Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-06-26
SPECIAL VILLAGE MEETING.
A small Attendance. with Lots Of Fun
and 0ratOTy.
The Gnmrw.u Fire Alarm system
Adopted. and the Purchase Of New
Hos Cart and Hose ordered.


Hos Cart and Hose ordered
The attendance at the special village
meeting held Oh Wednes lay evening was
not large. but the proceeding, proved to be
Of a very animated character. as was gen
orally anticipated. Col. Hooker rallied 10
order and read the warrant soon after $50.
and then presented the written report of
the committee appointed to investigate the
electrical fire alarm system. The report
described the general features OF this sys-
TEN as used in all the cities and larger vii
lagos of the country. detailed the various
steps of the investigation. and stated the
results which have already been given in
our columns The conclusions of the com
mittep were in substance that the Game
well system is the best in use. that it Is
seemingly perfect in its operation. and that
its adoption by the village OF BrattlebOro
is advisable. The proposition was submit
TED from the New England Gamewell com
pany to put in its complete system includ-
ing rs signal boxes indicator and eight
inch gong in the steamer engine house. a
the house Of each engineer. batteries and
testing apparatus. metallic circuit and
battery material tor one year. all Tor the
sum OF S.}4SJ. In answer 70 q question
from Col Haskins the chairman said that
this included the poles for the wires. AMI
the entire system complete ready for use.
Rev Mr.. Parry moved the acceptance OF
the report and the adoption OF the commit
tees recommendation. Mr.. Kirwan asked
about the yearly cost OF maintenance. and
was answered that 500 would cover the
entire cost. Hon h. -. Harris asked ii
new poles were 10 be- erected. and was an
swered that the electric light company
poles would be- used a. far a. possible with
out cost TO the village.
/. r. Adams offered al amendment To
Mr.. Parry motion IN the form OF a reso-
luton adopting the GameWel system and
instructug the balitis to borrow money 10
pay the expense involved in lis inrroduc-
ton Mr.. Parry was not sure OF the ad-
visibility OF this amendment. but agreed to
its acceptance Col Estey said that while
he did NOT favor needless eXpeudi -ure. he
believed the time would come when. a. the
next step in the progressive policy OF the
village. We could afford % introduce a ire
alarm system H. thought it, introduction
would probably mean a saving in the cost
OF insurance TO larry property holders. ON
this latter point Col. Hooker said n- ha a
letter from the president OF the Wndham
county board of underwriters. which he
then read. and which stated that. IN case
OF the adoption of the tire alarm system. a
reduction OF - per cent would undoubted-
ly be made on large pOlicie, IN which prop
eriy holders assumed q part of the risk.
IL answer TO a question whether this
meant All aii-round reduction of - I-.r
cent ~ the cost OF insurance. Col. Estev
explained the principle Of ''cu-iusurauce
which prUcee l. Oh the basis OF the insured
assuming par OF the risk and agreeing.
III cas-, OF loss. 10 assume a certain stIpu-
Lated portion OF Il. One-fouuh oI one
third. II is on this bas, that tlre E>iey
property i insured, and by means OF il a
large reduction IL rates l. secured. Mr.
Parry thought the reduction in insurance
would come a. a recognition Of the gener-
al spirit OF improvement and adoption OF
safeguards which The introduction of the
IRE alarm system would indicate. l. I.
Adams told OF the favorable report which
he had heard from many sources of the
benefits received from the introduction OF
the ilre alarm system. = II. Sherman b,--
in lnterroEaied. confirmed what had been
Il
tdblIshed principle that a reduction in i'll
surance Away, follows the adoption of im-
provenents and safeguards. L H. Van
Doom thought "a strong argument in
favor oi the mr. alarm system lay IN the
TACT that IL would furnish projection TO
small property holders living az a distance
from the business centres who were a.
much entitled 10 such protection a. We're
those OF larger property interests.
John Cain. ia lew well stated remarks.
questioned the adyIsibllity OF the adoption
OF the system on the ground that little
would be gained by il without al increased
water supply, and other facilities which
were OF greater importance.
+. {. Crosby spoke on the need of all
alarm system, AMI said he believed all such
Improvements paid IN the long run. T. !.
b. Cudworth said a few words Oh the i'll
surance question. Mr. Cain having allud-
ed 10 lack OF horses 10 draw the steamer,
al a recent fre, ". d. Perry. of the board
OF bailitfs. explained how that occurrence
happened. and said il was the plan of the
bailitfs to build a stable in connection with
the steamer engine house. where horse,
would be always available for use. while
the tremen would be al hand in the engine
house 10 hitch up the horses and start the
machines
Col. Haskins feared the meeting was on
the wrong tack. While al the annual
meeting he had insisted that the Gamewell
representative and his proposition should
receive respectful hearing. he was now in
doubt about the adoption OF the system.
he thought il would be the old story OF
the andirons which cost a thousand dol
lars. The andirons themselves. TO be sure.
only cost -, but the new brass fender
new carpets. new furniture etc. which
had 10 be- bought 10 20 with them made
the real bill of expense. He was afraid il
would turn out SO in this case Mr. Perry
had let the cal out of the bag. Ii We have
the tire alarm. system We have GOT 10 build
a stable. buy horses. keep paid tirelnen in
the engine houses, and have a lot of other
expenses 10 go with them Soaring in his
oiatory a. he went on. Col. Haskins eN-
pressed a serious doubt whether the village
was ready 10 enter on such a course The
colonel seemed 10 have the meeting with
him as he closed. but here followed "a very
pretty passage at arms-Or al eloauence-
between him and Rev. Mr. Parry. the lat
Ter quickly relOining, that. while such
flight OF oratory might have paralvzed the
natives IN the 10th century he thought il
could hardly count on this occasion. He
could imagine some one raising a similar
objection when Martin Luther advanced
ms ideas, or when any improvement OF any
KIND had been proposed. The tire depart-