Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-04-10
COUNTY ROAD MEN IN
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
State Highway Commissioner
Says That United States
Stands Ready to Aid Vermont
to Extent of $1,324,OOO if
State Matches Amount

A feature Of the meeting Of the select
men and road commissioners Of Chit
tenden county, held in this city FRI
day with State Commissioner of High
ways Stoddard B. Bates, was a luncheon
yesterday noon when the road men met
more than a hundred of Burlngton's
business men and discussed with them a
subject dear to the hearts of all. That
is good roads. The luncheon was followed
by brief remarks and much information
was gained by the Burlingtonians. The
road men went to work afterwards In
going over their subjects with Mr.. Bates
rs they had in the forenoon. One thing
WAS remarked about the sessions, and
that was the seriousness with which all
entered into the subject and the en-
thusasm shown in the cause.
One of the pleasantest facts learned at
the meeting was the statement by Mr..
Bates that the United States stands ready
to help Vermont to the extent Of I,3AOOO
at some time before July /, 1922 and Mr..
Bates said that he could no reason
why the State shouldn't avail itself of
the entire amount. The government re-
quires that its money be matched by that
Of the State and that the State stand
the expense of the preliminary survey.
of them is unreasonable. Another an
nouncement Of interest was that Ver-
mont is TO spend more money than ever
before in its history on good roads of its
own accord this year.
The meeting was very well attended.
although the weather conditions made
some of the town officials late. The train
on which those from the south expected
to get into Burlington was two and a
half hours late but when they did get
into Burlington they went right to work.
When all had arrived the number was
better than So
Mr.. Bates spent most of the forenoon
In explaining the recent acts of the
Legislature, far as those acts con-
cerned the road men. He told them that
UP to date the towns had voted more
than $4,000 in excess Of last year. This
Is not so large as two years ago but the
money available this year is in excess of
that Of any other year. because the
towns have voted lot of money for
re-surfacing roads. The State now
stands ready to pay two-thirds of
the money devoted to putting a new sur
face on roads up to any amount not ex-
coeding $1,000. Mr.. Bates urged on those
present the advisability Of taking care
of the surfaces OF the roads before they
get too bad. 1t Is a good sign that the
different towns took the interest in this
project. as shown by their vote on the
appropriations
Vermont this year will pay more atten-
ton to bridges than in the past as it has
adopted the policy pursued by the govern
ment that while bad piece of road may
DO used If there are bridges, the best
roads on earth aren't much use unless
hriA
propriated $4,000 to encourage bridge
building. 1t will pay one-third of the ex-
pense II the third does not exceed $500
on any bridge costing more than s., 200
Mr.. Bates then went into the manner
OF applying for this aid and explained
the act In detail
1t developed from his talk that the
proposed Roosevelt highway to run from
Portland, Ore. to Portland, Me-, would
take In this vicinity IL the route now
planned were used. The route would be
from Rouses Point into Grand Isle and
on down over Sandbar bridge, over the
Iron bridge on the Lamoille river, which
has now been condemned. into Burlington
and from Burlington to Montpelier and
on to st. Johnsbury. In this way the bad
bridge might be put into shape at some
time. The patrol work was also taken
up. as were many other subjects.
The use of oil on the roads is to be
encouraged this year, and to help 1t along
the State highways department has in
creased the amount which 1t will give
to town from $3.50 to 500 per year. OF
course this amount has to be matched
by the town receiving the benefit.
the meeting in the afternoon went
along much the same lines as that in the
forenoon. Mr.. Bates spent most of his
time in making clear some points which
were not thoroughly understood by the
selectmen and road commissioners