The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-10-05

prove are the only possible solution
10 cur road tribulatious
4 nan who can afford 70 own a.
expensive heavy automobile can an
ford 20 pay a larger tax to the stat,
I for the buildlns and upkeep Of III
roads 4 man who owns a lighter
less expensive car cannot afford "a
have poor roads because a light car
BY the bumps and strains Of wash.
board or other uneven surfaces goes
70 pieces faster than heavier meclf~n.
ism therefore he too should be ask,
ed TO pay more per year than be does
that the roads may be bettered
Trucks and eommercialized motor
vehicles Of all kinds should also be
taxed to equal with Others who use
the roads less. and so do not subject
them 70 the same amount Of wear and
tear.
Here is a suggestion There are
approximately 10000 motor driven
vehicles owned In the State. Let
there be an additional equitable tax
distributed among these vehicles
which will equal ten dollars more
per car paid into the State treasury.
This will mean an additional $780,
600 per year with gradual increase
as the number OF motor vehicles null
/ uplies. Set this sum aside TO pay the
interest on a $4,000. 900 long term
bond issue at per cent. Ten mil
lion dollars will build $50 miles Of
wide concrete roads. Properly built
as these could be for that money. at
the present time, concrete roads will
Withstand travel. frost and the ele-
ments almost indefinitely. Distrib-
ute these roads pro bono publico--
the greatest good TO the greatest
number unmiXed with politics or
favoritism. regardless of the impor-
tunities of selfishness. with an hon
est and economical expenditure for
substance, sand and cement. Let
these cement roads 90 into important
stretches in the present two main
trunk lines on the east and west Of
the State. Much of these two main
highways is properly graded and has
good foundations, which would les
sen the expense per mile and operate
to increase thus the mileage of con-
crete for the money 10 be expended,
perhaps to 800 instead of $50 miles.
Let us see what this would mean. |
Upwards of 800 miles of permanent
highways would Immediately be
withdrawn from further participation |
in State road money. Reflect how
much money for stone, gravel and
labor is now put into these roads I
each year only to be wasted by the ,
material disappearing either as a
thick coating of dust carried away on |
tourists cars, or else in a cloud to
cover the lovely roadside foliage in |
a gray pail No more road building |
on these concrete stretches; very
little patrolling necessary; absolutely |
no more money required on them
forever Experts will be able TO APP
proximate how much it costs each
year to resurface, rebuild and patrol
three hundred miles Of the present
State trunk roads-it must be a vast
sum. Whatever 1t is, part OF il
might be put away as a sinking fund |
for the retirement of the bonds when |
they fall due, fifty years or more
hence, and part apportioned for use
in improving the cross trunk lines or
feeders leading into the main high
ways. If the cement used in build
ing these concrete roads is mixed
with stone and sand instead of graft
The roads will be in existence long af
Ter the bonds mature. Let the floods
beat upon them, If they are founded
he scripture they shall stand! Let
he frost heaye away in the clay on
which they are built, if crack de-
'elops somewhere there is now
permanent healing substance avail
bile which will make the crack as
God as new
The writer can take anyone who is
keptical about concrete being dur
BILE on clay soil over into New York :
tate and show him six miles Of con
rete road built nearly ten years ago.
D close proximity to the "heavingist"
ind of clay which has settled down
or a lifetime of service. although
CARED By some cracks which have :
cen healed by the magic mixture.
his piece of road was constructed, :
nder a slip-shod contract. for about 2
$4,000. The contractors were not u
inned down to proper specifications .