Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1912-01-17

ture some suggestions as to the policy |
to be- pursued on the subject in our
State, fully realizing, however, that
such suggestions carry no weight other
than coming from the delegates to this
convention.
Your delegates were impressed anew
with the great importance of the ques-
ton of the building and maintenance
of good roads throughout the United
States. The question is not new one,
but is becoming of greater importance
every year. The amount of money
spent in the aggregate throughout the
United States and by some of the in-
dividual States is enormous. The agi-
tation in favor of good roads is confined
to no one section but seems to He spread
ing throughout the whole country-the
North, South, East and West. 1t is
evident that any State which does not
give this subject due consideration, and
use its best efforts to solve its own
special problems, must be considered
behind the times. IN our State, the
question of good roads is of much great
er importance than is generally believed,
except by comparatively few of our
people. a system of good roads through
out the state of Vermont would, We
venture to say, add enormously to the
value OF real estate in every section.
Not only would it aid the farmer in
carrying his products to market, hut it
would bring into the market for sum-
mer homes, with the incidental income
derived by the state and its inhabitants,
large tracts of land which, under present.
conditions, are not available. Under
modern conditions, people will not buy
country residences where the roads are
bad.
Your delegates were also greatly i'm
pressed with the fact that the knowledge
of building roads suitable to modern
conditions is at the present time far
from complete, although great progress
has been made during the past few
years. The advent OF motor vehicles OF
great weight, aud driven at high rates
of speed, has to great extent revolu-
tionized the plans and methods for road
building that were until recently in
common practice. 1t is unfortunately
trus that large sums spent by sister
States has been practically wasted. Fol-
this reason We deem it fortunate tina,
our State has taken up this subject in a
conservative manner, and has avoided
mourning large indebtedness for build.
ing roads unsuitable to the condition.
tor which they were intended. 10 this
connection we desire to commend the
patience, perseverance and the excellent
judgment of the Road Com missioner OF
the State of Vermont, who has no,
allowed himself to be carried away with
enthusiasm, but who has steadily and
persistently under great disadvantages
carried on and encouraged the work oil
road improvement throughout the State
1t would seem, however, to your dele
gates that the time has been reached
when il would be wise for the state oil
Vermont to take further steps toward
the solution of this important problem
The general Typographical conditions o.
the State seem to naturally suggest the
Importance of two highways through
the State, running North and South OF
the East and West sides of the noun
tains respectively, with here and ther,
roads running East and West, givinl
convenient means of passage across tn,
mountains. In view of the differen,
financia. conditions of the counties
| towns and villages through which thes,
roads would run, and also the varying
cost OF building and maintaining
roads in different localities, it would
seem to be wise, and perhaps absoutel,
essential, that these main highway
should be, so far as their building ant
up-keep is concerned, directly unde
the control of the State. They should
be built by State money aud maintaine,
by State revenue and so far as possible
absolutely under the control of the Stat
authorities. Judging from the report
we heard of conditions in other States
it would seem advisable that, IN add
! ton to the control of these trunk lines
F. more or less general supervision owe
: the highways should be maintained b
central State authority This, however
8 is of minor importance as the beuefit
would inure more particularly to tn
8 localities involved than to the State il
t general. The cost of the building an
8 maintenance of such trunk lines would
Q OF course, depend very greatly upon tn
9 kind of roads constructed. The kin
: oil road which could be most economi
caily constructed and maintained woul
u vary greatly according to the localit,