Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1914-04-08
BARTON, VERMONT, WEDNESDAY,, 8, 1914
A COUNTY CET-TOCETHER

A CUUNlI GEl-lUdElHEk
Road Commissioners, Selectmen and
Others Guests of Newport Board of
Trade and Hear Gates.
Yesterday was held the Orleans
County Road Commissioners meeting
at Newport under the direction Of
State Commissioner Gates and County
Commissioner Bates of Derby.
The forenoon session was devoted to
explanations of the law by Mr.. Gates,
experience meetings by the town COM
missioners and general discussion of
road methods and problems.
At noon the Newport board Of trade
banqueted the attending commission
ers. selectmen and number of others
whom they had invited. About 200 in
all sat down to fine ''feed" after
which Oscar C. Miller explained that
the object of the get-together was for
the better acquaintance by the repre-
sentative men of the county and he
| believed such gatherings should be
more common He referred to the
gathering at Newport about a year
ago when the Orleans County Agricul-
tural association was organized and
called upon c.. w. Richmond, secretary
|
about its progress.
Mr.. Richmond explained very briefly
what the association proposed to do and
reported that where year ago some
500 members belonged over 300 had
now signed and he believed that with
the many cards being received almost
daily, the number. would sooD be
sufficient to warrant, with the backing
the banks had promised and the bust
ness men would give, the hiring of a
county agricultural adviser to come
onto the ground. He said a meeting
of the advisory board was planned
for the near future and he believed it
would see fit to go ahead.
Mr.. Miller then introduced w. w.
True of Newport. the Orleans county
member of the Greater Vermont
association and asked him to explain
the benefits of county boards of trade
or associations. Mr.. True told of the
work of the Greater Vermont associa-
ton and the fine work of the county
organizations in Bennington and Wind
sor counties. He saw great benefits in
organizations Of this kind which lead
to better acquaintance and cooperation.
He advocated such an organization in
Orleans county either independently or
as an auxiliary to the county agricuI-
tural association and submitted the
idea to the association that it appoint
a committee for the purpose of en-
larging upon the county development
along lines other than agriculture.
Mr.. Gates was then called upon and
in introducing him, Mr.. Miller. a
prominent Democrat, said it was a
shame for the Republican party tc
: spoil so good state road commission
!, er by putting him ''down" into sc
small an Office as governor.
Mr. Gates talked for more than al
hour on road work, policy and prog
ress. exhibiting many lantern slides
of Vermont roads. He prefaced his
road talk with commendatory remarks
about the cooperative idea and saiC
! there was a great difference in th<
: enthusiasm and interest shown in thest
: meetings now and few years ago.
J He made the statement that Orleans
county voted a slightly greater per
\ cent on its taxable property for roat
work than any other county in tn,
: state. He said we were making SOM
good roads here and he wanted US t.
continue. Property values are in
=, creased one dollar for every dollar pu
, into roads" said Mr.. Gates. ''I can
!. not prove this statement, but man,
y men agree with me in this statemen
and I doubt whether there is a ma
here who will dispute that statemen
), so far as Orleans county is CONCERNED.
! Mr.. Gates said Orleans county ha
0 voted for state road work in eigh
0 years $54, 600 and had received a lik
sum from the state in matchin
e amounts voted by town and in additio
g had received from the state surplu
:. $4,000 more. This surplus money
g expended in making roads in spot
g where the town in which the road
located get little or no good from thu
7. particular piece of road but the trave
!, ing public demands good roads, II
# referred to the road built over th
i mountain between Lowell and Edel
% Neither town derived much benef
from this bit Of road but the travelin
6 public wanted good highway and tn
u state took it's surplus money and bui
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