The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-08-18
IMPROVEMENT ASSN
(Continued)

NifNh put LliC ytoi WV -
tension schools and eight livestock
demonstrations were conducted, over
two hundred soil samples were test
ed and lime was applied on ten one
acre plots for the purpose of demon
stration.
The difficulty lies in the fact that
thus far only a small number of far
mers have been reached in each
town, the size of the County does not
enable the Agent to reach all farnl-
ers individually. The next work of
the Association will be to conduct
campaigns in the different agricultur-
al centers, arousing interest and
forming effective organizations to CO
operate with the County Agent in
carrying the work to all the farmers
of the County.
In September demonstrations to
show the need of keeping dairy pro
duction records will begin, in order
that dairy farmers may obtain more
than a new dollar for an old one.
Roads
Good roads are fundamental to the
welfare of the farmer and on the
welfare of the farmer depends the
very life of the County. lnvestiga-
lions have proven that even in States
where excessive amounts Of money
have been put into roads they more
than pay for themselves in the saw
ing of wear, tear and breakdowns on
vehicles, in the saving of time by
drawing larger loads and by going
more quickly, in the saving of ex
ipense by lessening the number OF
horses 1t is necessary to maintain,
in being able to haul in bad weather,
in being able to get produce to the
market when prices are best, in the
increased value of land, in money
brought into territory by tourists,
etc, etc. This is to say nothing of
the increased social, church and
school life, quicker medical atten-
ton and better mail service made
possible.
Vermont road problems are gceat;
it costs more to build and maintain
roads in a mountainous country than
over level plains and in addition Yer
mont has no great. wealthy cities
paying large taxes to build State
Roads
In this County during the last few
years there has been spent from $685.
600 to $4,000 per year on roads. An
engineer has been defined as man
who can do for $500 what any man
can do for 5000 1t costs approx
mately $500 more per year to maintain
a civil engineer as County Supervisor
of Highways than to have an untrain-
ed man. The County Association
pays the extra 800 and enables the
County to have an expert road engi-
neer 1t does this for the same rea-
son that man, when his clild's
health needs attention, employs a
physician and not the first man he
meets who is looking for work The
doctor costs more but Is worth more
than the difference in cost.
The general policy of the State De.
parrnent ~ Highways of improving
the worst places on the State road
in each town first has been carried
out Each town has had its share in
this Improvement and it may be said
that there is remaining on the State
roads in the County hardly one eX-
tremely dangerous spot to a dozen
that existed a few years ago
No part of the past seasons con
struction work has been badly wash |
ed by either the spring thaw or sub |
sequent rains. One washout due to |
faulty construction might have caus-
ed loss OF much more than the diff
ference in salary between road en-
gineer and an unframed man.
1t is planned that during the win
ter the County Supervisor shall give |
a series of illustrated talks through |
out the County with the object of
spreading intelligent interest in road |
problems.
l1 Schools
Bennington County has many good |
schools and it has many towns which |
are sparsely settled and in which 1t |
is difficult to maintain etiicienti
schools. 1t is surprising what good
schools are found in even some of the |
more sparsely settled towns. Bat |
there is great opportunity for I'M |
Here is one method. The |
can clean and paint and |
rake, girls can make curtains and |
plant flowers, boys can build walks |
md playground apparatus. and the
men of the community can give |
days work from time to time. To |
encourage this the Improvement AS