Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1912-01-24
Good Roads in Vermont.


nual convention of the American Road
Builders association, held at Roches-
ter, N. Y, in November. comprising
Messrs. Elmer Darling, James C.
Colgate and James B. Wilbur. The
report among other things says:
"Your delegates were impressed anew
with the great Importance or the
question of the building and main
tenance of good roads throughout the
United States. The question is not
new one but is becoming of greater
Importance every year. 1t ia evident
that any state which does not give
this subject due consideration, and |
use its best efforts to solve it's own
special problems, must be considered |
behind the times. In our state the |
question of good roads is of much |
greater Importance than is generally !
believed, except by a comparatively |
few of our people. A system of good |
roads throughout the State of Yer
mont would, we venture to say, add
enormously to the value of real estate
in every section. Not only would it
aid the farmer in carrying his prod
ucts TO market, but it would bring
into the market for summer homes,
with the incidental income derived
by the state and its inha bitants, large
conditions, are not available. Under
modern conditions, people will not
buy country residences where the
roads are bad.
your delegates were also greatly
impressed with the fact that 9the
knowledge of building roads suitable
to modern conditions is at the present
time far from complete, although
great progress has been made during
the past few years. The advent of
motor vehicles of great weight, and
driven at high rates of speed h as to
great extent revolutionized the plans
and methods for road building that
were until recently in common prac-
tice. 1t is unfortunately true that
large sums spent by sister states have
been practically wasted. For this
reason, we deem it fortunate that our
state has taken up this subject in
conservative manner. and has avoided
mourning large indebtedness for
building roads unsuitable to the con-
ditions for which they were intended.
In this connection, we desire to COM
mend the patience. the perseverance
and the excellent judgment of the
Road Commissioner of the state of
Vermont, who has not allowed him
self to be carried away with enthusi-
asm, but who has steadily and per-
slstently under great disadvantages,
carried on and encouraged the work
or road Improvement throughout the
state. 1t would seem. however. to
your delegates that the time has been
reached when it would be wise for the
state of Vermont to take further
steps towards The solution of this i'm
portant problem. The general topo-
naturally to suggest the Importance
of two highways through the state,
running north and south, on the east
and west sides of the mountains,
respectively. with here and there
roads running East and West. giving
convenient means of passage across
the mountains. In view Of the differ
ent financial conditions of the coun-
ties. towns and villages through
which these roads would RON, and also
the varying cost of building and
maintaining roads in different locali-
ties, it would seem to be wise, and
perhaps absolutely essential, that
these main highways should be, so
far as their building and up-keep is
concerned, directly under the control
of the state. They should be built by
state mon ~ and maintained by state
reve Tue, and, so far as possible alb
solutely under the control of the state
authorities. Judging from the re.
ports we heard of conditions in other
states, it would seem advisable that,
in addition to the control of these
trunk lines, more or less general
supervision over the highways should
be maintained by a central state
authority.
1.-THE cost of the building and main
tenance of such trunk lines would,
of course, depend very greatly upon
the kind of roads constructed. The
kind of road which could be most
economically constructed and main
tanned would vary greatly according
to the locality and the materials at
hand suitable for road building In
many localities excellent roads could
be built at small expense and main.
tanned at low cost. using as materi
al, under proper treatment, the sup
plies of local gravel which are founC
IN great abundance. In other places
the distance of the road from the
gravel banks would be so great tina
it would be more economical to ust
crushed stone bound with asphalt
though roads of this character, i
properly built. involve large frs
cost. Your delegates would suggest
in view OF the great varieties OF rOa
construction, road materials an
methods which are in use Throughout
the different sections Of the countr
that, before entering upon any plan
which involved large expenditures,
would be wise for the state to tax
every reasonable means of satisfying
itself, through investigation and ex
pertinent, as to the methods of con
struction, materials to be used, tn
plan of supervision. etc.. which ar
best adapted to its needs The stat
of Vermont has no, money to thro'
away in mistakes.
1--WE would suggest for your con
sideration the advisability of the az
pointment at the next legislature 9
a commission consisting of not les
than three, nor more than five, men
bers selected from different parts c
the state, who would serve, for tn