Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-10-28
vERMoNTs HIGHWAY PROBLEM

Vermone's roads have oeec the sub
tect Of endles discussion. The same
thing Is true OF other States. vcrmonts
road problem is different from that OF
most other States, and particularly the
Empire State. We have no great city
like New York to force to help build OK
pensive roads through the rural regions.
We are small commonwealth with
comparative limited road resources
We believe in no revolutionary up
heaval in Vermont's highway system.
1t should be materially modified, how
ever. We believe II State Commissioner
Bates had more power in dealing with
trunk lines. and the towns and counties
had special roads TO look after as is the
case in New York. we would take a long
step in advance.
We believe every town should be COM
PEELED to drain its roads, no matter what
their material. Frank w. Agan gave
our people excellent talk on dry roads
even II too wet in other directions. As
you drive about the State. you see miles
and miles Of roads entirely flat II not
followed in the center, whereas the CEN
ter Of rural roads should always be con-
vex. or we'll rounded UP.
We are glad to see that towns are US
ing more and more gravel from our river
beds. There Is an endless supply Of this
material and the motor lorry makes pos
sibe its economical transportation long
distances. W1lliston, for example. has
adopted this material very generally.
II now it will keep a road drag at work
aided by a man with a rake to keep ruts
and small holes filled, especially after
rains when they can be plainly seen, its
money will go far.
Vermont needs not so much more
money but the chance to use more brains
in its road work. New Hampshire spent
millions upon millions on good roads
and then went off and left them and
as result the Granite States Wanted
roads are largely in the condition that
you find an occasional old water
bound macadam road, in Vermont. full
of holes with the intervening space COW
cred with aggravating small stones.
The Brattleboro Reformer in a we'll
considered editorial calls attention to
New York's experience as follows:
''Snpna oil ha ;0h
of other States is furnished by Judge
Nathan L. Miller. Republican candidate
for governor Of New York, In his cam.
paign speeches. Undoubtedly political
! considerations enter into them but hit
statements are so definite they can not
DO entirely ignored.
1T Is known that New York has ap
propriated millions Of dollars for the
construction OF improved highways
oncs called permanent highways. Judge
Miller quotes the Democratic hishwa,
commissioner as saying the present
highways are gone-that they are ne
good. He declares that Governor Smith
is advocating tho policy Of paying a,
you go in road work and adds that tn,
bond money for constructing new road
is nearly gone.
1.-THE highway commissioner declare,
the roads must be reconstructed AT
cost of more than 10000 mile Thor,
are $500 miles of road needing recon
struction and their reconstruction call,
FOR more than s1so,ooo.UO. New York,
Appropriation for maintenance of Stat
roads this year is $4,000. tho high
way commissioner and governor boil
asking an appropriation OF sis 10000.
Apparently the expenditure Of mii
lions in improved roads In New Yorl
has developed into a demand Of $1,000.
nm year for maintenance and almos
$500, 1900 for reconstruction. This fac
should be remembered when agitatin
hard surface roads for the State OF Yer
mont. There are over 1000 miles O
highway In this State which naturaIl
would be included in any system O
State highways. Their reconstructio
into hard surface roads would cos
about sl75OOO.00O.
IF such reconstruction should rasv!