Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-01-09
GRAVEL FOR VERMONT ROADS


The patrol organization which has set
out to help develop a new era in Vermont
road development has already succeeded
in arousing gratifying degree of inter-
est in the subject of highway improve
ment. The report Of the Vermont dele
gates to the highway Congress recently
held in Chicago ha. also lent new interest
to this important movement in our State
The session of the Legislature which
opened yesterday is confidently eX-
pected to enact measures which will has
ten the naturalization of the hopes of
our people for the adoption of an intelli-
gent, economical and yet adequate State
system of road improvement. Under
these circumstances this subject can not
receive too much attention and discus
sion by our people. We print the follow
ing communication gladly from Mr.. E.
Barton Whitney Of Winooski:
Il read in your paper with good deal
of interest the very full and complete re-
port of our highway commissioners who
attended the highway congress recently
held at Chicago. Everything that pos
sibly could be thought Of it seems was
brought up and discussed. Quite the most
some hard material with view to per-
manent roads. The latter idea we have
every reason to believe is out of the ques-
ton. Nothing was said about the mate
rial to be used. The one thing that seem-
ed to be fully decided at this Congress
was that dirt road speaking of gravel.
had no place whatever.
Let us see about these so-called dirt
roads a little. No doubt some poor
gravel has been used. end In some places
it has been used too sparingly. Neverthe-
less throughout Vermont to-day, most Of
our roads that are entitled to the name are
made of gravel Crushed stone is all right
the first year. and fairly good the second.
but the third year look out for bumps.
other than gravel here in our State.
crushed stone seems to be the only thing
TO consider at present.
LAS to cost of crushed stone per mile
the price naturally varies for various rea-
sons. / should say at the present time
ten thousand dollars per mile would be a
low estimate. This amount would build
three or four miles of gravel road and
leave balance. If put at interest it would
be fund for perpetual care. While IN
some States. particularly in the West.
gravel may not be obtainable without too
much expense. here in Vermont we are
blessed with an abundance and as Is often
the case. 1t is near at hand. What joy
it is when travelling to get off from one Of
those old humpty bumpty crushed stone
roads, and drive on oven a passibly good
gravel road, costing possibly not a tenth
as much as the crushed stone road. which
Is always out of repair shortly after
its construction. Then too It Is so ex-
pensive repairing these crushed stone
roads. All main roads should be built
wide enough SO that all manner of We
cicies may pass without taking a chance
of being ditched as is often the case
There is gravel enough in our State ia
make our roads the finest in the country
and something not only to be talked
about but to be proud of. Once sufficiently
graveled these roads being run over oc'
casionally with a smoother. and possibl,
here and there load of gravel can b'
kept In the finest condition for loni
time
Having run car for the past seven
teen seasons have been deeply interestet
in road construction. both az to methods
and material used. 1t 10 needless for m,