Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-11-02
THE BRIDGE MEETING.
4 Vote to Aid in Building the Chester
neld Bridge


held last Monday afternoon was a vote ~
give $500 towards bridge across the
Connecticut, , miles above this village,
provided the town Of Chesterfield gives
5000, and bridge can he built for the
combined sum Of Sl2, 800. b. d. Harris,
! II. H. Wheeler and Jacob Estey were elect
ed commissioners to act in the matter on
the part Of the town, and these commits.
siOners were instructed TO confer with the
authorities Of Hnsdae and with the owners
of the llnsdae toll bridge on the subject
Of making that bridge free, and report at
an adjourned meeting 10 be held on Mon
day afternoon, Nov. ~ This is the story
in brief
There was a good attendance at the
meeting, enough to fll every seat in the
hall Col. Haskins. the moderator, called
10 order As soon as Mr.. Newton had
/ read the warrant G. +. Thompson and W.
II. Alexander were on t, hs. feet the latter
with motion 10 dismiss the first two arti-
| Giles in the warrant relating 10 the pur-
| chase Of the Hinsdale bridge, and the for
mer with a motion b aid in the purchase Of
the bridge Mr. Thompson was recognized
as being first on the floor in the regular or.
der Of business, and presented his resolu-
ton which was as follows
! That the town will purchase the real estate. or
!
| the commissioners hereafter to ~ chosen also
the franchise aud property Uf the linslale Bridge
| company, provided that the same can ~ pur
chased at a cost to this town Of not over $1,000.
! Mr.. Thompson supported his resolution in
speech in which he referred to the interest
which he had always felt in having the
| bridge freed and 10 the benefits which
would be conferred ON the town by such "a
consummation The friends of this enter
! prise, he said. had no wish ~ kill or head
OIL the project for the Chesterfield bridge
W II. Alexander said Mr. Thompson
had once bambOozlesl the town into giving
! $50, 900 for the narrow gauge railroad, and
now he wanted TO put his hand in our pock
cts second time 10 throw away our
money on a rotten bridge which the prOpri
etors wanted 10 get rid of He didn't be
lieve the voters were fools enough to let
him do it-and much more 10 the same ef
feet, both at this time and later in the pro
ceedings. For the credit If the meeting it
must be said that while the crowd laughed
at many Of Mr. Alexander coarse and
violent thrusts, he got no support by 50
much AS a single vote
The condition and safety of the bridge
having been thus attacked DR.. Hulton
took the floor, and as one Of the owners Of
the bridge made a personal statement He
said 1t was true that he owned some stock
in the bridge, but his interest in the welfare
Of Brattleboro far exceeded his interest in
| the bridge. The bridge was bought by the
present owners with the purpose of holding
the property ready for sale at fair price
to the towns interested whenever those
towns should wish to make it free bridge
The bridge was in good repair Its owners
did not oppose the Chesterfield project, but
favored all the free bridges that could be
got. He said that If the sum of $40, 900
was not enough to secure the freeing Of the
bridge he was ready 70 be one of ten or
twenty men 10 subscribe money enough to
make up the balance
Mr.. kirwan asked questions showing that
he supposed from the wording of Mr.
Thompson's resolution that the whole Hins-
dale bridge property could be bought for
900. and he did not seem 10 become
convinced 10 the contrary as the meeting
progressed.
Col Fuller stated what he understood to
he the meaning of the resolution, and said
he had never expected to see this question
50 simpliied.
Col. Estey asked whether by its terms
the resolution made it compulsory for the
commissioners 10 free the bridge, or wheth
err 1t was meant to be simply discretionary.
The terms of the resolution seemed b. be
compulsory.
b. d. Harris asked for the full PROPOSE
ton which the friends of the enterprise had
in view. He was in favor of freeing the
bridge and also Of building the Chesterfield
bridge
In answer Mr.. Thompson read two other
resolutions which were in brief that f. l..
Waterman, f. C. Crosby and F. d. Fisk be
named as commissioners. and that they be
instructed To arrange with a similar com
mission on the part of Hinsdale for the pur-
chase OF the property, keeping it in repair
maintaining the highway, paying damages,
etc
The temper Of the meeting was unmis-
takably friendly to this proposition. and the
only question raised by any speaker ,except
Mr.. AleNanderl was as TO the wisdom of
putting the matter in form so positive and
mandatory before 1t was known whether
Hlnsdale would take favorable action
Col. Haskins called Mr. Herrick to the
chair and addressed the meeting in favor
OF leaving the question in such shape that
It could lie until Hinslale votes on the sub
ject next Tuesday aud it is known what her
people are willing to do. He offered tine
following as an amendment to Mr.. Thomp
sons resolution:
That articles and = together with the motLons
OF g T., Thompson, bs laid on the table and thai
b. d. Harris Hoyt II. Wheeler and jacob Estey
" committee 10 cOnter with the authorities II
the towns OF Hinsdale aud Chesterfield and the
bridge corporation in relation 10 the subject mat
teI nAu1ed IN SAID articles and report at an al
journed meeting.
N. l. Hawley wished this motion might
be 80 changed as TO include Mr.. Thompson's
ahh so as 10 say that the commissioners
may buy the bridge property. He was
in favor of freeing the bridge and also in
favor OF the Chesterfield bridge. He re
lated the experience of Springfield, Mass.
where the freeing of Que bridge has given
such an impetus that two other bridges
have been built and each has as much traf
nc as the original single bridge.
When put 10 vote, after some further dis
cussion, Col Haskinss motion was mani
mously carried
lion. b. ID Harris then took the flour ami
under the third and fourth articles of the
warrant presented the following proposi
ton
!, Ihat sum not exceeding $500 IL. and IL
hereby Appropriated for the purpos4. of unitins,
with the town Of Chesterfield n II I'm h,,iiii,ss
suitable and substantial iron highway hrii'sss
aUtYss .lr Connecticut river, 80 called about two
ana one-half miles north of this VILLAGE. Pr1vii.J
that sAd town Of Chesterfield shall contriI,,t,. "
sum not less than SJ Ia the construction If sail
uTldse; and provided further that for the o,no1nt
OF the two sums named 10 Vit-S1p an - @
uast can be made with responsible parties viii
suiilhclenI guaranty for the construction Of said
suitable and substantial masonry ahutr'a,,,s
anu anchorage, and provided further thai IN.
commissioners To be appointed according II an
act entitled An act to enable the town e 70 IA az
iieboro to purchase the toll bridge of the IinsdS
E pI,use company and 10 construct bridge acres
connecticut river, approved Oct ~ iSSS Shall
nlule eApendlng any part of the money bsr,l,y,
aPPProprlAted make an equitable agreement viii
sald town OF Chesterfield regarding the T.,ai
and future maintenance Of said hri,i,, igpa pau
payment Of damages thereon anu tue
- lhat SAID commissioners be and herehv a.,
L., A.