Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-22
THE BURLINGTON THURSDAY

towns we found the longest stretch OF
straight road we had seen in the State.
This broad fertile valley contains some Of
the finest farming land In the State. At
Vergennea, we turned west through Pam
ton. crossed the lake at Chimney Point
and went ZIP to Fort Crown Point This
fort shows about the most extensive ruins
of any In this country. The walls now
standing are as true to-day as when they
were built. Continuing south on tho New
York side as far as Ticonderoga, we cross
ed again at Larabee's Point. Any ono Of
three different routes might be taken from
here to Rutland We crossed the hill
through Orwell and Sudbury to Brandon
and from there down the valley to Proc
tor. Days mileage. %.
The writer has toured more or less
through New Hampshire. Massachusetts,
Connecticut and New York, and from his
| observation Vermont Is superior to ZACH
| of them. Why? One must combine sew.
eral elements to answer this question. In
| the first place, the gravel roads are ex-
celent for automobillng at the present
| time, and thanks to Road Commissions:
Gates's untiring work. they are rapidly
| becoming even better Then too. the peo
pie show peculiar friendliness which
| adds incalculablc pleasures to such a tour
| But perhaps of more Importance than any
| Of these or others, is the scenery. That
word, however, only half explains my
meaning. There Is magnificent scenery in
many other States but the topography Of
Vermont Is peculiar. In that. no matter
what part of the State you are in, you are
always confronted with a variety of seem
| ,x-bi oh IN n
ton 1t may be a wooded mountain side.
or rich green valley dotted with the
farm houses; 1t may be a rushing noun
tain torrent or an emerald lake: 1t may
be a cozy hamlet or a distant mountain
peak Whatever your environment may
be, you are ever alert to the surrounding
charm.
In the course of our trip we made few
notes: one of them concerning guide posts.
While these are found at almost every
cross road. there is now and then one
missing. An automobiles notices this
more than anyone else. The writer well
remembers that 1, was the lack of a guide
post at STAFFORD, that resulted In pain
full Journey over the Old Road to Chelsea
when good road was close by. Guide
posts are an absolute necessity. The sub
ject OF roads was also ever present In cur
minds. At the present time. very god
: gravel roads extend into nearly all parts
of the State. Yet. we hope they will be
so built that, eventually, there may BIT
permanent road from Canadian line tt
Massa chusetts on either side of the noun
tain. The benefits to be derived from
such would be immea surable. Right ir
. this connection. Il word of praise for the
, Long Trail seems appropriate. In thu
very undertaking of such a scheme. W.
see true progress in every sense of thu
word. To the State and her people as wei
, as to those of other States, II should b,
extremely beneficial.
= We realize that the expenses of automo
billing are exceedingly variable Tour.
!, such as ours. can be very costly or the!
may be economical We conducted our.
according to the latter method. We spen
, three nights and had four meals witt
, friends. Some gasolene was given Us
, Otherwise the following figures Include
l our entire trip:
< Total mileage. 1857
e Average mileage per day. 50.
< Total amount of gasolene used, 70 gal
e Ions.
Total amount Of oil used. 10 quarts, l.
t pints
s Paid for gasolene. ss.7s; per person, A3a
:, Total cost of trip per mile, s.0iis; pc
5 person $02I.
e Total cost of trip per day. s3.7o; per per
n son, $l.s6,
d Total cost of trip. s44.5s; per person
: s2229
q In closing. let me repeat what was sal
d, in the beginning: the purpose OF this arr.
d Gle is simply to assist and encourage n
o many Ar possible to become acquainte
t with the real Vermont.