The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-10-15
Board of Trade Party and
Governor Entertained at
Every Stop
GOVERNOR PRAISED
BAY STATE ROADS
President Walker and Others Speak at
Pittsfeld Reception = No Accidents
Have Marred Long Trip of Two Days
Which Will End Hero Tonight.

Have Marred Long Trip of Two Days
Which Will End Hero Tonight.
| The members of the Brattleboro board
iof trade party, including Gov Charles w |
Gates, Former Governor Frank E. Howe,
and Stoddard Bates, state highway COM
missioner, are expected in Brattleboro
this afternoon in time for the governor to
catch the O'Clock train for White River
junction. Up to the time the party in :
automobiles reached the Hotel Worthy
IN Springfield, Mass for luncheon at
o clock no accident had marred the trip
! of two days through southern Vermont
and western Massachusetts,
| The party reached Bennington at noon
yesterday where they were entertained a
short time at the Bennington club, a
buffet luncheon being served They were
met by committee of representative bust
noss men headed by President William II.
/ Nichols, Secretary E. S Harris and Vii
lage President A W Braisted
Upon the arrival of the complete party
the crowd was taken to the rooms of the
Burlington club where, after light refresh
Inents, President Nichols made brief
address of welcome and introduced Gov
ernog Gates.
The governor stated that he had con-
fsented to make the trip with the Brattle-
boro crowd for a threo-foid purpose Be
cause he wished to get an idea Of the con-
dition of southern Vermont roads to keep
AN eye on the Brattleboro boys, and to get
La brief vacation that would involve no
tspeechmaking.
The excellent condition of the roads be-
tween Bennington and Brattleboro. con-
Isidering the size of the towns maintaining
them, especially In Woodford and Benning-
ton, had SO delighted the executive that
he made fve-minute speech compliment
ing the southern Vermont towns on their
good road work and the spirit of co-opera-
ton which is everywhere manifest, not
alone to keep them in as good or better
condition but to pull into line other COM
munlties where there is greater dearth of
interest.
The governor stated that nothing was
: more indicative of this get-together spirit
) than the iunkets after the nature of the
one at hand, and also the Good Roads
days which are being held all over the
state after the character of the one held
in Bennington last March.
Especially did he compliment the town
| of Woodford as being a sturdy example OF
what small community can do in CO.
: operating with the state for better high
ways, He stated that such a willingness tc
: take the lead would eventually lead tc
state supervision of all highways and that
; the towns OF southern Vermont were rap
idly becoming good pacemakers for Other
communities further north.
Former Lieutenant Governor Frank Z
I, Howe joined the party at Bennington anC
made the rest of the trip with them
Dinner was enjoyed at the Greylocl
) hotel in Williamstown, Mass They ther
went through North Adams and up thC
Mohawk trail to the highest point. Re
turning they went to Pittsfeld by way o
Adams and Cheshire. where they spen
the night at the Naplewood hotel
They were met at the Maplewood hote
by members of the PittsfeId board o
trade, dined and then escorted to tn,
t Park club where an informal reception
was held during which speeches were made
by Governor Gates, Horton ID. Walker
president of the Brattleboro board o
trade, and W. d. Wyman of Pittstield
t president of the Park club.
{ The Vermont executive thanked tn,
r board of trade for its welcome and thel
t said that when he was highway commits
/ sioner several years ago, he went int
h Massachusetts and worked with a gan
IS of Italians in Spencer for two days, un
E known to anyone in order that he nigh
a gain first hand knowledge about how t
n sconstruct Telford roads
Governor Gates praised the work on tn
a Mohawk trail which he Travelled over yes
e terday and said that he, as well as til
r other members of the party, were delight
= ed with the fine oil roads between Mort
n Adams and PittsfeId.
II Cur eyes are green with envy for you
= roads" declared the governor 'Nermon
is small state and our farms grow righ
aIea 4hnca ,4a;y7 that
farmer can cultivate both sides of the sol
We are proud of what we have accon
phshed in the way of roads in our littl
state. We have as many roads as 20
If have and yet you have 10 times as great
population. Our gravel roads are built {
the rate of from 81 ,00O to $4,000 pe
eI mile and the cost of maintenance IS frol
IS $50 to 500 per mile
a. "The purpose of this trip is to lear
de something about your roads and to see
~ we cannot improve the cross-state roa
= between Brattleboro and Bennington. "
3a are not running in debt cent to build ol
al highways, and we cooperate with Il
- towns and cities in the work. The mo
- fsuccessful thing in our state is that pu
- = lie sentiment can be aroused in the tow
=, to demand improvements in roads. II "
- will come to Vermont, we will show "
N as much enthusiasm to the square mile
There is in any other state in the Union
Horton D. Walker expressed the than
20 of the company for the entertainment al
said that the party had with it the tow