Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-04-08
COUNTY 5000 ROADS DAY
Get Together Luncheon Proves
a Great Success.
Demonstration of Favorable Sentiment
towards Cooperation for Improved
Hiwhwnys--Prncttcal Talk by
state Commissioner.

Tho Get-Togcthcr Good Roads iuncheon
q. the Hotel Vermont yesterday noon,
which was arranged by the Burlington
Merchants association for the benefit Of
the visiting road commissioners and
ecicctmen with business men and auto
,no6ilists, was a great success and the
event will stand out as genuine
demonstration by the men of the county
Of their favorable sentiment towards CO.
operation in the matter of improved high
ways. There were present over lbO guests
who enjoyed the dishes of an excellent
menu prepared by the hotel Every man
who attended was tagged with n card
bearing the inscription that he had been
present ut the luncheon. After the
luncheon, which was followed by several
excellent speeches. all present were
photographed in q group in front of the
hotel.
The speaking was presided over by
Simon L. Platka, president o: The Bur
lington Merchants association. The first
on the list was Mayor A. S. Dew. He
extended TO the guests welcome on be-
half OF the city and spoke OF his pleasure
at so many people being here TO discuss
SO important n topic.
Stoddard Il. Bates. State highway COM
missioner, said that the purpose OF the
road department wss for an upward
trend A few years ago the sentiment
of those Interested in the building OF
good roads favored the construction or
trunk lines. Now the idea Is to build
good cross roads and connect all the
towns, this plan being carried out In
other States 1t is Of particular i'm
portance in Vermont where there are not
so many large towns and where We have
not so much money as other States. He
said that the road department OF the
State had an excellent office force and
that when anybody wanted the assistance
of the State highway commissioner all
that was necessary was to write the
department. The commissioners thanked
the men Of Chittenden county for their
show of enthusiasm.
County Road Supervisor Carpenter Of
Charlotte spoke briefly on the i'm.
-portance OF getting to the highway WORK
as early in the season as possible.
LOCAL CONDITIONS PECULIAR.
Prof j. ". Votey, dean OF the en-
cheering department of the University
of Vermont gave talk on the road
situation in Vermont and particularly In
Chittenden county. He said that the
conditions in this county are peculiar.
In the southern part is the heavy clay
loan soil and in the northern part Is a
vast amount of sand Both of these
extremes make the operations of go
road building difficult. Another handicap
in the county, also. is the absence OF
good road building material. Experience
has shown that 1t is not possible to make
q road suitable to all conditions oil
climate and travel. In Vermont we want
road with surface like marble and
one which costs the least in construc'
ton and maintenance, People nave ions
since rejected the idea that permanent
road Is one that can be put in and last
forever. The cost of maintenance is high
and may be still higher.
Professor Votey was pleased to note
so large and enthusiastic a gathering OF
men who are interested In the subject
of good roads A few years ago the
subject was never discussed by n grour
of men except in the nature Of making
strong objections over existing condi
lions Originally men kept the highways
in front Of their residences and farms
in good condition themselves. Later
when road legislation was devised they
took occasion to kick to the authorize:
whenever a bad place in the ROAD "a'
discovered Now there seems to be
return to the former condition OF persona
responsibility. Professor Votey also called
attention to laws in some States In which
the cost of highway maintenance is KEEP
up by financial cooperation OF the n
dividuals, the town and the State.
Henry II. Hagar. chairman Of the goo'
roads committee of the Burlington Mer
: chants association, spoke OF the Valu
Of oiling the streets Of Burlington, Stains
that It would cost but little more than Il
now expended for street sprinkllns.