Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-10-27
SHALL THE SHIRE BE
CHANGED?

CHANGED?
A bill has been introduced in the |
Legislature for the change of the shire
in this county, asking that commit
tee, as we understand, consisting of
the judges of the supreme court, be
appointed to locate the shire at some
point on the line of the Passumpsic
railroad. This matter has been be-
fore the legislature several times and
has agitated the county considerably
for the last ten years. 1t is pretty
generally conceded that the shire
ought to be removed to a point on
the railroad, when it becomes nee
essary to make expensive repairs on
the Jail or court buildings. The law
yers, judges, and those who seek the
line of the railroad to reach the
courts or county seat, desire the change
for their convenience, while each of
the three villages, Barton, Barton
Landing and Newport would welcome
a change which shall locate the shire
within them, for the business, pres
tige and other supposed advantages
which might result. There are other
arguments of lesser or greater i'm
port that can be used in favor of a
change at any time, and which this
paper, and ourselves in another ca
pacity have used in regard to the
matter. We believe the change will
be made sometime, the question be-
ing when will the people of the coun-
ty and those most interested in the
court business, demand it?
We have thus briefly, and, we think
fairly, stated the case on the side of
the change of the shire, but in JUS
tice to the desires and feelings of a
large class of our readers, and.a very
large majority of the voters and tax
payers of the county, we state the
other side: There is no demand for
change at this time among the
people of the county; they 60 up to
the county seat one or more times a
year without serious inconvenience
certainly, large share of them in
the western and central portions
with less Inconvenience than they
could reach other points; the larger
portions of them make their visits t.
| the courts in their own carriages, anC
: will do this when, if ever, the shire
is changed. The people are not ask
e ing for the change, because it entails
! expense. The removal or the cree
4 ton of suitable buildings must cos
e many thousand dollars. The count,
S is, by no means, small or niggardly
t and when new public buildings are t.
t be made will demand such as shall b
e suitable to this thrifty and respecta
!, BILE locality. But at this time whe
/, farm products are selling low, whe
o the numbering business is dull, an
!, everything that depends on these in
= dustries is suffering in consequence
s the taxpayer will be very reluctar
IS about engaging in any enterprise
st that demand heavy expenditures
The conditions of the buildings
such that there is no urgent deman
that new ones shall be erected. Will
N in the last few years the court nous
IS and the Jail house have been quiz
he thoroughly repaired, without an
IN within, and while not all that coul
IN be desired are comfortable and fair
I'd convenient-sucha as have been use
I'd for quite number of years. III
IN Jail answers its purpose, perhaps,
|
lis other counties. Occasionally a pri
tn oner has escaped, but it is as strol
H. as most modern jail structures. Sin
ut the agitation in regard to the chan;
n of shire has been made there ha
ut been Improvements about the ia
lis the court house and other buildin
To- that have been beneficial to prise
fi- ers, and have added to the conve
es, renee of all departments. The cour
ity is not suffering at all for new coun
NC buildings, though new set might
les desired by some. We notice an
AN ticle in the Montpelier Daily Joura
eat that one of the main arguments TO
md change of shire is the lack of sui
ity BILE hotel accommodations. II
of there is no irst-class, high ton
hat three-dollars-a-day hotel is true;
bill is there quite as good a hotel
mes judges, the legal fraternity and SO
rhe others demand, but for the last
ex- months there has been great impro
lee ment in the management of the lar
site hotel, and the opening of anot
lee house, at either of which the pu
is well used, and the expenses 5
mi that witnesses, jurymen and otl
, be who are compelled TO do business
rate the county seat, have no cause
ex- complain. The fare is good enou
was The few who seek better entert
own ment and higher prices, are not
bad tanned in Irasburgh long enough,
him ually, to produce dangerous rest