The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-02-21
BENNINGTON COUNTY ROADS
Resume of the Work Accomplished
During 1912.


During 1912.
The year 1912 marked a new epoch
in road work in Bennington county.
During the year more road work was
accomplished than ever in the his
tory of the county More miles of
road were built and double the
amount of money spent than in 1911.
Public sentiment was awakened
which was manifested to the extent
that citizens donated money, mater
ials and labor in order to advance
the work. There have been con-
structed SO sections IN II different
towns. This work has been done for
the most part under the advice and
supervision of representative of the
U. s. Office of Public Roads. Sever
al types of surfacihg have been used.
There have been 25 gravel roads
built, roads surfaced with hard pan,
/ with crushed stone and roads
were simply drained and surfaced
with a natural soil.
The distribution of this road i'm
provement among the towns is as
follows. Pownal, sections; Dorset,
4; Bennington, A; Sandgate, 8; Man
chester, 2; Woodford, Q; Sunderland,
2; Rupert, q; Searsburg, 2; and l
each in Winhall, SALISBURY, SIAM
ford, Arlington, Glastonbury, Land
grove and Readsboro.
There has been built in addition an
arch stone bridge 25 feet span in
the town of Manchester and a section
80 onnorofo naua,nauf and draiDana
in the same town.
The total length of road graded
amounted to 1885 feet; total sur
facing, 26,21O feet, and the total
cost, $34,113.97 including the Man
chester work mentioned.
Some of the principal features OF
the construction work were the reduc
ton of steep grades and the elimna-
ton of curves. Some of the curves
were dangerous to travel and the
roads were frequently narrow Some
filling was done to obtain drainage
and considerable rock has been re-
moved. In all cases suitable founda-
ton for the roads has been provided
and adequate drainage.
In almost all of the work the Off
Gals worked in cooperation with the
Engineer, Mr.. Winslow. assigned by
the Office of Public Roads, last May.
There certainly has been a crafty
ing result in some directions, parti-
cularly in the matter of accounting
and in the use of the split-log drag,
1t has been found that dragging can
be done at a cost varying from Is
- t,,fl xtfhf oil, fC n
distinct gain over the previous
method in vogue in the county.
Mr.. Winslow, acting as the repre-
sentative of the u. S. Office OF Public
Roads. has continued to collect data
upon which to base thorough
economic study of the service of the
roads to the county. II was original
ly planned that traffic statistics and
traffic survey would be completed in
every town in which road improve
ment was systematiZed. If the as
signment of the government repre-
sentative Is continued. certainly
Bennington County should obtain valu-
able information and assistance in
its road work. if the past season is
evidence of what can be looked
for
In addition to the activities in road
building noted above, the work of
the government representative in
other capacities must not be over
looked. Mr.. Winslow has been of
service in every town in the county
in connection with all phases of road
work. He has given special atten-
ton to country highways where his
services have been demanded for
special inspection and advice. for as.
sistance In directing road manage
ment and accounting. to deliver lee
lures and to make surveys. Besides
all this, road material has been in
vestigated. relocations suggested and
Mr.. WinsIow's time has been at the
service of road officials at all times
for many other special problems.