Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-03-10
Town Meeting.

probably the largest and most fully at
tended of any for twenty years, with the
exception Of the annual aud special
meetings held in 1869, when it was voted
to hold future annual and freemen's
meetings at Bellows Falls. More than
800 voters were present during the day.
At times the scenes were quite animated
and the contest sharp in the election of
officers and also in the transaction of
some Of the other business.
In two or three instances, there was
really no occasion for ballot, but the
voters stood upon their reserved rights,
even when they voted nearly all one way
The town clerk, Mr.. f. A. Bodies, called
the meeting to order few minutes past
10 o'clock in the morning, and the meet
ing was in continuous session till 20 min
utes past six o'clock, or more than eight
hours, which is unprecedented even on
the occasions above referred to.
The balloting was by check list and
of course slow, especially as each officer
was balloted for separately. The first
ballot was for first selectman and stood
F. A George 1874, to for G. W. Osgood.
On second selectman Charles Smith had
/ ia and J B. Divoll Sc. The closest
contest Of the day then took place for
third selectman, resulting in the election
of j. B. Divoll, by vote of l3t for him
to 1875 for NJ r. Lawrence. Al vote for
overseer of the poor showed l. S. Eddy
1872, NJ. r. Lawrence 45, j. w Edison
70.
The next ballot was for town grand
juror for this village, and was the largest
vote of the day, resulting in the election
of Geo. Underwood, who it is understood
favors more vigorous enforcement of
the liquor law. The vote was George
Underwood 1874, F P. Hadley, 115
The last ballot was for constable and
collector. c. w. Butterfeld offered to
collect for the 2 per cent allowed by law,
and the abatement of all illegal taxes
and pay the town $50 Judson 0. Smith
also made the same offer, and III. A. Ad-
ans offered the same and to pay the
town $50 The ballot was c. w. Butter
field 14S, Judson o. Smith "a, H. A.
Adams 10. Mr.. Butterfeld being elect
ed he was voted the jurisdiction of the
State. All other officers were elected by
reclamation. The tax voted for current
expenses was so cents on the dollar
same as last year
A vote was passed instructing the au-
ditors to at once overhaul the various
discrepancies in the financial reports for
several years past, to see whether they
were errors or otherwise.
1t was also voted to set Franklin Sew
erens from school district No II in this
town to district No. u in Grafton.
With reference to the Camhridgeport
districts contest sprang up, in which
/ Ithamar Bodies and w. S. Barry led off
in the discussion. 1t was finally voted to
unite districts Nos. 13 and IA to 10 in
/ Grafton, which we understand CONSOLE
dates the village of Cambridgeport into
one district 1t was also voted to set the
farms of Geo. S. Fairbanks, John Moar,
w. S. Barry to district IA, Richardson
and Weaver farms to district No and
remainder of district II to district 10.
In the matter of the west line Of the
new cemetery grounds and Seth Hap
good, Mr.. L. NJ Read offered the follow
ing resolution which was adopted
Resolved, That the matters referred
to in article II of the warning for this
present meeting, shall be referred to the
final arbitrament and award of three
disinterested persons to be chosen by
Seth Hapgood and the selectmen of this
town, their decision and award upon said
subject to be final, and the selectmen are
hereby empowered and authorized to
perfect said award by any deed of con-
veyance or otherwise il necessary said
Hapgood to make an agreement in writ
ing to abide by said award, costs of said
award to be in the discretion of the ar
bitrators. The said arbitrator to fix
upon the time and place of hearing, they
giving at least six days notice of the
same to said Hapgood and to one or
more Of the seleetmen.
In the matter of laying highway
across the lands of Seth Hapgood to the
lands of Thomas Hacket, there was
long and sharp contest. There were still
left some fifty voters in the hall. An
amendment by Mr.. Bridgman to refer
the matter to the selectmen was lost,
yess %, nays 26. 1t was finally voted
80 to to instruct the selectmen to lay a
lane that should give Mr.. Hacket con-
venient access to and from his premises,
and the meeting was then dissolved, it
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