Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-07-10
FRIENDLY DISCUSSION
OF ROAD PROBLEMS
Representatives of Seven Towns
Meet at Island Villa to Ccn.
slider Needed improvements
in Main Highway between
Burlington and Grand Isle

At IL very SUCCESSFUL ROAD conference
of representatives of seven towns Of
Grand Isle and Chittenden counties
with State officials at Island Villa,
Grand Isle, Tuesday morning, it was
announced that road improvements
would be made on the northern slope
of Sunderland Hollow this season by
the town of Colchester which would
go the limit in appropriations to meet
fuNs from the State, and that this
fall the bill south of the Lamoille
bridge will be graded down and the
material thus secured be used to widen
the approach to the bridge at the
northern end in the town of Milton. The
selectmen of the town of Colchester
stated that the road from Sunderland
Hollow to Winooski village line will
be resurfaced
From the informal discussions at
the conference 1t was evident that the
selectmen of the towns represented Nili
! 90 everything possible to insure that
their towns take full advantage of
the recent offer of the State DEPART
ment of highways to bear two-thirds
OF the expenses of re-surfacing roads
in towns, the State contribution in
each town not to exceed $500.
At this conference the State depart-
ment of highways was represented by
Commissioner Stoddard B. Bates, Su-
perNisor j. c. Towle of Franklin aUd
Grand 1se counties, Supervisor NJ. f.
Carpenter of Chittenden county. and
r. f. Currier. The conference was
presided over by A. J. Canning. presi-
dent of the Burlington Chamber of
Commerce, the organization which
called the conference.
! After a few spirited Introductory re-
marks by Max l.. Powell, representa-
tation of Mr.. Canning. described their
local work and problems. outlining
their activities during the present sea-
son and stating the difficulties result
ing from shortage of gravel. long hauls
/ for road material, difficulty in getting
help in some cases, and the need OF
larger funds to carry on their work.
The problem of the Improvement Of
the Lamoille river bridge. in which all
the towns represented are interested.
was discussed by the representatives
of the towns of Milton and Colchester,
between which towns the bridge lies,
and action this fall in improving the
approaches was assured.
The discussion, in which nearly all
present took part, was closed by Mr..
Bates. who emphasized the constant
ettention required for road maintenance,
the Importance of the patrol system,
the special difficulties in some of the
towns represented at the conference,
and the necessity that every town go
the limit in road appropriation and
efficient service if. with the coopera-
ton of the State, they expect to get
the best results.
The conference was just what such
road conference ought to be, a
friendly and interested discussion by
Ina ar11r al 0f tha 81 H.
lens of each town and of the common
interest which binds them all together
in securing a satisfactory route through
the towns represented.
Mr.. Canning presided with great
skill and the earnestness with which
the problems were attacked by the
speakers was lightened by a good deal
of humor.
At one o'clock the conference adj
journed to enjoy, as guests of Mr..
Briggs and the Burlington Chamber OF
Commerce, one of those perfect meals
for which the Island Villa is famous
The following gentlemen were pres
ent from the towns: From South Hero,
Selectman Frank Troville, Road Conn
missioner Albert J. Tatro, Patrolman
william Cassidy; from Grand Isle. Sc
lectmen John Parizo and Willis O.
NJ nckler, Road Commi ssioner Napoleon
LaMotte, Patrolman Thomas Chamber
IA in and Frank Briggs Of the Island
Villa: from North Hero, Selectman n.
J. O'Neil Road Commissioner ]. D.
~oquette, Patrolman Edward Bruley:
from Alburg, Selectmen o. o. Bell and
Isaiah BoNtah Road Commissioner
Benjamin ]. Mumley, Patrolmen John
Blair and Barney e. Lewis; from Coll
chester, Selectmen A. F. Villemaire.
Arthur Manseau and Hector Huard
from Milton. Selectmen George A.
Phelps, l.. ]. Rowley. Edwin S. Sib
ley and Road Commissioner ]. w. Rob-
inson; from the Burlington Chamber of
Commerce, A. ]. Canning. w. c. Clark,
Max L. Powell and James p Taylor.