The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-11-18
Be NNINGTON COUNTY
VERMONT IMPROVEMENT
ASSOCIATION NEWS

nuuUUlnI HUH ULUu
The following clipping from paper
in a neighboring state is an indica-
ton of what the new era in road
building is doing for Bennington
County.
New Road Withstood Recent Heavy
Rain
Vermont Highway Officials Greatly
Pleased with Work
State Highway Supervisor Gates
of Vermont was in North Adams
yesterday in company with Highway
! Supervisor Bates of Pownal, who
has charge of the roads in Benning-
ton County, and d. II. Winslow, OF
the government Office of good roads.
They made a trip, TO Readsboro to
look over the new road that is being
put in at what is known as Horse
shoe Curve, and found that only So
was necessary for repairs on that
Vermont. about two weeks ago. While
in this city the highway supervisors
called on Harrison Hanley and DR.. +.
d. Stafford, both of whom have
shown considerable interest in the
Horseshoe Curve road. They also
paid a visit to w. B. Plunkett of Ad-
ans, who contributed $500 when the
funds for the road were being raised
some time ago.
Drag Record for October
Sandgate Csc per mile.
Readsboro, 25c per mile.
Bennington, 2Sc per mile, A. w.
White.
Bennington, SSc per mile, H. y
Durham
Winhall, 35c per mile.
Stamford, soc per mile.
Landgrove, SSc per mile.
The following towns failed TO hand
intheir reports within the legal lirI.:s.
required, Arlington, Searsburg, Sun
derland, Woodford.
The following towns still have state
maintenance funds to work out IN or
der to receive their full share of au-
tomobile money, Arlington, Glasten-
bury, Manchester, Sandgate, Sears
burg, SALISBURY. Stamford, Pownal,
Peru, Readsboro, Sunderland.
This money cannot be carried over
into 1913 and must be worked out in
1912 If the automobile people are 70
pay their share of the road tax.
Now is a good time to see all cul-
verts and waterways are clean Of
| trash and to fill up all ruts. II the
roads are dragged smooth before they
| freeze they will stay smooth all win
ter and save sleigh runners. If al
| lowed TO freeze rough then many a
| sleigh runner will receive a severe
wrench this winter. See all bitches
are open so they can handle the
water
Here is what Joseph f. Wing in the
Breeders Gazette, Chicago. ILL.,. re
lates about the King drag in the
South.
I'VE were cruising for land in
well, never mind what state it was (;
it might have happened in almost
any state. Ii was not exactly new
| country. but it was rather sparsely
| settled None of the roads had been
graveled or macadamized and 1t had
rained very great deal. The roads
were very primitive, yet they were
nicely rounded up and had been kept
nicely dragl ed We overlook ant
passed a four-mile team hitched &c S
King drag; the use of the team was
, paid tor by the community Aftei
each rain it is the custom to dral
these roads. We grumbled little a
the occasional chuck holes, but in thu
main the road was delightful and GU
horses trotted briskly along. w,
gave the roads so little thought (w'
do not think about things that ar
giving us little trouble) that we hat
| time to inspect the farms that W,
| passed by and to discuss their ad
| vantages and deslrabiities.
Suddenly we left the good roads
| We came into another state and to
i region where roads are neglected
| II was after a wet winter. The road
: were awful. Now and then they be
: came impossible and we took to tn
pastures to avoid dangerous mud
4, holes. When we found any "repai
| work" done II was of the crudes
| SOTl, ike lnTOWlnB DIdutleS VI liet
into the mud. Two strong horses al
tached to our buggy began to becom
distressed as they labored through
the mud. The soil and topograph,
were the same as we had left, tn
sole difference that now no one drag
ged the roads. We were at frs
amused, then frightened, then i9Gie
nant IL seemed that we would neve
get through. Finally we mel nal
with good horses and a buggy, goin
in the opposite direction. We halt
ed him and demanded. why are no
these roads dragged?'
81 can't tell you, sir. ! reckon be
cause we never have done it."
II l would not accept farm on thos
undragged roads as a gift and live o.
it as men do today. Civilization. edl
cation, progress-these things ar
impossible where such roads ar,
Further. the effort of horses to dra
vehicles through that mud is at leas
fifty times the effort that would b
necessary to keep those roads drai
ged dry and drveble