Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-01-18
YERMONT'S HIGHWAYS
suggestions Of the states Drlcynte,
(" the American Noadhuiihcrx--
Trunk Lines.

The Manchester journal prints the re.
port of delegate appointed by the gov
error to attend the annual convention
of the American road-builders' assoria.
ton held in Rochester, ~ T.. or which
the following is an extract:
| In our State, the question of good
roads Is Of much greater Importance
than is generally bclie> ed. except hy a
comparatively few of our l.coplc. a sys-
ten of good roads throughout the State
OF Vermont would. We venture to say.
add enormously To the value Of real
es'nie IN every section. Not only would
Iit aid the farmer in carrying his pro-
ducts 10 market but l. would bring into
the market for summer homes with the
incidental income derived by the State
and its inhabitants. large tracts of land
which. under present conditions. are not
iaveilabe Under modern conditions peo-
pie Will not buy country residences
where the roads are bad
| Your delegates We're also greatly i'm
pressed with The fact that the knowledge
! OF building roads suitable to modern
| conditions Is at the present time far
from complete, although grea; progress
has been made during the past few
years. TIL" advent of motor vehicles of
great weight. and driven at high rates
OF speed. has to IA great extent revolu-
tionized tie plans and methods for road
! buiding that were until recently In COM
mon practice. 1t is unfortunately true
that large sums sreN; hy sister States
have been practically wanted For this
reason We deem II fortunate that our
Stale has taken up this subject in
conservative manner and avoided incur
ring large indebtedness for building roads
unsuitable to the conditions for which
they were Intended
In this conne' ton we desire to com
mend the patience. perseverance and the
excellent Judgment of the Road Commits
sioner OF the state of Vermont who has
rot allowed himself 10 be carried away
with enthusiasm, but who has steadily
and persistenily under great disadvan-
tages carried on and encouraged the
work Of road Improvement throughout
the state.
1t would seem, however. to your uele-
gates that the time has been reached
when it would he wis" for the Safe
OF Vermont to take further steps to-
ward III" solution OF this important
problem
The general typographical conditions
of the state seem to naturally suggaat
the importance Of two highways through
the State running north and south on
the east and west sides of the noun
tains respectively. with here and there
roads running east and west giving
convenient means Of passage across the
mountains.
In view Of the different financial condi-
lions of the counties, towns and villages
through which these roads would run.
and also the VARYING cost OF building and
maintainina roads in different localities,
1t would seem to he wise, and perhaps
absolutely essential. that these main
highways should be- SO far as their
building and upkeep is concerned directly
under the control OF the State
They should be built by State money and
maintained by State revenue and 50 far
as possible absolutely under the control
of the State authorities. Judging from
tile reports we heard of conditions in
other States, 1t would seem advisable
that. in addition to the control of these
trunk lines. more or less general super
vision over the highways should be
maintained by central state authority.
This. however. il OF minor importance
as the benefits would inure more parti-
cularly 10 the localities involved than
to tne State In general. The cost of the
building and maintenance of such trunk
lines would. OF course. depend very great
~ upon the kind Of roads constructed.
The kind OF road which could be most
economically constructed and maimt aimed
would vary greatly according to the To-
cality and the materials at hand suit
able for BODYBUILDING In many local,-
Ties excellent roads could be built ~
small expense and maintained at a low
cost, using as material. under proper
treatment. the supplies OF local gravel
which are found in great abundance.
In other places, the distance OF the road
from the gravel banks would tie 80 great
that II would be more economical to
use crushed stone bound with asphalt.
though roads of tins character, II properly
built. involve large hrst cost