The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-06-14
MONEY WASTED IN
MAINTAINING ROADS
Million Dollars Used Annually Would
Pay interest on Bonds for Perman'
ent Highways and Wipe Out Debt

Pay interest on Bonds for Perman'
ent Highways and Wipe Out Debt
Burlington, June 13.--Max l.. Powell,
who has just returned from an extend
ed trip to Saskatchewan, in the Cana
dian northwest, was interviewed by
Free Press reporter and stated that
he found the best crop prospects Tor
this time OF year that he has seen IN
| the past ten years Moisture Is aDun'
dant and the growing weather IDEAL
He reports very little unemployment,
as the government is employing very
many for highway construction
by the way, how do you like the
highway planks in the platforms OF the
two candidates for GOVERNOR" asked
the reporter.
THAT Is a very delicate question for
me to answer" replied Mr.. Powell.
Each candidate is a warm personal
friend OF mine and win Hays says this
is time to lay brick, not throw them,
but az each has thrown a brick at the
plan | advocate it may not be amiss
( for me to throw the same bricks back
+ for them to use again.
Each candidate is conseryatively
safe and safely conservative, but that
does not get us anywhere on our high
ways. Mark time and eat dust for a
/ slogan is as unpleasant as II is un-
profitable. Each candidate stands for
economy, but gives no detail.
Now the practical way to econo-
mize is to find out where is the most
waste and to stop It. In the highway
department on account Of the sys-
TEN, there is the greatest waste in our
budget. And yet each candidae says
to keep on wasting at the same old
bunghole.
I'VE expended in 1921 over $1,000
900 In maintenance, a great part OF
which could be saved II we built our
maintenance into our roads. The mon
ey wasted in maintenance. hauling dirt
on to blow away. would pay the inter
est on five million dollar loan and
wipe out the debt In ten or ~ years,
and we would have the roads now and
enjoy them with our children.
THE small states Of Nevada and
Wyoming do this way, as do pract'c-
ally all OF the larger states
For ten years have been trying to
devise some way TO have the road to
Sandbar bridge permanently improved.
II is on the Roosevelt highway now,
and is the gateway to many tourists
entering and leaving the State, and
first and last good impressions might
mollify the others.
THE answer usually get from the
highway department was Get Colches.
ter to vote more money and the State
will match it, Isn't II ridiculous TO ex.
pect the town OF Colchester to vote
money enough to build proper high
way for the big tourist traffic?
"The State should take over the
trunk lines and should now build per
manent. dustless roads in accordance
with the traffic, and so build as to keep
down this huge maintenance cost. We
must. II ever. enjoy good roads vicar
iously through our grandchildren. II
we carry on as now and wait for fed
eral a'd to do all the permanent work.
"'God helps them who help them
relves' Look at Los Angeles She
has no such natural attractions for
winter tourists as has Vermont for
summer tourists. but she went after
the business and wasn't afraid 10
spend money TO get IL. She drew her
first breath 45 years ago. and now has
population OF Gil .636 which is 10000
more than San Francisco Roads
roads. roads was the slogan ten years
ago OF her wonderful Chamber of Com
merce and, backed by the Southern
California Automobile club. 10000
square miles OF territory. seven times
the size of Vermont have been inter
laced with perfect roadbeds and that
Is today the most travelled area in the
world.
Good gravel roads with proper
drainage and foundation with calcium
chloride salts to lay the dust, would
probably answer for so per cent OF the
trunk lines. Where the tourist and
truck traffic Is heaviest. use concrete
or bituminous macadam, but $4,000,
900 will put our trunk lines in fine
condition and 100000 or less will pay
. the interest, and We waste about three
times that each year, The magnetic
power OF good roads for tourists Is
we'll known. Thousands are kept away
now by the roads Never again is q
very common expression You cannot
enjoy fine scenery in q cloud OF dust
What are our auto clubs doing alonl
this line?
1T is time for action, not inaction
for forward mach, not standing sull
for a progressive business policy. no
pay asyougo--or rather Don't go
J policy. And all Of this is in the lin,
OF true economy, tested and proved
D I'm view Of your ideas as to high
ways, for whom are YOU going to voti
D for governor. Mr.. Powell?" Queriet
D the reporter
l Il think that shall pick out somt
] progressive woman and cast my bal
] lot for her. shall then be gallant, I
7 wasteful, and our highway plan 4
] simply wastelul"
3 EAST RUPERT