Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-12-29
THE COUNTY SHIRE.


stated reasons why they preferred to have
the shire located at that point. Many of
these witnesses, however, were compelled
to acknowledge that while their personal
choice was at Newport, they thought the
county could be better convened and ac-
commodated at Barton village or Barton
Landing. Statistics were furnished, and
evidence favorable to that place. The
evidence was all in on Monday night, and
Tuesday morning the Commissioners met
to hear the arguments, one hour and
half having been granted each OF. the three
sides to argue their cases. TheRrgument
was opened by Newport side, Mr.. Crane
and Maj. Grout handling the case. Bar
ton Landing followed, Messrs. Gleed and
Dillingham; pleading eloquently for that
place. The case ON the part of Barton
was very ably argued by Mr.. Idle OF st.
Johnsbury, and Mr.. Thompson of Iras-
burgh.
The committee went home on Wednes-
day morning, leaving it to be understood
that they were to have subsequent meet
ing, when their decision was to be made
and reported to the governor; but it
seems that they had come to a decision to
report to the governor at once. A re-
port, dated at White River Junction, Dec.
%, over their signatures, states that 'they
had selected the village Of Newport, in the
town Of Newport, in the county Of Or
leans, as the best location for the court
house etc." So it will be seen that so far
as the committee is concerned, the shire is
to be changed from its present location to
the s'village of Newport
We have little time to discuss this mat
ter, but will give brief history of the
case: The first effort to get removal Of
the shire, we believe, was in 1872, when
the representative from Newport and
some others, sought to get the shire on to
the line of the railroad. Thereafter, I'M
| til the year 1876, the question came up
every year, either to be defeated in the
| legislature, or to fail before the people.
| Here let it be stated that there has never
been any general demand on the part of
| the people of the county for the removal
| Of the shire from Irasburgh; there has
been some complaint in regard to hotel
accommodations at that place, this es-
pecially enlarged upon by certain lawyers,
buildings required to be rebuilt that they
should be moved ON to the line of the
railroad. There have been, however, all
the while, certain men in the aspiring
villages, that have sought with concu-
piscent desire to bring the shire into then
midst, and they have kept the thing in
agitation until they have succeeded in
compelling the county to build set OF
buildings at point where, as a whole, il
will not be nearly as well accommodated
| as it has been heretofore, while severa
towns will suffer great hardships, or b.
compelled to seek decent treatment il
other counties.
1t is needless to say that all over thi
end Of the county there is indignation
that amounts to rage. The manifest in
jnstice of the decision is such that PEG
pie all over the county, except a few per
sonally and selfshly interested, will re
bel, and will ever look upon the decision
: Of the committee as unjust and outrage
= Gus. Very few men among all the wit
nesses used by Newport could conscier
tiously say, that in their judgment tn
the buildings ought to go north of Barto
e is at such a point, while the war cry ha
0 been con the line of railroad for convt
f nience," as to afford practically little c
/, no railroad conveniences to the sout
:. part of the county. The south towr
u are virtually compelled to 60 from twel
e ty-fve to thirty miles by team, while I'll
It | shire is set Within five miles Of CanaC
J. Line. For railroad conveniences evel
r. town in the county, in all the southel
section, would be better accommodated
St. Johnsbury than at Newport. For th
. place we claim every advantage that C;
ID be had at Newport, except hotels, whit
J. easily grow up to their necessities, al
w we claim perfect railroad accommod
:, ton for all the northern sections, VIII
we have many things that call people
|" this village. which cannot be found
ne any other village in the county. At Il
r. place all of the south towns would
d. we'll convened, while none in the mort
M except such as could come by rail, wor
n, be more than three hours drive avs
OF Barton Landing, much that has be
no said of this place, can equally well
ne said of that, while it's almost central
he cation gives it all the argument of con
of nience of access by team conveyan
The advantages of both of these pla
were well set forth during the heari
and it took a strong credulity to bell,
any committee could ignore the claims
lth both, many of which were possessed
ra- common, and locate the shire at n,
in port. For whatever honest effort
q made by the people of Newport to G
~ this, to them, long coveted prize, we
no fault; but there are hundreds in
au- county who believe that there are hid
er- chapters in the history of this case wi
oh would be startling revelations could t
irst come to light. Those who have been
miliar with the whole affair from the
ginning, feel that it has been disgr
-'o' full conspiracy to rob Irasburgh, ant
iin- compel the county to erect new build
use where great injuries will be done
,ss. county.
ont We regret that the result of this
~ and troublesome agitation in the col
is not such as can be cheerfully acce
'o' by all, and that the case seems to
,oV- mand an article of this character.
l if have an excellent county and what
aty. tends to disrupt or distract it, is III
the 'unate. our Social poiitlcai anu
ness relations have usually been
pleasant and we would that they n
'ihy be so hereafter.
hich
,;.,, With the year 1885 two important
ais will be commenced in Harper's
aZine, one of them by Constance
ing imore Woolson, whose s.Anne'' and
that the Major" placed her in the front
nate of American noyeliSts. Her new
oov- will be called east Angels, and it p
-, ises to be as strong q story as ga
while superior to it in artistic treatl