The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-03-30
County Meeting Held For Com
misSi0ners and SeIeCtmen
OTHER SPEAKERS ALSO HEARD
Vieitins Road Men and Members of
Board OF Trade plned at
Putnam House.

An enthusiastic attendance of be-
tween two and three hundred were
present at the high school hall this
morning when the meeting of the
county road commissioners was
called to order by w. II. Nichols
president of the Bennington board OF
trade. The audience was composed
mostly Of men as this mornings meet.
ing was particularly for those in
charge of the highway work In this
county. After the meeting was called
to order, Mr. Nichols introduced Stod
dard B. Bates Of Derby Center, the
State Highway Commissioner, who
spoke concerning the improvement
and maintenance Of the state high
ways, especially on that branch Of
the subject dealing with the mainten-
ance Of the roads already improved
Mr.. Bates has made study of the
highway work in the state of Vermont
for many years and his remarks were
interesting and forcible.
Before beginning his talk, Mr..
Bates called the roll of the highway
commissioners of Bennington County
and requested that they fill the front
seats Of the hall The result showed
that the majority Of commissioners
were present.
The following address was deliver
ed directly to the commissioners per-
tanning to their efficiency in main.
tanning the roads in their county and
the methods by which they reach
their results.
There are At Drefsu .miles OF
highway in the county which are used
constantly for public travel, 206 miles
of which is composed OF the so-called
state road Assuming that one hall
OF this is already improved, 1t is the
duty of the highway commissioners
to keep this road in the present ex-
cellant condition. From this stand
point, Mr.. Bates then discussed the
importance of keeping the sluices
open in order that the water may be
easily conducted from the highway
which is an important factor In high
way work. The speaker reviewed the
uses and importance of this machine
rapidly and concisely.
Following this. Mr.. Bates spoke to
the commissioners concerning theii
reports which are sent to the county
supervisor and urged that they might
be frequent and correct. A system
of patrol duty was attempted last
year by which men were sent out by
the State Department to inspect dit
ferent sections of the highway at the
request of those in charge of county
or township work.
The speaker explained the differ
ent mean of revenue upon which the
state depended for this work, and the
cooperation which the state was will.
ing to give financially to aid in the
county work. At this point num-
ber of questions were asked of the
speaker by different members of the
audience concerning such appropria-
tions by the state, all of which were
explained satisfactorily.
Mr.. Bates here concluded his adj
dress, expressing the hope that better
and more efficient work might be
done in this county during the com
ing year under the methods advised
by the state department. The meet
ing was adjourned for dinner which
was held at the Putnam House for all
out of town guests.
The meeting of the county associ.
alton for the improvement of roads
is being held this afternoon at the
high school where other speakers are
those present upon high.