The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-12-05
ssIs,4er.9s FOR HIGHWAYS.
According to Annual Report, Barre City
Contributed SI,soI.27.


State Highway Commissioner c. w.
Gates Of Franklin has just closed the
seventh biennial report Of his depart
ment, which goes to show that in road
| work the year 1912 is the best ever.
More towns each year take advantage
of state aid and raise larger amounts
! themselves for road work. The num-
Der of miles improved has increased
| from 1904 in 1907 to l07.l7 in 1908,
l42.s4 in 1909, 1860 in 1910, and 1867
in 1911, while the number for 1912,
| though known to exceed all the others,
has not been accurately learned as yet.
Appropriations of $4,000 year in 1907
and 1908 have increased to Sl50,000 a
year in 1911 and 1912.
1t has come more and more to be an
established fact that by far the best
results are being obtained by appoint
ing as road builders men with expert
ence, rather than any one who happens
to get elected as commissioner at town
meeting regardless Of his ability.
Franklin county takes the lead in this
direction, with eleven towns out OF
fourteen working under this plan.
Quoting from the report; "Macadam
construction has been used in the cities
and large villages, ranging in quality
from the best asphalt macadam to wa
ter-bound macadam, with surface
treatment Of asphalt, or tarvia, or oil,
but most improvements for the biennial
term have been based on the idea of
making the best possible use Of the
small fund and natural materials avail
able for this work in each town. Roads
~ rat fad rs hoI has. nd
blind curves; steep grades are reduced
and bad curves are eliminated so far
as possible; roads are given correct
alignment, better grades, increased width,
under drainage, or telford foundation
where necessary, and the best gravel |
obtainable ii used for a surface. Coun- |
ty supervision begun in 1897 has be-
come Indispensable. Stress il placed on |
a policy OF maintenance"
The present law governing the cutting /
Of bushes on the roadside is working /
satisfactorily.
Mr. Gates asks for an increase OF I
funds and that the limit to towns be
increased from $3.50 to $1,000, and rec
ommends that the state supervise the
and repairs OF all bridges
over four feet span on selected high
ways and aid towns at least to the ex-
tent Of such supervision.
In 1911, there were l5,047 miles, 8
per cent. tax of sl03,520; apportionment
81 tax, Sl033S1.70; voted by towns,
s96,092; apportioned by state. sa6l092;
total amount available, s295,57l.79.
I'm 1919, the mileage was 5000 and
J per cent. tax. Sll0s3sl.7l; apportion-
ncnt Of tax, sll0,733Io3; voted BY \
towns, Sl02,379 arportioned by state,
sl02,379; total amount available, S3l5,-
tol.93.
In 1911, 1928 miles Of road were inn
proved; 209S Of telford road, 1920 of
gravel road at total cost OF 1888, 4gs,aT.
The reports from the various counties !
or 1912 have not been received. ID
In 1912. Washington county had at
t. disposal S2s,52056, of which se,440
anne from the state. OF this. Barre :
'ity, Montpelier, Mortified and Water
,ury voted the highest amount which
he state will duplicate $3.50. and from
ii sources, tax, amount voted and state
appropriation, Barre City raised total
I Sl,sol.27 for highway betterment
Orange county had at its disposal ,
%, 1894, of which S8,63l was appor-
toned by the state; Windsor county had
36,T52.l2. of which the state appor- /
ioned 1892; Caledonia county, S23,-
67.4s, of which $685. came from the I
tate. The county voting most money Y
nd therefore receiving most aid was b
rutland county, with Slo,405, the total ?
mount available for the work, from all h
ources. being s30,92s1s. This county, y
owever, was exceeded by Windsor coun- I
= in the amount available for road \
.ork, which was S36,T52.l2, the most h
sised by any county in the state.
Grand Isle county, on account of its
re, received the smallest appropriation
-om the state, $1,000, with total ex- a
enditure of $3.50, while the next = =
nallest was Lamoille county, with p
ate appropriation of S3,s24 and total n
mount at its disposal of Sl2,776.90. =