The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-05-13
Federal Aid Roads and Vermont's
Highway Tasks.

signaized by the passage in the ma.
tional House OF representatives OF a
bill appropriating $40 600 for
good roads for the next two years.
The measure provides that S65,000,.
900 shall be available by June 80,
1923, and S75,000,0OO by June 30 1924.
Light is shed on the situation by
TIE structures of Representative Begg
OF Ohio, who declared it to be anoth-
er raid on the national treasury, al
though he voted for the $l,000,000,'
600 bonus raid He said for every
mile OF s25,OOO federal aid highway
built in New York, It viii cost the
people Of the Empire State $l54,OOO
in taxes.
Representative Begg ridiculed the
idea Of the possibi ity OF constructing
good roads at $4,000 a mile as con-
templated He showed that the low
est bid received by the highway com.
missions in Ohio for concrete or
brick roads was $4,000 a mile.
The bulletin just issued by the
United States Department OF Agricul.
ture !aows that since 1916 Vermont's
apportionment of federal appropria-
tions has been $499,0S1 For this sum
and the money with which Vermont
matched the same we have l46 miles
of federal aid road TO show, while
funds have been allotted for Gl.5 niles
in addition. This is not a arge frac-
tion Of Vermonts total mileage, but
1t Is an excellent beginning.
IL Is true that the older eastern
States will pay very large pro por.
ton OF the tax involved In this ma
tional road appropriation while 1t
viii be expended in large proportion
In the newer and larger States, which
have a tremendous road mileage. The
people Of Vermont can readily under
stand this situation. II is the same
proposition in a way as the Vermont
scheme, which compels the cities and
more wealthy towns TO help the
smaller and poorer towns to bui d
roads. The tax is imposed on the
grand list, while tle proceeds OF the
tax are distributed according to ROAD
mileage.
There is a certain element OF JUS
tice in the Vermont system since
the peop Of the large towns profit
from the haulage Of products to the
chief centers from the rural towns,
and in turn tour the attractive rural
roads in autos.
While a few people from our State
tour western and southern States.
there is not the same element OF
fairness and justice in the proposi-
tion that the Weather States shall
help the larger though poorer States
build their roads.
Whether the development OF trunk
motor truck lines between States is
to change this situation is a question
that remains to be answered. \
New Eng and railroad official has
said his line will soon develop a sery
ice that will eliminate the motor
truck as a formidable rival.
This is doubtful Wher YOU stop
to consider that the railway ship
ment involves team or truck haulage
at both ends of the trip, while the
motor truck traye from the store
house Of the shipper in one town di'
rect to the Storehouse or home OF the
purchaser in another town, the ad'
vantage Of the motor truck service at
once becomes evident.
/ In any event the road builder is
now forced to consider two problems.
The touring car sucked the binder
from the surface OF waterbound ma
Icadam roads and scattered II abroad
leaving a lot of little loose stones on
/ the surface to batter the tires. In
addition to this factor the heavy mo-
tor truck breaks down the roadbed
cutting deep ruts or smashing the ma
.terial constituting the surface, with
rapid attritlon as result.
The federal aid road constructed
between Burlington and Shelburne
and opened to the public late last
year. is. already beginning to develop
shallow ruts under the combined op
erations OF the swiftly moving tour
ing cars suction and the pounding OF
the heavy truck.
Barrels OF tarvia or OTHER similar
material are being provided ready tol
resurfacIng The unntated man
would he moved by the common
sense to say that this resurtacing
should be done before depressions de
yelop and especially ruts.
The federal aid roads in Chitten
den and other counties in the State
'lare of too recent construction tC
make possible intelligent and apprec
ative discussion Of their merits. So
long as this money is being distribu
ted and Nermontors must pay theil
share of the federal income and 9th
er taxes from which the road appro
priations are drawn Il would not b'
an act of wisdom on our part to ne
glect our share Burlington Free
Press.
Mems starched white collars were
unknown before 1925, when black
smiths wife in Troy y. Y, in wash
ing her husbands shirts, which hat
the collar attached. as was Away
the case then, decided to save worl
by separating the collar (Which go
It.tta aaA,.u ft,ap thn ahtVfl mud nra