Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-01-11


at burlington and at the Downcr farm at
Sharon It has been thought host not
to increase the number of demonstration
tracts during the past two years. but
to use the money available for the pur-
chase of forest lands in increasing our
holdings AT Mount Mansfield and Camcl's
Hump which has been done making
substantial tracts now owned by the
state on the slopes of our two highest
mountains.
trust that the importance of this
department will appeal to Vol. and that
you will continue such support as It de-
serves.
AGRICULTURE.
Tho activities in the department OF
agriculture during the past two years
made possible by the acts Of the I.cVis-
laturc Of 1918. have shown tho wisdom
of increasing the responsibilities Of the
commissioner of agriculture. and OF OK
tending the SCOPE Of his work. 4 pcrusal
of the commissioners report will give II
good idea of what has been accomplished
during the biennial year. | trust that
you will give this report careful at
tention. and the department the liberal
support it deserves so that it may prove
stiil more helpful to our agricultural in
tercsta during the biennial term upon
winch We have just entered
EDUCATION.
Among the most Important and far
reaching acts of the last LEGISLATURE was
nc W Wv 81 lii" tductt'oH-
81 nm oo'iu Va euu'at'on mas iouhn
'' ADMINISTERING ''c ia" idiSe
""'' ~ ""li''@ '''e N'"r' ,l'ie 1t mas
~" !" 'p' '"'"" nv met WIN SUI
~ 90 "'t""' " i"i ah"
- '''' ~, - ''' pa" ''c ne" Ia" mas
''"o7 '"'9''
HIGHWAYS.
In 1899 the LEGISLATURE nassau the law
raising n five per cent tax on the grand
list, which is collected bv c1ch town
and city, then Is paid into the State
treasury, and re-apportioned to the
towns and cities by the State treasurer.
on the basis Of road mileage to be used
in "pcrmanentlv improving the main
highways" of each town and city in the
state.
The Legislature of 1895 created the
office Of state hgi way commissioner to
direct and supervise the expenditure of
all highway funds raised, appropri ted.
or apportioncd by the state.
In 1868 the LEGISLATURE appropriated
$4,000 annually for highways, making it
available to towns in sums IF not less
three hundred dollars in any year. on
condition that the towns vote an equal
amount. This same LEGISLATURE provid-
ed for the apportionment of county SUI
pervisorS, and for the selection of state
roads in every town. These acts proved
so satisfactory that 'hc Legislature in
lenS increased the appropriation to 5000
annually. and the limit Of aid to a town
to five hundred in any wear Again in
1910 the appropriation was raised to $l5l.-
CO. annually. ana the limit to towns to $3.50
in any year. In 1912 the appropriation was
raised to 800. 90 annually. and the limit
to towns was made 81 .OHD dollars in any
year.
The powers Of the state highway COM
missioner have from term to term been
increased. until he now has complete
control not only Of the plan %. construc-
ton. but of the location Of the work, and
appointing a foreman to take charge; but
by treating the towns as WARMERS. as they
really are the commissioner has been
able to settle difficulties. and accom-
plish better results for the towns as well
as for the state than was POSSIBLE when
the authority was divided. The co-opera
tive features Of our State aid law have
helped to create a public sentiment in
favor Of highway Improvement, and a
strong local interest to back ~ TIE
state highway commissioner in his plans
to a degree that is oui5c gratifying to
those who have watched the interest
crow for the past twelve years. or more,
and especially for the last two years.
Towns have responded annually with
i'"e'a' APPROPRIATIONS ""''h - goo" ''l-
ue'l'' ~ the e'''9ih''''" ''c Ia" - ~
''E III ''P'"Ni'S ''c'' mar he' anu '''''
''""S III ""i'i N''N "'c P"ipio u'"i'N W.
'''N't"' ana '"' use VI me ""''''"' " WV
: """""' "PPi't''"'i'i'' ms va 'i'c i''''''
'""t al. "'' '',i'' t'"' ~ '''' ''" us "
"'i, 'i'H are '',"'cu 'u' are ''''o' a."
:" ''e f"pi'c' anu Hc'oi'n o,l 'p''reN ms
Hi'AS /" our SSs'e"' Oh 'ru'h '''eN' mas
"ire"uy a'cothP''Sheu h"Nh 'o Sa.H,S
'""Se WI" ere 'SP"''a'y ih'efe9'e" III
uu'h me improvements
P''"S'' ID 'le ",a'e h'tn"hS COM
io'SS'"her report VIII reveal inc LAT
'H"t h'uc" "orN mas ''etH ""He uu'''S
/ t'e PaSl Two years. anu ''"' II mas "ec''
I wen "'S'''"u.c' III '''c i'u' ''e '"u''''a'
! our t'''Ne'' ana S'a>ci-te.i'iu ''''u,
ar" Ewing Su''' general H'''H''c'io' anu
our pan OF Improvement "''"ou' i'''u!
ring any ''"'"'eul'eSS' seems :" wen
ahapted 'o our needs an" our coh"'t'ohs'
! that recofhn1chd continuance Oh 'he
present Ia" ana appropriation
! also recommend 'hat 'ne ProN'S'""s
, or the ia" ne chahRed so mat 'hcorpor-
"''" 'H'"0.s' 'n"'' Iu"i' .''"o
may n'',c .n' sun i'.'n'"Fs VI 'S..'.t'
~, low. nc towns and ci,ice pov do
! rn,rc,,
fl,,N Of 1.N n ne