The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-02-27
COUNTY CAN HAVE
MORE MONEY TO
BUILD ROADS
Over Eight Thousand Dollars
More Is Available
ABOVE LAST YEAR LIMIT
Last Year This County Did Not Take
Advantage of All the Funds II
Could Have Had.

During the year 1912 Bennington
county spent more money on its
roads than ever before in its history.
In spite of this fact only two towns
availed themselves of the full state
aid proffered. In other words, Ben
nington county failed to use S13,S62
of the full amount available for its
roads.
Under the new highway law Ben
nington county is entitled to spend
$500 more on its roads than last
year. 1t is therefore possible for S2l,
S62 more to be spent on the roads
than in 1912 from the regular funds.
Practically every dollar OF this
money would be spent in Bennington
county for labor, teams and mater
ials.
If Bennington county does not
draw its full amount, this fund is
given to other counties. With the
exception of Grand Isle county, it
has fewer towns accepting the full
state aid than any county in the
state.
With the aroused sentiment for
better roads in Bennington county,
the year 1913 will probably see more
money spent on the roads than in
1912, and possibly the full amount
will be utilized.
AS the amount increases from
year to year, the Office of road com
missioner becomes of greater impor-
lance and selection of the proper Of
ficials is one of great moment to the
county. Under the present system.
a road commissioner draws his own
town orders and his accounts are not
audited. He handles from $1,000 to
$4,000 in the various towns and must
use this sum wisely and at the prop
err time TO secure the best results.
This not only calls for good bust
ness Judgment, but also for know
ledge of the first rudiments, at least,
of road construction, repairs and
maintenance.
The state highway department is
sues very careful instructions along
these lines which, If followed, not
that the town will receive its share
of the state funds on construction, re
pairs and maintenance. In addition,
it is also possible for the state high
way department. to issue special
funds to a town where its instruc-
tiops are carefully followed A good
many towns in Bennington county
received such funds during 1912. In
fact, more towns In Bennington
county received extra funds in 1912
than ever before in the history of the
county. This included Bennington,
Dorset, Landgrove, Manchester. Pow
nal, Readsboro, Searsburg, Shafts
bury, Stamford, Winhall and Wood
ford. 1t is hoped this list can be ex-
tended during 1913 by the proper CO.
operation between the town and
state officials.
Last year donations were received
from private individuals in Benning-
ton County in the form of cash, labor,
teams and materials, and as this was
brought to the attention Of the State
Highway Commissioner, that depart
ment duplicated these donations with
similar amounts from the special
highway fund. This policy will be
continued during 1913. as far as the
special fund will permit and indivi-
duals in Arlington, Bennington, Dor
set and Readsboro have already
promised to contribute during the
coming year.
II the proper applications are filed,
II is exnpctpd the Office of Public
Roads, Department of Agriculture,
Washington, d. c., will continue its
work in the country.