Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1912-10-16

were found by experience to be per-
fectly safe for turning out when meet
ing or passing other vehicles.
In my trip passing through seventy
nine townships, ana covering over six
hundred miles of roadway, | was very
much surprised in all sections of the
state, except in Addison county, by
the abundance of frst-class gravel for
road building purposes. Better mater
lal more generally distributed I have
never seen anywhere, and I believe
the practice of using this material for
surfacing improved roads is correct
from every point of view and should
be continued. In the first place such
gravel as is available in most every
locality in Vermont makes the most
agreeable surface that | know of for
general country traffic, as we'll as for
automobile traffic. Distributed as
generally as it is in Vermont there
can be no question but that it is the
most economical surfacing material
that can be used in practically every
section of the state. Furthermore a
gravel surface can be renewed and
maintained at less expense and with
less apparatus and with less skill
than any other kind of surface, which
will be equally satisfactory. I believe
that it would pay to draw this material
either with traction engines and trains
of wagons of three to five cubic yards
capacity, or upon the railroad for con-
siderable distance to surface roads in
those sections deficient of gravel
After going over various points of
the state highway law. and the system
under which the state highway work
is managed and supervised IN Yer
mont, the details of which it is need
less to repeat here, [ must say that
the law and the method of administer
ing the law are very we'll suited to
Vermont conditions. The present
system results in keeping all money
expended on the work at home, i. E.
it is paid to local labor entirely. 1t
results however in more or less incon-
venience to the travelling public on
! account of work that is started early
] IN the season, often being held up
, during haylng or at other times when
\ the demand for farm labor is urgent,
not being completed until late fall 1t
would appear that about all the work
that could be handled in this way is
now being done each year.
If the citizens of Vermont desire to
progress faster in the building Of i'm
proved roads the provision of the law
as at present administered are Suffi-
clent to guarantee them full return
for any reasonable expenditure they
see fit to make. If very much more
money is to be expended, it may be
necessary to do this by letting work
out to contract instead of following the
system now generally in vogue. Of
dong construction work through the
local forces in each town.
Personally, | believe the tourist
business Of the state could be in
creased many fold if the appropriations
tor highway Improvement were under
taken at once. In travelling over the
easternshalf of the United States
have seen no more beautiful scenery
than can be found practically in every
section Of Vermont.
''The thing that impressed me most
| on this tour was the smOothness of the
road surfaces in practically every sec
ton of the state. The road might be
narrow, crooked or run over steer
grades, but nearly always the surface
was remarkably smooth and free from
ruts and loose rocks. This I consider
remarkable. [ believe it results from
the system of regular maintenance Oh
selected highways which I understand
has been IN operation about three
years. While many good results have
been obtained in most instances, oc
casionally a stretch Of road was passed
over which showed lack of attention
by the local commissioner believe
100 per cent better results would bt
, obtained if some system could be de
vised whereby the state commissions.
could have entire jurisdiction over thu
care of all selected highways. Thi
, might be accomplished by requiring al
towns to raise and turn over to tn,
, state for maintenance purposes a Ger
tain amount per mile of selected high
, way and the state commissioner he'll,
? responsible for the condition of thes
: highways with authority which nov
| vests in him to use as much of tn
/ automobile registration funds as neces
/ sary to supplement funds furnished b,
: the towns. This would, within reason
, able limits, bring all selected high
ways to uniform state of mainten
ance at uniform cost per mile t.
towns
"In conclusion I must state that
appears to me that no changes ar
needed in the state highway law wit
respect to it's administration.
The two points in connection wit
improved road work needing attentio
, are whether the state shall increas
the amount of work done each year b
making larger state appropriation
> and whether the state will provide
stronger system of maintenance fo
selected highways by giving the stat
highway commissioner more jurisdie
ton over this work. I believe the stat
can we'll afford to take affirmative &C
, ton on both of these points.
Respectfully submitted.
paul D. Sargent"
8 IN BOSTON MARKETS