Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-03-06

large, but considerable liquor is
sold to other towns. I am of the
opinion that the agent does not sell
all that is sold.
StraDord, ! did not visit, but saw
some of its citizens, and learned
that they had not had an agent, and
did not want one. Reports say that
some is sold at South Strafford, and
presume a little might be found at
the North village, if wanted only as
a medicine.
Iheyord has had no agent for
years. | did not feel it my duty to
appoint one where none was desir-
ed, and no one recommended.
Iopsham. There has been an
agent at East Topsham. Sales very
small, and contrary to my expecta-
ton mostly confined to this town.
The old agent re'appointed without
opposition.
Iunbridge. Quite early l received
a communication from some forty
persons asking me not to appoint an
agent in town. / neither made ap.
pointment nor visited the town.
June 22d l received a letter from
the selectmen asking me to appoint
the old agent l knew that he had
been in trouble the previous year
and concluded not to appoint uu.
til visited the town. l wrote them
that l received a remonstrance
against appointing any one and
could take no notice of their petit
ton or request because they signed
their names as sclectmen. They
concluded to make the petition
strong and sent it to me again signed
by one hundred and forty names.
l then visited the town, and found
there was great deal of bitterness
and strife. l investigated the mat
ter as we'll as 1 was able, and came
to the conclusion that the agent was
the selectmen's agent. He had sold
in the last five months fifteen gal.
Ions of alcohol to one man, who has
sold it through the town and vicini.
ty in essences, camphor, and by the
pint and half.pint as he could find
customers, and the agent furnished
it by the written order of the select
men. THIS I found upon his books.
I told the selectmen l would defer
the appointment little. They were
very urgent, as people were sick or
likely to be. After waiting some two
weeks longer, l appointed Aug. Sth
a man not recommended by the Sc
lectmen. The town suddenly be-
came healthy, and they refused to
furnish him.
Tersh;re. This town has not had
an agent for seven years. Little
liquor is used, in the northern part
q drunken man being but seldom
seen. About the mines they are
plenty, and it is a grief to the north
ern part, but no prosecutions can be
made, from the fact that nearly all
drink. The President of the mines
is, I believe, a tea-totaler, but this
cannot be said of many others who
are connected with the mines in any
position. There may be
Some honorable exceptions but we
can never look for any radical re-
form in that quarter of the town as
long as. the Overseers indulge in
their frequent drains, and set tho
example before those who are un-
der their authority. ! hope the day
is not far distant when they will
feel the Importance of first reform
ing themselves, and then wiping out
those sinks of pollution in their
midst.
Washington has had an agent un-
til June or July 1873 when he was
removed. A few leading men pro- :
posed to have an agent sell the
liquor then on hand, but the major
ity said they had rather spill it in
the streets than have those scenes
re enacted that had been so frequent
when liquor was sold. They could
not, or would not agree upon any
one to sell, and the matter was
postponed indefinitely. l under.
stand that the tow n has been for
the most of the time quiet since the
agent was removed in 1873, and
other places have ceased to deal IN
it, where it was plenty when the
agent was selling.
West Fairlee. This place has for
years been notorious for its tipping,
and the rum holes have only been
shut for few days when they be-
came so outrageous that Satan
to cast out Satan. The