Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1916-04-07
ADDISON COUNTY ROAD MEN
MEET.
Tribute TO Mr.. Buttolph. Rules for
Sound Road Building,

State Highway Commssioner Stod-
dard S. Bates again visited Middlebury
Thursday and gave very interesting
talk before large meeting of the road
commissioners and selectmen of Addi-
son County, All but two towns were
represented, most of them by several
delegates,
In opening, Mr., Bates expressed his
regret at the loss of such an energetic
and pains-taking county supervisor as
Mr.. Buttolph, but said he had faith in
Mr.. Cady as an able successor. He
conducted the meeting in very in
formal manner, urging that questions
be asked when occasion should arise.
He divided his talk into discussion of
highway construction and the division
and handling of State money.
Mr., Bates laid stress on the import
ance Of good road bottom. He said that
as no permanent top had yet been de-
vised it was better to start right at the
bottom and then, at later time, such
surface could be laid as seemed best,
but if there were not firm foundation
the whole road would have to be rebuilt.
He strongly urged that commissioners
take great pains in planning their work.
They should consider the beneftiof the
majority and work in their interests
and, before starting in work, they
should determine just exactly where,
how, and what they should do. He ad-
vocated the construction of a twenty
one foot road, but said that it need not
be hard and fast rule that the road be
twenty-one feet wide, However, hav-
ing determined upon the width, it
should be made uniform.
Mr.. Bates then explained the neces-
sity of trailing dangerous banks. He
conceded that the town was not liable
except on bridges and culverts, but it is
not road commissioner desire to kill
anybody and it should be his object to
prevent such accidents where possible.
He said that the State was willing to
help pay for such railings. He went on
to explain that whereas New York and
New Hampshire have a standard state
railing, standard which is extremely
serviceable, durable and pleasing to the
eye had been devised for Vermont, and
he strongly advocated the use of this
protection where practical.
He continued his argument of last
year for the construction of strong
sluices, culverts, and bridges. He said
that the time had passed when a few logs
would suffice to form a sluice. The added
weight of heavy trucks must now be
considered and the sluices made to with
stand the strain At present the law is
that bridges need sustain only five ton
vehicle, hut Mr. Bates strongly advised
that all future culverts and bridges be
calculated to bear at least fifteen tons.
In the construction of culverts, he also
warned that they be made large enough
TO take care of all possible excess water
of spring floods.
Mr.. Bates next explained the differ
ent State aid funds, the five per cent
and State aid the bridge, and the main
tenance funds. In all claims for State
aid, he pointed out that definite and
accurate reports must be made in order
that anyone might see from them Just
where the money had gone.
In the afternoon session, Mr.. Bates
continued his talk on State aid and
maintenance. He spoke of the use of
the road machine, the oiling of roads,
the care of culverts and the Importance
of monthly reports. He spoke briefly
of re-surfacing as an important part of
maintenance. In closing, Mr.. Bates
discussed the possibility of patrolman
to tighten the duties of the road COM
missioner.
Mr.. Cady then spoke a few words
concerning his intentions and hopes and
pleaded for the proper completion of
the roads to make them attractive.
The Chittenden county supervisor,
Mr.. Carpenter, was called on and he
repeated the Importance of permanent
construction with an eye to the future
and the leaving of roads in neat cond-
ton.
A list of those present follows: Addi-
son: Fred l.. Willmarth, A. L. Patten,
Howard W. Clark. Robert Moorby;
Bridport: George D, Payne; Bristol
Homer Hewitt, Bial C. Fuller; Corn
wall: l.. V. Fisher, j. w. Stevens, C. P.
Conlon. Fred C. Morse; Ferrisburgh:
Fred B. Upper, C. B. Hawkins, Nelson
Hayden, C. S. Martin; Goshen: H. d.
Jones, A. T. Dutton, L. w. Bard;
Leicester: O. A. Briggs, Herbert D.
Oliver, Frank c. Aver, Thomas F.
W;l,on. ;pcolp. Michael rT;arnou. MA