crom town to town on i'm
rort.nt trunk lines orenin. rh, ,,o,.
cor more extensive improvements
than could be done If we waited for
the towns t. take the initiative.
II is anticina+od that tbo s,-r,,,.
rooe,. iron, thfs s15o ooo rrrd Will, 10
quite large and that corsidarat,o
work ,Ione tIe ltnoe the, o,,,,t,1
can he done each voor Of ,hi. .o
Tho incroased ar,o,,rt mr. ,,oro,. o,.,u-
oblo TO-. the diffcrc,t ioh. win
# necessary IN cr,rlo,- p l.. ,bo 100.
men 10 supeyint.rd an, 1o,. o,. "a,
v.orl. and an ~ the ,,,-.,.,o,, ..A-
y.ul 10 c,,otuIi, ,.,5
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