Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-10

compacting by travel Of the material nst
In grading the roads as we'll as the gray
used I'm surfacing them. A fatter crow
would distribute the travel over wild
surface and in consequence cause IN
roads to have a wider appearance and
wear down more uniformly. The road
with a sharp crown, however will pro
ably stand longer without resurfacn
The grass shoulders We, found by ed
perience to be perfectly safe for turnin
out when meeting or passing Othd
In my trip passing through 70 township
and covering over 6o0 miles Of highway
/ was very much impressed in all sec
lions Of the state. except in Addlso
county, by the abundance OF first-cas
gravel for road building purposes. Bette
material more generally distributed
have never seen anywhere. and I bellev
the practice Of using this material foI
surfacing improved roads Is correct frorJ
every point Of view and should he contSsl
ued. In the first place such gravel az Il
available In almost every locality in VerI
mont makes the most agreeable surfa 81
that ! know of for general country ira q
fc. as we'll as for automobile traffic. Dis
tributed as generally as 1t is in Vermont
there can be no question but what 1t II
the most economical surfacng material
that can be used in practically every sccl
ton Of the State. Furthermore a grave
surface can be renewed and maintained
Mt less expense and with l9ss apparatuf
ana with less skill than any other kind o
II surface. which will be equally satsfac
tory. / believe it would pay TO draw thii
material either with traction engines ant
trains of wagons OF three to five cubi,
yards capacity, or upon the railroad fo
considerable distance to surface roads t,
those sections which are deficient il
! gravel.
HIGHWAY LAW EXCELLENT
After going over the various points O
the State highway law, and the system
under which the State highway work 1
managed and supervised in Vermont IN
details of which 1t IS needless to repea
here, I must say that the law and tn
method Of administering the law are YER
well suited to Vermont conditions. Tn
present system results in keeping al
money expended on the work at home
l. G., 1t Is paid to local labor entirely. I
results. however. in more or less incon
venience to the travelling public on &C
count Of work that Is started early in tn
season. often being held up during hay
ing or at other times when the deman
for farm labor Is urgent not being com
peted until late fall. II would appea
that about all the work that can b
each year
If the citizens Of Vermont desire Il
progress faster in the building Of i'm
proved roads. the provisions of tn
law as at present administered ar
sufficient to guarantee them full re
turn for any reasonable expenditur
they see At to make. If very nuc'
more money is to be expended. how
ever It may be necessary to DO thi
by letting work out to contract instea
of following the system now general
! ly in vogue OF doing constructio
work through the local forces in eac
town
Personally believe the tourist bus
mess of the State could b increase
many fold If the appropriations 70
highway improvement were under
taken at once. In travelling over tn
eastern half OF the nited States
have seen no more beautiful scener
than can be found in practically ever
section of Vermont.
The thing that impressed me mos
on this tour was the smoothness
the road surfaces in practically ever
eastern half of the United States
be narrow or run over steep gra lie
markedly smooth ana free from rut
and loose rocks. This I consider re
markable. 7 believe II results frof
the system of regular maintenance G
selected highways which unjerstan
has been In operation about tire
years. While good results have bee
obtained in most instances. occasion
ally stretch of road was passed owe
which showed lack Of attention by IN
local commissioner
/ believe 100 per cent. better result,
would be obtained II some system coul
be devised whereby the State commits
sioner could have entire jurisdctio
over the care of all selected highway
Ing all towns to raise and turn over
the State for maintenance purposes
certain amount per milo for selecte
highway. and the state commission
held responsible for the condition
these highways with authority whic
now vests in him to use as much OF Il
automobile registration funds as nece
sary to supplement funds furnished I
the towns. This would. within reasonab
limits. bring all selected highways TO
uniform state OF maintenance. nj a ur
! form cost per mile to the towns
in conclusion | must State that It a
; pears to me that no changes are needle
} in the State highway law with respe
: to its administration.
The two points in connection with In
proved road work needing attention n
whether the State shall increase y
am punt of work done each year /
making a larger State appropriate
and whether the State will provide
stronger system of maintenance for :
lected highways by giving the Stat
highway commissioner more turisdictic
over this work. | believe the State cs
well afford to rake affirmative actiC
on both of these points.