The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-01-26
PAY-As.YoU-Go HIGHWAY
POLICY FLAYED

Fuller c. smith Of st. Alhans. @
Frank T.. Howe's Views, Recent
2 Expressed. sass Nermong's poiic
Is in Opposition to That Of Nearl
az Other States
! Hon. Max l.. Powell,
Burlington. Vermont
Dear Max
You doubtless noted the srgumen
in re good Cor bad reads in Vernon
By Hon. Frank T. Howe published :
yesterdays Free Press Pardon som
brief observations on his positio
which | am writing TO you as q pro
gressive supporter Of better days r.
Vermont. | hesitate 70 discuss III
subject in the press because com
menced many years ago the advoear.
Of a reorganization Of our highwa.
system and continued il until reader
became more or less tired Of my re
peated attacks upon the string bear
policy Of road building II was agains
organized road politics and therefor'
most unwelcome. II this letter en-
eourages you TO strike further blows
for the emancipation Of Vermont froe
the mud Of both roads and politics
shall be well repaid for the few min
utes | spend in making reply to Mr.
Howe.
Reduced to it's lowest terms, Mr..
Howe's argument is this:
1. Vermont can secure the very
best modern, improved system Of high
ways more quickly and for half the
money by paying as it proceeds rather
than by bonding the State"
2. The irreducible minimum tof
mileage for cement roads) is 700
miles. This will cost S2O,00O,O0O
which would hang like a milestone
about our neck for a generation or
two.
8. II would make no difference
the bonding was scattered
along for 20 years or was all in one
lump. The annual cost for interest
and sinking fund would be consider
ably more than TO start building the
same 700 miles by direct tax at rate
Of 40 to so miles, year.
4. The proposal to bond the State
10 build hard surfaced roads is an en-
ohatically bad business policy.
5. II the bonded debt were placed at
s15 100000 the total payments Of prin-
.ipal and interest would be s33,0O0,-
100.
6. Bonds at per cent on a 30 year
means paying the principal
md approximately 120 per cent in in
crest.
7. The total cost of building 700
niles Of cement roads, S15,000,000 or
2O,O00,O0O is too staggering The
My way TO build roads is to go ahead
nd build them and pay the bill.
Now that it all there is of Mr..
loves message to the voters of Yer
1ont. His discussion of where the
Dads should be built and the applica-
ion of revenue to be created from tax
~ gasoline, etc, are entirely beside
he main question Of whether or not
re shall change the highways policy
Z the State. We must first deter I
line to build good roads and then ;
-ork out the ways and means to build
1em.
/. To say that Vermont can Csc
IRE the very best modern, improved
ystem of highways more quickly and
,r half the money by paying as it
roceeds rather than by bonding the
tate" is a declaration of unbalanced
,gic. The very object and purpose Of
onding is TO provide these highways
thin the lifetime Of the present gen
ration. To say that they cannot be |
lilt as quickly or as well or as cheap ]
by providing the means to build
lem within a period of five years as I
icy can if thirty years time is con- T
lmed, is a contradiction Of common Q
,nse and requires no refutation
2. 100000 spent in building 700 !
lies of trunk line highways is no !
illstone for Vermont, any more than
ie million or two dollars spent in ,
the building of the Univer-
ty Of Vermont is a milestone for Yer ,
ont because If costs the State SGT 400
more to aid in its support. There S
no direct return in dollars and cents v
II what the s ate spends in is main Z
nance; but there is a tremendous s
vidend upon the money invested y
hen we take account Of the manhood )
ID womanhood which the University I
Durs into Vermont every year Of its Y
e. So with the highways, there is b
direct return to the State treasury p
r monies spent in their construction 4