The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-03-22

who sends check for the work re-
ported, IL the same is found in due
form. This completes the chain. The
agreement is simple, but its results to
the public are most beneficial. The
patrolman stands in a position entirely
dissimilar to that of the road commits
sioner. He has definite object in
view with the means to secure it. He
has personal employer. While the
methods of others are shown him, his
own initiative is continually called up
on, and he becomes resourceful and in
dependent He takes pride in having
his road in the best possible condition.
He ceases TO think he is engaged in To-
cal work merely. and begins to real.
izelhe is engaged in county vide.
State wide and world wide movement
OF progress 1t is almost needless to
say that this attitude of an able and
conscientious patroiman Will be I'M
mediately reflected in his roads
Stones will be removed, ruts filled up,
water turned of says filled and the
road smootbed. ~ts
This plan Of maintenance Is still
young. Vermont towns are not swift
W CIfduEt uiCthOup' sNO1Si Wv
less in 1913 there were some seventy
miles taken ON by the State under the
patrol system. This mileage was in
creased in 1914 to 2S6 miles, aud in
1915 TO 455 miles. We have not been
able yet to get very long continuous
routes, but have some fairly well de
veloped For illustration: We have
routes from st. Adams to Richford,
Burlington to White River junction
via Montpelier and Williamstown Gulf,
st. Johnsbury to Guildhall via Con-
cord and st. Johnsbury to Burke.
Every county is represented by patrol
routes, though these are not all well
connected in all the counties as yet.
We anticipate the coming year will
show much advance along this line.
The routes above described are the
most continuous ones in the State.
Thus far, we have endeavored to cover
as much as possible Of the arterial or
so-called trunk lines. 1t is upon these
that the most wear comes, causing
damage that the towns will not be
likely to properly care for, as it would
take away too much money from the
other roads of the town. We have to
remember that the town read tax has
to maintain some $4,000 miles of road,
and 1t would be hardly fair PROPOSE
tion to ask the town to expend upon
Especial roads an amount too much in
excess of the pro rata. This is one of
the road problems we have to solve in
the best manner possible. Many times
the main thorofares or trunk lines
pass through corner or side OF a
town which does not use the road it.
self to any appreciable extent. and it
would not seem consistent to ask for
more money per mile from the town
than is expended upon the roads used
by the town in the transaction of its
daily business. Here is where the
patrol system meets the emergency, a
the expense of the route can be appor-
toned between the state and the town
as the equity of the case may warrant,
causing no excessive burden upon eth
err The average length of the routes
is about seven miles. which is about
what will make up continuous work
for the season.
The plan seems to be working out
successfully. The present routes, both
those that are connected and those
that are not, will be seen to lie In the
central and northern part of. the
state. This is explained by the diff
ference in the view of the plan taken
by the different towns. The plan is
open to all sections alike, but many
towns have not seen fit to avail them
selves of the advantages to be obtain
ed under the law. Unless present indi-
cations fail, the applications from the
towns for the establishment of patrol
routes will be more numerous than be-
fore and the connected routes will be
longer, as well as more numerous.
The towns will see that better roads at
a reasonable cost is a better PROPOSE
tion than poor roads at any price, and
that 1t is for their especial advantage
to have the state assist them in work
ing out this plan maintenance.