Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-05-08

Henry Butter6eld, Springfield, Mass, Mrs.
c. G. Miller, New Britain, CT, l.. II.
Knapp, Wilmington. VT, Mrs. l. II. FL
mer, Chicopce, Mass, Miss Lura Wordcn,
Williansville, W.
STREET LI0uTs ONCE MORE.
M. Editor In communication signed
"w.," published in the last number Of
your paper, the following paragraphs,
among others, appear:
~ very seldom take any notice of per
sonal assaults. hut the constant reiteraliVn
of statement in your paper that the viii
lage Of Brpttleboro has been cheated by
me is trifle more than l like OF good
thing. There is another little
item that will bear an examination con-
nected with this sWindling transaction"
The Brattleboro Gas Co. gets its
reward by being advertised as having sys-
tematically deirauded the village. w"
furnished communication for your
paper Of April 18th, entitled "Village I'm
provementS." to which reference is above
made by "W.," in which The following
! language is used in relation to lighting the
streets with gas:-
"Our streets should be lighted. | am
aware that a majority OF our citizens who
| attended a late village meeting voted other
wise. They did this, however,, am per-
suaded, under admitted provocation which
| produced undue heat and hasiy judgment
| and therefore this action, in my opinion, is
not TO be regarded as a deliberate decision
| against light, but rather as a sharp protest
| against paying for light, and receiving IL
| not. The tact that the gas heretofore furn-
| Issued has often been inferior in quality and
| Insufficient In quantit ought not to drive
| us into total darkness but rather to lead
| us 10 renewed efforts 10 secure what we re-
| quire. The causes of past failure may have
been temporary in their nature, aud, TO a
degree, unavoidable. There is good rea-
son to believe that this was the case, and
| that the public could now he satislac lorily
served. But whether this be true or not,
We certainly can procure good gas F; and we
lag far behind the age, and subject orr
selves 10 uniavorable comparisons with 9TH
err communities, as well as deprive our
| selves OF a much needed and much appre-
| ciated luxury, which costs, or ought to
| cot, comparatively little, while we permit
| our streets to remain in darkness
Now beg TO be informed how w." or
any body else, can possibly constrne this
into personal assault" or torture out o:
it charges Of "swindling transaction" and
an attempt TO systematically delraud the
village?" not only did not write, but
did not even think any thing OF the kind;
therefore "W.' is entitled 20 full credit for
whatever merit there is in discovering
| latent meaning in the language used, Of
which the author himself was entirely uu-
CONSCIOUS. Mark the significant fact that
ii is he, no: /, who employs and applies
the terms, "cheated, "swinding trauSac-
tion," systematically defrauded," &c. l
| purposely made the statement OF facts as
mild and brief as possible, and even sug-
gested that the caus g Of past failure were
probably temporary in their nature, to a
certain extent unavoidable, and perhaps
already remeded. Desiring to unite all
parties and interests in the village in a
friendly effort to supply a public want
almost a public pecessity,-I Intentionally
passed lightly over all by gone deficiencies,
expressing opinions in relation thereto
which were very generally criticised as quite
too apologize in tone TO accord with the
facts. My whole purpose was, II possible
to Induce the citizens Of the village to re-
consider what regarded rs hasty and ill
advised action on their part, in voting to
dispense with street lights, and persuade
them TO renew, on proper terms, their con-
tract with this same Gas Company which
am now charged with abusing! If, there
fore, what wrote can be fairly interpreted
as personal aSsaulr' on Nv. who is
not only not named, but not even alluded
tor @ construed into undeserved and
unjust censure of the Gas Company,
am worse bungleriu the use OF language
than had supposed. Verify, this is my
"reward" for trying TO say good natured
word for the Gas Company
As found no fault, l., my former article,
with the price charged for gas, and made no
allusion whatever 10 the Terms and condi-
tons of any contract, or proposed contract,
between the Gas Company and the village
authorities, leave all that portion 0f"W.'s"
communication unanswered, although APP
prehend, with due Difference to hissuperior
knowledge and experience in these matters,
that further discussion might show the pro-
priety of some modification of the opin-
ions and facts which he announces. With
the past dealings between the Gas Compa-
ny and The village authorities do not pro-
pose to NEEDLE. II the gas furnished, both
in quality and quantity, was tho kind the
company agreed to furnish, and the village
agreed to accept and pay for, then our cill-
zens should vent their complaints, II they
have any, upon the village bailifTs, and not
upon the Gas Company. Let them settle
this point between themselves.
Aside, then, from the charge of making
a personal assault" upon "W.," which l
/ protest neither made nor intended to
make, and which trust is now satisfacto-
rily disposed of, there remains only one
single statement OF mine OF which, IL I'M
true, he would have undoubled right to
complain. Upon this point, far excelhng
all others in Importance, he is entirely and
Significantly silent. II is this; Is il 1.-The
fact that the gas heretofore furnished has
often been inferiSr in quality and insufi
Gent in quantity?" Here Is clear and
distinct allegation and made II, beleV-
Ing II TO be true. If 1t Is not true, then
owe "W." an humble apology-not for in
territorial wrong, but the offspring of ignor-
ance-whlch shall tender 10 him prompt.
ly and publicly as soon as he shows me my
error. And, to the end that we may have
the best possible testimony upon this vital
point, call first OF all upon "W." himself
to take The stand. What does he say az to