The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-10-26

The painting previously referred to by him
meant decorating the inside walls. The
seats the committee had examined would
cost 1898 each There would be some 700
Of them.
At the request of DR.. Gale, the records of
the meeting at which the building was au-
thorised were read.
Mr.. Slade said that the committee had, as
/ il seemed to him, acted wisely. But it ap
peared there were many things yet to be
done. The hall ought to be beautihed /;
scenery should be provided; steps built.
and the inside walls decorated. The hall
would easily hold 730 seats. The seats I'M
der discussion We're of iron. solid and sub
stantial. He thought something like the
seats recommended by the committee
should be bought The expense may be
larger than we expected, but we have an
excellent hall, and he was in favor of com
plotting it as we had begun. He offered the
following resolution
Resolred, That the building committee be au-
thorizcd to proceed to finish and furnish com
pleely the town hall, according to their best
judgment-not however. to eXpcnd sum. ox'
ceeding four thousand dollars.
A. P. Upper thought the committee
should make some showing of their action
before they are empowered to expend more
money. 1t was his impression that the com
mittee We're instructed to let the con-
tract for the building to the lowest re-
sponsble bidder. Bids were put in ac-
cordingly. The committee told him that
Mr.. Daniels of Vergennes bid the lowest
He supposed that gentleman would have
contract; but it was awarded to parties
whose bid was higher But why it was not
given to Mr.. Daniels he did not know. If
we have lost by this committee, we want to
know it and do not want to trust them fur
Their. He asked the committee to explain.
In an: answer to Mr. Upper; Mr.. Hammond ann p
than Smith & Aliens. The committee called
upon Mr. Upper. He said he would not
furnish bonds for Mr.. Daniels. For vari-
Gus reasons the committee thought best to
give the contract TO Smith Il Allen.
Mr., Upper said that when the committee
called upon him he was not prepared to say
what he would do. Afterward he wrote
Col. Knapp that sufficient bonds would be
given From what had appeared he did
not believe the committee were authorized
to award the contract to Smith II Allen. He
was of the opinion that the town were out
500 to $1,000 by this action of the commit
tee.
Mr.. Slade said it was enough for him to
know that the committee were men in whom
the people had confidence. and if they
awarded the contract to Smith ~ Allen in
preference to Mr.. Daniels. there was prob
ably some good reason. But this is not the
question. What we want is to finish the
building in II manner to correspond with
the building itself. 1t is impossible to vote
upon these items separately. and the only
and the best way is to leave the matter to
the committeeman ir whom the town has
trust. When the committee reported, AT
the next town meeting. there would be
abundant opportunity to discuss their ac-
ton.
Mr.. Upper thought Mr. Slade failed to
see the point. He himself did not object to
the committee. He thought that perhaps
the committee had acted independently and
| to ha of hp ia
was whether the town will put itself further
n its hands.
b. S Beckwith believed that this meeting
would give the contract to Smith II Allen
rather than to Vergennes parties.
Mr. Hammond said the committee thought
it cheaper to give the contract to Smith 4
Allen. The building will be completed with
in the appropriation $4,000 We must
now finish it in a way that will give us the
most revenue. One reason for giving the
contract to Smith Il Allen was that they
prepared the plans free of expense to the
made elsewhere.
o. f. Comstock thought there was every
reason why the present committee should
be continued. He saw no reason for chang
ing them. They had acted wisely, in his
opinion. But the sum in Mr.. SHADES reso
luton should be $1,000 greater, or else no
limit should be pnt upon the amount to be
expended.
Mr.. Upper could see no reason in Mr.
Beckwith's statement. AS for the plans, he
would agree to get them for 800. In order
to get something out of the committee he
moved an adjournment for one week, to
this place and at this time.
, Darius Severance seconded the motion
Mr.. Hammond said that some means
ought at once to be provided for heating
the building in order to prevent injury by
frost.
IA. L H..
Tupper's motion was lost.
J The question required on Mr.. SHADES res
olutOn.
Mr. Upper moved that the resolution be
laid upon the table; and Dr. Gale seconded
the motion, which was lost.
Frank A. Bond hoped for several reasons
that Mr. Shades motion would prevail. We
have a good building and it must be fur
nished. Few realize how much revenue
this new hall will furnish, but nothing can
be gotten out of 1t till it is finished warmed
| and lighted. Let us look at this matter as
business men and settle it in .usiness-
like manner.
! Debate Observation-Disclosures in by Dr.
, Gale and Mr.. Hammond--as TO whether
the meeting had been sufficiently warned
, Mr.. Slade did not think the plea for III
; adjournment well founded. The warning
had been well circulated, and there was nc
, probability of II larger attendance one
/,
his resolution should not be passed.
Mr.. Upper expressed himself as not in
favor of the passage of the resolution. He
could not see how the town would be great.
ly benefited by this revenue. A show would
carry Off more money than it left. He
moved that the resolution be amended so as
to give the committee power to put in =
heating apparatus-this motion to be sub
stitute for Mr.. SHADES resolution.
4 Mr.. Tupper's motion was lost.
Mr.. SHADES resolution, as originally of
, fered. was then passed.
: The second article of the warning coming
up, Mr.. Hammond moved that the none,
/ be raised by town orders, payable in two
: years and due in seven years, with interes
: at per cent.
. DIR. Gale moved to make the interest
. per cent. He subsequently withdrew his
mQtion,
Mr., Hamnond's motion then prevailed.
Dir Gale moved that the sum of $1,000 b,
10 10 ha do