St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-09-01
The Wakefield Presbyterian
ImbrOgIiO.

The CdtedOnidn has retralned from
saying anything about the spectacle
which meets the eyes of all who ira
verse Eastern avenue, out of consider
alton for the reputation of st. Johns
bury. 1t has been a matter for much
comment upon the street, and public
opinion divides the responsibility be-
tween the two factions, where unQues
tiOnably it properly belongs. AS to
the exact proportion for which each
party is responsible for the differences
we are not qualified to judge, even if
we had the inclination to sit in judg
ment on the matter. The trouble arose
in the settlement of the boundary line
between the church and Mr.. Wake
fields property. In the crowded con-
dition of our local and editorial col
umns at this season of the year we
have neither the time nor the patience
to enumerate the circumstances attend
ing the selection of an arbitrator in the
person of Elisha May, the parties to
the arbitration being Mr.. Wakefield
and X. w. Laird, the latter acting-as
the former had good reason to suppose
in behalf of and by the authority of
the Presbyterian church; how Mr..
Laird expressed dissatisfaction with
the survey of Mr.. May and with his
conclusions, alleging that he was Mr..
Waketield's attorney how the church
claimed that Mr.. Laird acted without
any authority in the matter, and how
another selection of an arbitrator was
made in Judge Ross, and how Mr..
Wakefield expressed dissatisfaction
with Mr.. Ross finding.
A reporter has interviewed both par
ties to the controversy, and he came
to one conclusion that each has been
much misunderstood, misrepresented
and abused Mr.. Wakefield claims
that he erected the fence to prevent
boards and blocks falling upon the
heads of people from the roof and
walls, while the building is i'll pro-
cess of erection, and endangering their
lives, and to prevent danger from snow
slides, but what the barbed wire has
with this object is problem
the public is unable to solve. He fur
thermOre says that if the society will
have the church roof slope to the north
an,l "a in stnaH of 70 tho
west, he will take down the fence, but
it is apparent to any one that this plan
would seriously impair the appearance
of the church from Eastern avenue
which thOrOughfare it would be very
desirable to have the church face. He
admits that he does not think that it i,
a proper place for church, and thai
the spot should be occupied by bust.
ness block, but denies Directing to tn,
building because it is church.
The church people claim that il
their negotiations for the site witt
Francis Switser the conditions of tn,
bargain were that the church SHOULD
be placed at the east side of the 10
and not to be over forty feet on til,
, avenue, so as to prevent the churcl
from Obstructing a view of the avenue
, from Mr.. SIS residence on Prospec
} street, that he would not sell them a
much land in depth as they wanted t,
within foot, and that he required tina
. I 4
f rear. AT this juncture K. w. Lair'
stepped forward and purchased tn
house and land, then sold the site 70
: the church to the society subject to tn
: same conditions agreed upon between
: the society and Mr.. Switser, and tina