The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-05-04
WON'T INTERFERE
WITH TOWNS IN
ROAD WORK
Scope of Government Engineers
Work.
is TO HELP The TOWNS
Is to Give Them All the Aid and Ad-
vice Available From the
Road Department

There is a great deal of interest in
the work in this county Of the gov
ernment's road engineer, d. II. Wins
low, who has come here from Wash
ington to aid the town in doing their
road work to the best advantage.
or special interest to Bennington
county will be the economic inyestl-
CATION of road conditions here. The
office of public roads has authority
given it by congress, to investigate
every phase of the road conditions
in the United States.
A demand will be made by the gov
eminent on each road commissioner
as to where and how every dollar of
the road fund is expended. This
will be done merely in order to see
il the present system is giving the
tax payers one hundred cents worth
of value for every dollar of road tax
collected. If a return is not made
the government will ascertain Wfeth-
er il is the fault Of the system or
of the commissioner.
The government Is vitality interest
ed in the road question, especially
where the mail routes pass over the
roads. Last year a number of routes
were discontinued because the com
missioners refused 10 do their road
work satisfactory 10 the government
The placing OF sod, brush, poles
etc, interferes and delays the mail
in many cases and the action of the
government is prompt on complaint.
It will thus be seen that the commits.
sioner who is doing faithful work
need not fear showing both his ac-
counts and his work. A book VIII
be published by the government
showing where the taxpayers money
has been spent during the year, and
If well spent The facts will be
laid before the citizens for their ac-
ton, or that OF the grand iuries. This
pertains not only to the state aid
work, but also all town road WORK
except in the villages. Nearly ali
the commissioners have signed an
agreement TO do the work under gov
eminent supervision and to eXpend
the funds satisfactory TO the govern
ment.
1t will thus be clear to the tax
payers that most of the commission
ers are eager and willing to cooper
ate with the government to the fall
est extent The House of Represen-
tatives has just passed bill to aid
the commissioners with money on
the rural delivery routes. If this act
becomes a law. It is Of prime impor-
lance that the commissioners under
stand what the government requires
on these roads. in order that they can
avail themselves Of this financial aid
from the government
IL Is hoped Bennington county viii
be one of the first to receive this
government aid. A favorable report
by their representative, now here, of
the receptive attitude Of the road
commissioners will 20 far to bring
this about In but four towns have
the commissioners failed to sign the
government agreement The govern
ment is especially interested in the
town roads outside the state aid and
here II is expected to do the most
effective work.
Photographs will be taken OF es-
pecially bad places on the roads en-
request of the commissioner and
then the same place photographed
again after the commissioner has
improved II. This is all done free
by the government
Pictures will be taken of the school
houses on improved and unimproved
roads and the effect OF the condition
of the roads and school attendance,
noted. Farms will be photographed,
desirable summer sites and any spec
ial features that will attract tourists,
settlers and prospective buyers
Every advantage OF the county will
be shown in order to draw attention
to Bennington county. II will take
considerable time. but once the pub.
lie realize the extent OF this move.
ment, II is believed they will sup.
port and cooperate with the road
commissioner and the government
and place every means at hand, so
that the fullest cooperation can be
secured. Thousands OF counties now
have a system so that the taxpayers
know just how and where every dol.
lar OF the road fund is expended. In
these counties, the general public is
so well pleased that many contribute
70 the funds, so that a competent
commissioner has additional funds
20 keep up the roads. In most pla.
ces the road commissioners are inter.
ested in their work and eager 10
learn better ways to improve the
roads, and also better systems OF &C.
counting 80 that commentator is
taking the place OF criticism and the
people and officials are looking tow
ards one common object. the up.
building Of the place wherein they
live.
In many cases where complaint
las been made against a road com.