Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-09-02
4 FREE BRIDGE.
BRATTLEBoRo VOTES ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY TO
PAY oSR-HALF THE EXPENSE OF FREEING AND
MAINTAINING THE HINsDALE BRIDGE.

BRATT LEBoRo VOTES ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY TO
PAY ONE HALF THE EXPENSE OF FREEING AND
MAINTAINING THE HINsDALE BRIDGE.
The result OF the special town meeting
held on Wednesday afternoon was practi-
cally unanimous vote to pay one-half the cost
Of freeing aud maintaining the Hinsdale
bridge aud roadway. The estimated number
of voters present was iOO--a good number
for a special meeting After the cali TO or
der and reading Of tue warrant by the clerk,
Col G.. W. Hooker was elected moderator.
J. G. Eddy, ESQ, then took the floor and
briefly explained that the meeting had besn
called in order that there might be no doubt
as to the legality Of any action to be taken
by the town in the premises and that the
Cheshire county commissioners might be as
sured that the town would perform what had
been promised in the matter OF freeing the
bridge. Mr.. Eddy closed 10y submitting a
written motion authorizing the payment by
the town of one-half the cost of freeing and
maintaining the bridge and one half the cost
Of any damages which may be sustained by
any person by reason Of the nsufiiciency of
the bridge or highway. Capt Clarke while
fayoring the freeing Of the bridge, suggested
that some legal complications might arise un
der the act of 1880 relieving towns from re-
sponsibility for highway accidents Mr.. Ed
ny luOuBhb Aut BOl1h uDh Aell lthtu huu hhih
the whole subject had been carefully consid.
cred by competent lawyers. W. II. Alexan-
der hoped the vote would be 80 strong as to
leave no doubt that the town wanted free
bridge and Col. Fuller stated his belief from
recent visits the other side of the river, fhat
the sentiment of the Hinsdale people had
changed and that many of them would now
be glad to see the bridge freed. The vote
was then taken oi0d ooce aud was overwhelm-
ingly in favor of freeing the bridge, there be-
ing not more than 20 nay votes in all. Mr..
Eddy then submitted a motion authorizing
the selectmen to borrow money for purposes
connected with the freeing of the bridge, and
after this vote was carried, in order to leave
no question as to the validity Of the action
of the town, Mr.. Eddy submitted third mo-
ton TO empower the selectmen to obligate the
town to pay one-half of all the expense to be
incurred in freeing and maintaining the
bridge and highway Both these resolutions
were carried by votes as strong as the first.
The three votes are in full as follows:
Mored That the selectmen be and hereby are auth
orized 10 unite with the seleetmen of the towns OF
Hinsdale and Chesterfield either of said towns, in
the county Of Cheshire and state Of New Hampshire
in purchasing the real estate easement and franchise
OF the Hnsdale Bridge Company, so-called, to wit:
The large bridge across the Connecticut river with its
piers and ahutments, and also the small bridge, SO
called lying about so rods easterly Of said rst-men-
toned bridge and the roadway with all the rights and
interest therein, belonging to said company between
the terminus Of the highway leading from HinsdalC
TO BrattleborO the east end Of said small bridge
10 the line between Vermont and New Hampshire,
near the west end Of said large BRIDGE said property
lying in said Hinsdale the village Of BratebOro
for public highway. And also to authorize said
lectmen to pay one-half the expense Of purchasing
and freeing said bridge, keeping the came in repair,
rebuilding the in II is necessary, aud 10 pay
one-half the damage that may be suffered by person
by Of tue insuihceney Of said road aud bridge
Moved That the seleetmen be and they hereby are
authorized, in their discretion, to borrow money fol-
any or all the purposes mentioned in the preceding
| vote.
Moved, That the select men Of the town Of Brattle
boro be and hereby authorized 10 bind and obi
gate the town TO pay onehalf the expense Of purchas
ing and freeing the bridge and road mentioned and
described In the preceding votes and also TO bind and
obgae the town to pay one-haf the expense Of keep
ing the same in repair, rebuilding In It is
sary, and to pay one-hah the damages that may be
suffered by any person or persons by Of the
insufaeeney OF said road and bridges.