The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-01-26

year $6,000,000. am fully awar,
that this sum is an unjustifiable bur.
den upon the tax-paying public; but
use the Illustration to show that $780,
100000 in bonds used TO build trunk
line cement highways need not throw
anyone into fits. A sinking fund Of
100000 per year invested at 81 per
cent compound interest for twenty
nine years will pay the entire sum.
Fundamentally there is only one ques-
ton about IL: Will the roads be worth
the price to the people of Vermont :?
Neither Mr. Howe nor myself, nor, in
my opinion, any other one man or
newspaper is competent to answer this
question. And Vermont will never
know and never decide intelligently
until the question is attacked in a
business and scientific way. A word
on this point hereafter.
3. Mr.. Howe's third point ignores
entirely the benefits Of having cement
highways in use and the dividends
they will pay as herein above indicat-
ed OF course the interest charge is
an important item but If Vermont
takes ten years to start and builds
only-40 miles year it will take 27ts
years to build 700 miles and ] hate TO
contemplate vision of Mr.. Howe as
he win be at that age. The interest
item has its compensations for those
who compose the tax-paying people of
Vermont today. 1t can be demonstrat-
ed beyond question that the direct saw
ings to users of cement roads is more
than the interest charge upon their
cost.
a. Mr. Howe says the proposal to
bond the State to build herd surfaced /
roads is an emphatically bad business
policy. / do not know for certain. If |
all his business wisdom on this subject /
is included in his message or platform
then I conclude he does not know for
certain. At any rate, people who have
achieved substantial success in the
Vermont business world disagree with
this conclusion. / suggest, TO settle
the question, an exhaustive survey and
by non-political and
tribunal made up Of an
engineer of known ability, an economic
expert, man fully conversant with
Vermont and the capacity Of the State
10 respond to the financial needs Of
road building, farmer who
holds the respect and confidence Of
hat element Of our population AND a
of like qualifications
to make a thorough and exhaus-
i've survey Of the situation in all its
relations including the reformation Of
,ur taxing system, and with the gen
sral tacit agreement Of all disputants, ,
political and non-political, to abide by ,
he conclusions of such commission !
This will remove the whole question of ,
politics, which for 20 years has messed
I'D the whole business Of road CON
,truction in Vermont.
The conclusions Of such a commits I
ion will be worth a hundred times r
What is will cost, no matter what sum r
hat Is. The investigation must neces- (
arily be non-political and absolutely '
impartial and irrespective Of results. r
such an examination into the ques- r
ions involved viii determine whether 7
Vermont is right in her policy Of road \
Iuilding in opposition to the policy Of r
Practically every one Of the remaining Q
4 States in the Union. The advan- n
ages and disadvantages to the FARM Q
r. the merchant, the manufacturer a
he tourist and the laboring man viii \
e demonstrated; the savings in cost v
T transportation, in gasoline. in oil, ia !
epairs. in requirements and upon the n
rear and tear Of our golf vocabulary 2
MI be clearly shown; the increase r p
arm values and an landed property
ontiguous TO such highways viii Be '
xamined and reported; in word, The O.
hole subject viii be illumined b n
authoritative and impartial concur D
ions which volumes Of nswsp.per :,
r.icles and editorial comment only d
eve 10 obscure and becloud. d,
5 and s. Mr.. Howe's figures on IN Al
srest charges are beside the mark and p'
ntirely erroneous. Vermont VIII not a.
e obliged TO pay 5 per cent for 30 s.
ear money. Doubtless before any AZ