The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-08-12

tiles" Buried.
AS certain malcontents and chronl
agitators, who have for their chief oc
cupation the stirring up of the com
munity by obnoxious and unjust means
which can result only in great detrl
ment to both people and town, hav'
seen fit to open the Walls of their wratl
upon the editor of this paper, for th'
simple reason that he will not assist IL
carrying out their narrow and blgotec
ideas relative to the matter of PROM
ton: and have attacked him in the col
umns of the New England Home, al
alleged prohibition paper published in
Hartford, in an article occupying nearly
two columns of that publication, ne
feels it due to himself, as well as 9TH
ers interested, that plain statement OF
facts be given to the public.
The supposed author of the above
mentioned article, Lester w. Hanson,
the self-constituted leader of the pro-
hibitionists in Orange county, with his
accustomed prediction for misrepre-
senting and belittleing the OPINION,
and the sentiments of a great majority
of the citizens of Bradford, whose
good opinion and support is desirable,
has succeeded in so disappearing and
distorting the facts in the recent I'M
pleasant occurrence as to make can
did statement almost imperative.
Now for truthful history of this
case and the events leading to it from
the burning of the Trotter House to
the present time. When the unfortu-
nate event referred to left Bradford
without hotel, those citizens who had
the well-being of the town at heart,
realizing that such condition of affairs
must be detrimental to the prosperity
of the town, at once began to consider
ways and means of securing a new
hotel, and Immediately decided that it
could be done only by reaching deep
down into their pockets and taking
stock in the enterprise, and this with
no financial inducement other than the
certain loss of at least fifty per cent. of
the original capital and the interest on
the whole for the first five years. In
the face of this gloomy financial out
look $12 800 was subscribed and fine
hotel erected, of which the entire COM
munity is proud.
Messrs. Libbey Bros. were the first
lessees, and opened the house June IL,
1890, at which time more than four
hundred people joined in grand jubi-
lee to celebrate the successful outcome
of the enterprise.
After keeping most excellent house
for little over year, Libbey Bros.
became convinced that the profits ac-
cruing were not satisfactory, and be-
gan to seek a customer for their lease
and furniture. Fortunately Mr.. Oscar
d. johnson, of Woodsville, n. H.,
who had just sold the Parker House in
the last named place, bought them out
and took possession of the hotel here
in October of last year. He brought
his wife and an interesting family of
four little children together with an
experience in bookkeeping of over
twenty years duration. During the
few months he has been here, he has
gained friends continually, both from
among the travelling public and the
townspeople. Hotel Low has been a
model in its line under his manage
ment, and no one will gainsay it.
He has literally subscribed for all
worthy enterprises and made an inven-
tory of nearly twelve thousand dollars
on his grand list of personal property
alone, thereby proving his willingness
to do his whole duty toward support
ing the town. At no time, since the
hotel was opened, has a bar been kept,
as is so common in such houses, and
never has any one had the audacity to
claim that nuisance in that respect
had been maintained in the remotest
degree; but, like thunderbolt from a
clear sky, came the announcement one
during the June term of court
at Chelsea, that the States Attorney, ,
j. B. Pickett, Jr., had caused the ar /
rest of Mr.. johnson and Mr.. Clarke, :
the druggist, for the illegal sale of [
liquor. Quickly following came the
summoning of over a hundred wit
nesses to testify in open court on the /,
cases. Mrs. johnson, the landlords ]
wife, had been very i'll and confined to 1
her room for ten days previous to these ]
events, and the shock of the news of c
her husbands arrest so aggravated her 8
illness as to make it unsafe for him to 1
cave her, to this fact the two leading {
Drs. Jones and Fletcher, I
naaHa off6oxv;f % A