St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-06-10
The BagIey Bank, Once More.

The Bagiey BANK, once more.
Mr.. Editor The voters of this vii
lage are again called upon, the 18th
inst, to decide the much mooted ques-
ton "shall the village water works he
leased to c. H. Bagley to grade the
Hill place, so called, into the gulf east
of Railroad street." This question
seemed to be dispassionately settled al
the last meeting, and as appears to the
writer, should be final but with bull
dog tenacity it is again presented in
somewhat different form, to make the
matter parliamentary, yet with the
same spirit, and no doubt new tactics
will be adopted to secure vote from
the meeting reversing the decision ot
the last. believe not single voter
is opposed to Mr.. Bagley's having the
use of the water from any selfish OF
personal motive, but is actuated tC
oppose the project because of the prin-
ciple involved, to wit, the diverting OF
the use of the water into illegitimate
ways, and am informed by the present
hoard of trustees that applications
have already been made for the water
to Use for other enterprises closely
akin to this under consideration, show
ing the dangerous precedent estab-
lished in acceding to Mr.. Bagley's de
mand.
The taxing of the pumps and ma
chinery for such use is duty greater
than they were made to endure, and its
strongest friends never advocated such
continuous strain. On the other hand
very many at the time of their con-
struction felt sanguine of their failure
ere this. But enough of this, and let
us look the issue square in the face.
Why is it that some of our voters favor
Mr.. Bagley's request The solution
is not strange in community like
ours. Many of our voters regard II con
tract or promise sacred and binding
whatever hardship it may work to the
prOmisor-Q wish it might not find an
exception and therefore say, "OuT
trustees agreed to lease the water to
Mr.. Baglcy, and now we must be hon
orable and help him get that 'unsight-
ly bank down, and cease using the
works for such purposes further, fol
we do not believe it right, but must
suffer it this time because we agreed
tor Now what are the facts Mr..
Bagley and his more ardent advocates
have ever claimed i'll public meeting,
in private ut all times and under all
circumstances, that he made an agree
ment or contract with the trustees, OF
portion of them, and did buy the Hill
place in consideration of said agree
ment, and to be deprived of the further
use of the water defeats the purpose
for which he made the purchase and
he is damaged and not hOnOrably treat
ed, and thus appeals to the sense OF
high mindedness in business matters
with our community. Very well adj
nit the contract and let us see if Mr..
Bagley is morally or legally entitled t.
the water. BY an actual survey made
this week, | am informed there re-
mains of the town land unwaShcd three
thousand Hirty-taCO surface .feet-that
he has washed from the hill or bank
north of said Hill lot, so called, thirteen
thousand sir hundred and Sirty. four feet
or more than four times the amount re-
naming unwashed of the Hill lot, with
the water used under his claimed con
tract with the last years board of trus-
tees.
Now, voters of the village of St
Johnsbury, who has cause of com
plant for violation or abandonment OF
a sacred agreement? Our trustees have
made themselves familiar with all the
premises and with no disposition tC
Cypress Mr.. Bagley or any one else
but with the sole purpose of discharg-
ing their duties as trustees, have judg-
ed that the best interests of the village
require them to decline granting his
request. He has seen fit to appeal
and not satisfied with the decision
again comes before the village. ltnOW
remains for the voters to say with en-
phasis whether they will sustain the
trustees who have acted openly and
frankly, with no malice, or Mr.. Bagley
and his more ardent advocates. Let
there he IL full meeting the 18th.
TAXPAYER