The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-01-02
THE GOOD ROADS MOVEMENT

THE GOOD ROADS MOVEMENT
Much attention is being given lately
through the agency Of the Patrol
Committee--to the construction OF
good roads. This is a worthy under
taking as il interests every one alike.
All are benefited by II. We used to
think our state road laws, donating NO
much through turning in the automo-
bile tax, and building so much perman-
ent highway in year without debt
on hand, was one Of the best road laws
in the world. Time and experience
has changed that belief, Going into
other states and travelling over miles
Of good roads, and then returning to
our town to ride over patches well con-
structed and then into mud hole, has
been the cause Of It. We all want
good roads the entire length and under
no piecemesl finish. The construction
Of these roads is for men "higher up
in the experience Of rcad-building to
discuss. The Express and Standard
does not believe in brick highways in
Vermont. While suited to southern
and western states where no freezing
interferes, we believe brick Is unsuited
to the frost-upheavals that must be
encountered here. Why not be gov
erned by some Of our best constructed
permanent highway lengths that have
stood the test, provided the material
can be found.
We believe in two permanent high
ways running north and south through
Vermont. One is needed on the east
side rs well as the west. We also be-
lieve in assisting the back highways
and always have. They are the only
roads that have been neglected since
autos came into use. They are the
roads The farmers and business men
are more apt to use in the daily rou-
tine Of work-the farmers especially,
and these roads, many Of them, are
almost impossible the season through.
Good highways would great asset to
Vermont; enough almost in one sense
to offset the expense of the cost.
In many states, especially in those
where the enormously heavy truck.
system is in vogue, many difficulties
have taken place. These heavy trucks
are curse to any highway. They
will destroy the best road ever made
This has been proven wherever army
trucks have been used in this country
since the war started The best con-
sidered permanent highways have
been ruined, crushed out of existence,'
Meetings have been held on the sub
iect Truck owners have been assess
ed an extra tax. But this did not
please them-with their proclaimed
right to the highways the same as
others-or keep the roads up to the
standard required. So the final de-
cision in some of the states-and the
one that looks the most feasible-was
to split the trucks. That is, they must
not be of a weight that would conflict
with the well constructed roads. This
is the only way, as we look at it, that
the truck system and permanent high
ways can be controlled.
We believe every man elected to the
present state legislature should give
this permanent highway question care
full attention. II will be one of the
leading features to consider. The
Patrol Committee through their
agents will formulate bill, as we
understand it, and this bill should be
studied like building frame from its
every angle. What benefits the high
WAYS benefits every mothers son Of
MS and this the members Of the legis-
lature should bear in mind.
The motto of the Patrol Committee
is 81 believe" 81 believe in Vermont"
81 believe that the future of Vermont
is dependent in great measure on her
highways"
If we all believe in this, and we
should. the future prospects for good
roads in Vermont is assured.-New-
port Express.