Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1920-10-01

coaching days, but the automobile has
brought them back. The people are now
seeking the hills and the mountains, the
roadside tavern is again coming into its
own. Dwellcrs in the great cities in
search of rest and recreation are hunting
out the paths by which their great-grand-
SircS fought their way through the will
derncss Travel requires roads and this
old road over the Sunderland and STRAIT
ton pass. the highest and one of the most
scenic and beautiful in Vermont, should
not he closed for the want of few paltry
dollars.
Miss Ethel Eddy, Dorothy Garfield
Fisher and Senators" Durham and
Andrews further emphasized the impor-'
lance of keeping this useful highway for
further service. People are turning more
and more to Vermont as the most charm
ing vacation spot and summer paradise
in America. Closed roads and inacces-
siblc mountains are not the lure which
Vermont should offer.
Mr.. IIapgood brought out the further
point that the timber rcourccs of the
Green Mountains are of great and grow
ing value. The Wilderness here is 80
miles broad, and for protection against
forest fires it is essential that roads be
kept open by which fire fighters can
quickly enter and supply line against
an advancing fire like trenches to stay the
progress of enemy forces. Mr.. Hapgood
| also called attention to the fact that it
was ON this old mountain road that Mrs.
| Harrison Gray Blake persisted in the
snow in December, 1921, but saved her
child by tearing off her own clothes to
| wrap them around her baby.
The last speaker and the special guest
of honor was Ion 5. i. Bates state high
way commissioner. Commissioner Bates
at the time he spoke had been over the
road only from Arlington to the Kelley
| Stand, but later completed the trip to
| West WardSboro. He declared himself
astonished to find how little was required
| TO make the route passablc and safe for
mountain travel. Later he told the re-
porter that he believed that $1,000 would
save the road and that $500 to $500 a
year would keep it open and safe for
careful driving.
The commissioner marveled at the fact
| that this. though said to be the highest
| of the highway passes over the Green
| Mountains, is IL road of easy grades and
! firm foundation. Not yard of rock re
mOval is required on the entire length of
| the highway. While he made no search
for material he believed that an invcSti-
CATION would disclose banks of mountain
| hard-pan such as that which is proving
good road, material in other places 1t
i, Il road said he. that is not easy to make
a boulevard but which can readily and
cheaply be made pasSabc.
| Commissioner Bates told of the condi-
tons under which state money is used
and said that as this is not a selected
! highway it would not be possible to use
J funds from the highway department. 1t
! will be necessary to raise money by pub
| lie subscription. by special appropria-
| ton. or by local taxation. In promised
to cooperate with the people of Bcnnng-
| ton and Windham counties in every way
in his power in improvement of this and
other highways.
Commissioner Bates and the other
speakers were cordially received and
/ heartily appauded. The company was
| photographed in front of the old hotel
/ by f.. w. Williams of Bennington. after
which the party dispersed OF the dozen
or more automobiles which made the triI
up from the Windham county side, only
one returned that way, though two from
bennington county went home that way
Among those who went from Windham
county were: Bratteboro-Mr. and
Mrs. George l.. Durham. Mrs. n.
llawlcy, Mr.. and Mrs. j. Lewis Morse
Harry l.. Emerson, Paul s. Emerson
Miss Edith Stolte Miss Mary Croker
Miss Amy Holland. Mr.. and Mrs. Robert
, &. Clark, Julius Il. Warren. Miss Sadie
Il. Winchester, Mrs. Irving III. Ellis. Mr.
and Mrs. Robert Il. Dunklee and son, Asa