Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-11-20
WORKING BEES" FOR
HIGHWAY REPAIRING
Max L. Powell Suggests Utiliz-
ing Community Spirit by
Downing Overalls and Getting
Busy on WillistOn Road
Promises to Help

to the northwest, Max l.. Powell presi-
dent for Vermont of the Roosevelt Inter-
national Highway association, was inter-
viewed by representative of the Free
Press. relative to any practical sugges-
tons which he might have to make for
the Improvement of the part of the
Roosevelt highway which lies within the
state. In this connection, Mr.. Powell
said:
II have been giving that question SER
ious thought. The State highway depart
ment is facing real problem, and 1t is
our duty to help all we can. 1t is an
easy matter to sit back, look wise, and
grumble and growl at our highway de-
partment. But no criticism avails much
unless 1t points to p remedy. l hate a
chronic Kicker whose only asset is a
| kick
THE problem is one of labor, not of
finance. The federal aid, with state money.
is giving us all we can properly expcnd
at present. With quickened industry. for
eign laborers returning to the hoEie coun-
try, and restricted immigration, the labor
problem is serious indeed. What, caa we
do?
THE road between Burlington and
Williston is not a highway. 1t is a series
of bumps. Any one who has spinal
column. coming into Burlington from any
direction, except over the lake, can locate
himself with his eyes shut as nearing the
Queen City. South Burlington has more
public spirit than grand list and cannot
be asked to keep up the highways for
the immense tourist and truck traffic of
our city.
When l was ~ years old ] went to
Vermont Academy at Saxtons River. The
: N ila until ctr
and rocks in place of sand. Every Satur-
day afternoon, the boys, under the leader
ship of Major Spooner. later president
of Norwich University. worked on that
campus. l wasn't bigger than a pint of
cider, but i had similar capacity for
work in me. I remember one afternoon
l was Juggling at a rock which outweighed
me. when the principal paid me a COM
pliment / shall never forget. He said:
Max. this is another case of Multum in
Parvo' Before commencement, we had
made that campus, with no expense
except for tools, to bloom and blossom
like the rose
why cannot we utilize our community
spirit. and in addition to singing songs,
dancing dances and dreaming dreams.
which Is all right enough, only, as
Brother Burnap used to say. doesn't
putttT any pdTSHlpS, why cannot we get
into overal!s and make roads?
IF my friends, 'Stod' Bates, will give
us the use Of those 20 government trucks,
for which the State is paying storage, I
will guarantee volunteer 1000 workers
from Burlington and we will work after
Moons in squads of $50 each, and, in three
weeks time. under Thurman Dix, the road
to Williston will be as smooth as a
billiard table.
Il think ] can persuade my friend.
Villas, to drop the League of Nations and
work on the road. 1t will mean more
physical strength for him and possibly
more votes. With my two boys and the
masterful tuition of Professor Putney, I
have for two summers cultivated my own
garden. 1 know l can lean as gracefully
on the END of hoe-handle as most of the
men who are drawing four dollars a day
and their breath So there will be three
volunteers from my family and l think [
can persuade my wife to don the overalls.
know she would make a good boss
You say, this is another pipe-dream.
Is it? Under right leadership, every COM
munity in this state could get to work,
help upbuild the roads by working bees
and at the same time get that physical
culture which everyone Graves and few
practice.
AT any rate. some way must be
devised so that our Roosevelt highway
will not be a disgrace to the State. IT, at
the proper time. and under proper super
vision, the able-boded business men of
this State would devote one afternoon a
week to working on the road. profanity
would be reduced to a minimum.
/ And this would be a universal benefit
for there Is not an individual who is not
benefited, directly or indirectly. by i'm
proved highways"