The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-02-04
Much Sentiment Favorable
to Keeping Present Road
Commissioner
GOOD WORK DONE
UNDER DIFFICULTIES
Belief Widespread That if Town Con-
tinues Present Highway Policy Next
Years Improvement Will be Even
Greater-Accounts in Fine Shape.

One of the most important questions
that will come up at the annual town
meeting next month will be that rela-
tive to Brattleboro' s highway policy for
the ensuing year. Whether the present
road commissioner, who was engaged by
the selectmen on the strength of reso-
luton instructing them to hire an ex-
pert in this line of work, Will be re-
tanned depends upon the action the vot-
ers take at the March meeting. If they
favor continuing the policy which was
inaugurated year ago there is little
doubt that the town fathers will at once
negotiate with A. A. Wallace with a
view to keeping him on the job which
it is generally conceded he has filed so
satisfactorily. 1t is understood that
Mr.. Wallace has agreed to consider no
outside offer, Of which he has had sew
cral, until after this town decides what
| course il viii take
| Inquiry among a large number of
people as to their opinion of Mr. Wal
lace 5 conduct of the town s highway
work reveals an almost unanimous feel
ing of approval Of what he has done
with the resources at his command and
an equally strong belief that if he can
be retained for another year his use
fulness will be much greater by reason
of his familiarity with local conditions.
In fact, it is little short of surprising
that this sentiment is so widespread in
view of the differences of opinion that
have previously. existed as TO highway
policies
1t is generally admitted that Mr.. Wal
lace has a thorough knowledge of the
technical side of highway work, that
he is quick to adapt himself TO local
conditions. that he possesses the facul-
lty of getting efficient work out of the
men in his employ and that he appre-
ciates the necessity of making every
dollar of public funds go to its limit.
Those who have had occasion to come
lin contact with him in an official ca
pacity, like the seleetmen, auditors and
other officers, are free to say that the
town 5 highway accounts are in better
shape than ever before, while residents
of the outlying districts as well as those
within the village limits speak in strong
commendation Of the improvement that
the highways have shown under his ad-
ministration.
Mr. Wallace himself has nothing but
words of apl recitation TO say of the
treatment that he has received from
the people for whom he has been work
ing since last spring. but he ism t in
clined TO brag about what he has done.
He is better aware, probably. than
: anyone else Of the unusual difficulties
+ that beset his work last summer, when
labor was almost impossible to get and
2 material more expensive than ever be-
! fore. And as for what he has been
r up against this winter one has only 10
{ reflect for a moment upon the number
t of snowstorms and the amount Of snow
I to appreciate the proposition.
S Nevertheless. Mr.. Wallace did 4
4 great deal of excellent construction
: work last summer, sidewalks as well
a. highways, and the cost of the va
rious jobs compares favorably with any
that have been done in town in recent
years. One good feature of this work
IS that he can tell exactly the cost per
yard Of every job. As TO the winter
work il has been handled as well as
/ the most carping critic could expect
. even down to such details as those in
7 cidental to the prompt sanding Of slip
I perry sidewalks.
! SO far as can be judged from inquiry
@ made in a variety of quarters there is
general feeling that the town made q
wise move in voting to put its high
way work in the hands of an expert
man and that the selectmen were par
ticularly fortunate in getting hold OF
. the man they did TO take the job. II
there is any sentiment to the contrary
i can doubtless be traced back to som,
/ incident where Mr.. Wallace had e
e choose between pleasing some individ
! nal or doing what he thought was FOL
i the best interests of the town. in which
~ase he invariably took the latter
e course.