The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-03-12
THIS is A BIG WEEK
FOR COUNTY ROAD
BUILDERS
Two Gatherings to Promote the
Good Roads Idea.
Mr.. J. 8. WILBUR'S BANQUET
Prominent Citizens VIII Be His
Guests at Putnam House on
Thursday Afternoon

This is the week of the roadmen
in Bennington. On Thursday, March |
IA, a party of the leading citizens of |
the county will be the guests of Jas. !
B. Wilbur of Manchester at the Put |
nam House and on Friday State High |
way Commissioner Charles W. Gates
of Highgate will meet the Benning-
court house for the annual gathering
required by law.
The banquet at the Putnam House
on Thursday is the personal affair of
Mr.. Wilbur. For this gathering he
has made all the arrangements and
he will pay all the expenses. He has
sent invitations to the leading citi-
dens of the county, both professional
and business men, but in selecting
his list of names has taken particular
pains to choose the town and county
officials upon whom directly and in
directly falls the work of construct
ing and caring for the highways.
At the banquet IL is planned to
form Bennington County Good
Roads association for the purpose OF
creating a more harmonious interest
in the subject of permanent high
ways. Since his return from the
good roads convention at Rochester,
n Y, which Mr.. Wilbur attended as
the delegate from Vermont, he has
taken an increased interest in the
construction OF permanent highways
and the meeting on Thursday is to
be held in order that he put himself
IN personal touch with the people OF
the county in which he has made his
home. Arrangements are being made
at the Putnam House for the enter.
tainment of $50 to 200 guests and the
man who has received an invitation
and fails to attend will miss an inter
sung ana enjoyable occasion.
The meeting on Friday is the reg
ular annual meeting OF the commits
sioners over which Mr.. Gates will
preside
State Highway Commissioner Gates
has issued circulars calling the annu-
al meetings Of the highway commits
sioners in the several counties OF the
state as provided by law. In this
circular he says:
Should it be impossible for any
commissioner to attend the meeting
held in his own county, he should at.
tend one in such other county as is
most convenient. 1t is of the utmost
Importance that every road commits.
sioner becomes thoroughly informed
as to his duties under the new road
laws, and in no other way can he do
this so effectively, as by attendance
upon the meetings, and participation
in the discussions.
Sec. 4OO5 p. S. (as amended)
reads in part as follows:-"All-
money appropriated orapportioned
to towns by this chapter be laid
out and expended by a commits
sioner appointed by the selectmen
OF each town with the consent
and approval of the state high
way commissioner, except that
the selectmen of any town and
the state highway commissioner
may agree upon any plan of ex-
pending the state money in that
town that may seem to them best
under the existing conditions.
Whenever the selectmen fail or
refuse to act, the state highway
commissioner may act, and in all
cases, shall have full control of
the expenditure of the money
provided for in this chapter. The
location of each years work
shall be determined by the state
highway commissioner but the
selectmen and town road com
missioners shall be consulted in
regard to plans and location of
the work"
1872 miles Of Vermont roads were
improved last year under state super.
vision. Shall this be repeated this
yearY II so there is strenuous work
ahead In this movement the towns
and the state department are both
vitality concerned, and should under
stand each other perfectly in order
to get the best results. Mr.. Select.
man, II you are interested for your
town, don't fail to be present to
discuss questions pertaining to your
duties in connection with the State
Aid law. Come and get in touch with
this movement, which is of so much
Importance TO our state The pbblic
are cordially invited The discussions
are open to ALL There will be sess-
ions both forenoon and afternoon.