Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-10-01
THE DANGER At WEST RIVER
BRIDGE

Editor u The PhGnir-Sir: Being mere sojourn-
er IN Bratleboro, have right TO speak or vote in
its public meetings but kindly allowed the arg-
est opportunity Of paying taxes aud perhaps my lib
erty to take an interest In its good and in the
comfort and safety Of its citizens lie unrestricted
hope, therefore, to be permitted this only means open
to my class Of drawing attention 10 4 matter which
concerns not only the rights of taxpayers but the
reputation Of the town allude, especially, to that
most neglected and dangerous piece Of highway which
Is situated between the West River bridge aud the
Railroad crossing, about $50 feet north Of il. The
railroad trains coming out Of dense wood on one
side and through rOckcut the other, aud sudden
ly crossing much-trayelled highway at grade would
be dangerous under the most favorable circumstAn-
ces That danger Is greatly increased in this by
the fact that the space from the crossing to the long
dark bridge Is At best tOonArrOw embaukment with
very high perpendicular walls Of on either side
to fall from which would be death But what 10 still
worse there Is now added TO these pers II to in-
le usasleI long nlgh, lagged pile OF stones, which
occupies third Of the width OF the causewAy. II
they had been put there by some stranger his reck-
less disregard Of the public convenience and safety
might naturally have awakened indignation than
surprise but what be said II We must regard the
nuisance thus created the Joint act Of railroad
which Is responsible for dangerous crossing, aud
the public authorities, who bound TO protect ctl-
1eus against its perils Even this is hardly the
The earrage-way on the embankment, hardly wide
enough for two vehicles to pass each other in day
light, Ia made 80 much higher in the middle than At
the sides that It endAngers upset the wall To 90
on either SIDE OF the road. The low, mean fence
which is placed on either edge OF the embankment
instead OF being protection ID so utterly imsy It's
build that the moderate wind Of tue last storm blew
II over upon the road and made II new danger. II
Is too weak aud mean even for a sheep-pen. The
danger Of the situation IL made distractng and
alarming by tue fresh memory ofo OF the most iu-
detensbe railroad disasters at the very spot which
has anywhere occurred In recent years.
Having travelled somewhat, recently, venture the
assertion that so dangerous aud dsgraceful piece of
muehfTequented highway cannot be found In all New
England. The rough, dilapidated and hAlf-cyilized
appearance OF this piece OF road Is quite in keeping
with its perls, and is more behting Turkey or Spain
than one Of the most enlightened portions Of tue
country. BrateborO ought to be ashamed Of any ON
Ger or citizen who Is not ashamed OF this slaughter
pen OF neglect aud niggardness. In England by re-
cent statutes las IN some of our states) which
perhaps only reatirm the old common-law liability II
Is made penal to reduce a roadway below 40 feet 10
Wldth or To put an obstruction within 20 feet Of is
centre line yet in the case In hand OF the posts
Tor tue railroads danger-signa at the point OF great
est peril IL hardly ten feet from that Incl II Is in
tseli danger aud an encroachment, which ought 10
involve heavy damages to the FIRST traveller to whom
II shA be tue cause OF injury. II lie duty OF the
authorities OF the town to remove It. II it had not
been for the narrow ridge Of roadway aud the feeble
roadside fence which has been long tolerated At this
point, should presume the present conditions TO be
only temporAry-the result Of some necessity There
Is now apparently no claim for such presumption.
am not well informed whether the authorities
nave the means for putting this road in order or II
they have who IA guilty Of the neglect. II may be
there are divided councils, some doubts as to OFF,
cla duty. cannot think that the very aud
prosperous citizens Of the village Of Brateboro