The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1916-01-27
FOR BENNINGTON COUNTY DEVELOPMENT AND
RETIREMENT.

cruising the expenditure Of the funds
toward which il contributes A town
TO receive its share Of the money on
mileage basis, mus: maintain It's
roads satisfactorily to the State. There
is no law compelling the State Com
missioner to pay one penny of main
tenance money to any town unless the
roads have been kept up TO sa.isfac-
tory standard.
the State aids in maintenance as fol-
lows:
Re-surfaeing
Under the present regulations of the
State Commissioner The State will
match any town in the expense of
necessary re-surfacing on State roads
up to a total expenditure of $1,000 in
one year. Several towns in Benning-
ton County take advantage of this aid.
All OF them should, as there is not
town in the County in which re-sur-
facing is not needed on some parts OF
the State roads. In several towns an
expenditure of $4,000 or more is need
ed for this purpose. To have the adj
vantage of State aid the arrangements
for the work must be made in adj
vance and the work be done under the
supervision of the State.
Patrol System
A town wishing TO put in operation
the patrol system of maintenance
makes application to the State Com
missioner through its selectmen and
road commissioner, requesting the
State to take over for the season the
maintenance of certain road, usually
to 10 miles in length, and offering to
turn over to the State a certain sum
from its road funds toward the cos..
The least sum which the State will
usually accept is the average amount
per mile which the town raises by its
road tax. For example, if it is pro-
posed to establish patrol road .
miles in length and. the town tax rails
es S25 per mile for all its roads, the
State will require a payment OF at
least 5000 by the town. If the offer is
accented, the State Commissioner APP
points patrol man who gives his en-
tire time, or as much of it as may be
needed to the work, the State main
tanning the road for the season and
putting in as much money as may be
needed beyond the amour: supplied by
the town. This method seems to be
the best way to maintain our main
highways. For the season of 1915
three towns of Bennington County
took advantage of this aid, Pownal,
SALISBURY and Woodford. The re-
suits have been satisfactory.
At no time have the roads been al
lowed to suffer neglect, the constant
work of the patrolman has resulted in
a noticeable building up and smooth
ing of the road surface, the improve
ment of drainage and the widening of
many narrow places. In every case
the State has put in a larger amount
of money than it received from the
town. thus more than doubling the
expenditure on the patroled road over
the average amount per mile spent IN
town. In order to have the patrol sys-
TEN it is not necessary to take any
action in town meeting as the select
ment and road commissioner have full
authority to act for the town.
Dust Laying
The State will match the villages in
the expense of purchasing oil or other
materials for dust laying on principal
streets up to total of $500. When it
is recalled that every dollar contribut-
ed by the State for any form of road
maintenance comes from the automo
bile taxes it is evident that the auto
users have some rights. The automo-
lilies fund for 1914 amounted to about
S140, 100000, or the equivalent of > per
cent on the entire grand list of The
State. For 1915 the fund will be
larger.
Construction Funds
The returns from the State tax of 5
per cent and the money especially
voted in any town and matched by the
State from the 100000 appropriation
constitute a joint fund to be expended
under the direction of the State Com
missioner The selectmen and road
commissioner are consulted regarding
The location of the work and the plans.
The foreman, or special commissioner
to take charge of the work, is appoint
ed by the State Commissioner. Some
times the road commissioner is APP
pointed, but usually not as his time