The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-12-31
ENTHUSIASM FOR
GOOD HIGHWAYS
I At CHICAGO MEET
Vermont Sends Three Represen-
tatives There
PLANS ARE DISCUSSED
PLANS ARE DISCUSSED
Government Aid for State Highways
Constructed Under Govt. Supervi
sion Favored by Every Speaker.

Mon tpelier Dec. 3l.-Vermont was
represented at the highway congress
held at Chicago December. ., 10, IL
and u. The commissioners were >.
b. Bates, state highway commissioner,
II. NJ. Mcintosh, state engineer ana
James L. Kennedy of Essex Junction.
The congress was well represented Dy
nearly every state in the union, ana
all the addresses, and there were
many. were for hard surfaced roads
with no opposition to United States
government aid or state bonding.
Commissioner Kennedy has made a
report to Governor-Elect Clement,
which will be of interest to all the
citizens OF the state. The report is
here given:
THAT the delegates to the highway
congress form the western and the
near-western states should have been
enthusiastic for highways OF the most
permanent construction was to have
been expected. But to find the same
marked enthusiasm among the dele
gates from the eastern states, was
surprise most gratifying.
In this convention dirt roads had
no place whatsoever Not one speaker
referred to this kind of road construc'
ton. Every subject was impregnated
with ah atmosphere of permanency.
The best is none too good seemed
to be the slogan of every speaker S
talk. Not reference was made TO dirt
roads gravel roads or turnpikeS.
Therefore, may well add: The time
has arrived beyond the peradventure
of a doubt when the states of the un-
ion have fixed their attention on as
near permanent highway construc-
ton as engineering skill can possibly
devise In other words, there is a
strong desire to build for the future
and not Just for the present.
Government aid for state highways
constructed under government super
vision, was favored by every speak
er. The plan of the state matching
the alloments of the government met
with favor. No sum seemed too large
for the government to apnr 1riate for
this purpose. No one objected TO the
amendment TO the highway bill now
before Congress to appropriate one
hundred million dollars 10 be distrib
uted among the states in accordance
with the appropriations of each state
The suggested plan is that the nation
al government match dollar for dollar
the sums voted by such respective
state This plan finds a parallel II
Vermont in that the state matches the
appropriations made for highway con
struction by the towns. and is sup
posed to have supervision over tht
manner in which these monies are
, expended.
Another plan that met with gen
eral APPROVAL was that the nationa
government take over the trunk lines
and connecting cross state roads, il
each of the AS states. rebuild ant
maintain them, the only thing devol'
ing upon the states being the furn
ishing of the right of way, or a clea
title to proceed on the part OF the ma
tional government without any compii
cations or unnecessary proceeding
in order to perform the work of roal
building
Whether this plan woud be appli
able to Vermont | am not quite clear
One informant tells me the highway
of the state are not owned by the state
while another informant states tina
not only are the highways of the stat
the property of the state, but that tn
streets OF the villages and of the cite
are as we'll the property OF the stat
II the latter part of the statement
correct then this plan looks good Il
Vermont, but II the state has no pro
erty rights in the highways, then
can see all kinds of complication
arising in case the state should moN
to turn the highways, or portion
them, over to the national govel
ment.
"One speaker brought out an a
preaching condition that will app
to Vermont as forcibly as to 9th
states Before quoting from his spec,
il should he stated that Vermont HI
contributed TO the army, either to Il
fighting service or to some branch
the service, $1,000 men. These boy
or most OF them, will in time be ]
turned to the state, and from the
we must expect counsel and guidant
The time has certainly arrived VIII
the young man, especially the you
man who has served his country
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