The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-03-22
VERMONT ROAD NEEDS
UNDER DISCUSSION
State Highway Commissioner Gates and
D. II. Winslow of Government De-
partment Were the Speak
ers at Montpelier.

! State Highway Commissioner Gate;
and ID. II. Winslow of the department OF
public roads were the speakers at tho
Washington county road builders con
ference, held at Montpelier city hall and
the Comique theatre in that city yes
terday. The address OF Mr.. Winslow
was illustrated and was descriptive Of
roads in Vermont and other states.
State Commissioner Gates talk was
of more direct interest to Vermont. He
said an idea has gained some circula-
ton that money is given town by the
state to get the town to give more mon
ey. Such is not the case Up to the
limit dollar for dollar is allowed. There
is also maintenance fund and sur
plus fund and the automobile money.
These, subject to certain regulations, are
expended for the greatest good of the
state as whole, without regard to town
lines. A road that is in bad shape, needs
expensive rel airs, and is so situated
that the people of the state at large
will be benefited by Improvement, the
state will take hold of and help re-
pair, not because it is in certain town,
but because the through traffic on this
piece of road warrants the expense,
In this county last year about Is
miles of highway was improved, I0h
being gravel, three and hree-fourths
miles telford road and half mile mac
adam.
There have been several changes made
in the highway and these were explained
by Commissioner Gates. He urged that
unless a town road commissioner is sure
he can attend to and do Justice to both
the town work and the state work that
ne allows one or the other to be done
by someone appointed by the state.
Neither class of road should be neglected
md it is big proposition for one man
10 attend to both in some of the larger
owns,
Provision Is made for the purchase by
he state of road machines, homes, steam
lrills and similar heavy tools for use
within county, under the direction of
he county supervisor. This machinery
! to be loaned for use in towns which |
iced it and cannot afford to purchase
laborate equipment.
Commissioner Gates proposes to erect |
ppropriate sign boards at the inter
eetion of town lines by highways. He /
rged that the most careful considera-
ion be given the work of bridge build /
lg and said the state will furnish /
lvil engineer free, TO give advice, pre-
are plans and otherwise assist in de-
gning and erecting bridges. He called
ttention to the growth of the auto
'uck traffic and urged the building of
ridges with this in view,
Cutting of brush and proper burn
lg of the cut brush is one of the most
nportant parts of the work of the road
and part that has in
he past been neglected in many in
ances. Much good judgment should be
;ed in this work that the bitches may {
; kept open and the view unobstructed
the same time preserving a proper
Mount of shade and protection from
lifting snow.
The best road in the world will not
main so without care. Roads should (
constantly attended to from the day
ey are built or complete rebuilding
comes necessary in short time Use
the road hone during mud times in
e spring and fall and in times OF heavy
in through the summer viii maintain i
aximum efficiency with minimum cost. q
To horses and a man will do then b
rat it viii take six or eight horses :
d several men to do when the ground Y
hard in the summer. I
Road commissioners should be paid h
ough to make ii worth while to give Q
e roads attention twelve months in Ct
e year. Nothing should interfere with p
& care Of the roads and no man should "
,ept the office who cannot devote his "
lole time to the work. n