Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-03-18
more favorable weather after the close of
the rainy season, which ends in March or
April
/THE BRIDGE QUESTION.

town hall at 10 o'clock a. m. on Satur-
day, the 26th inst, to reconsider the whole
bridge matter. The Pittsburgh Bridge
Co., to whom was awarded the contract
for the construction of an iron bridge,
have signiticd willingness to release the
town from the contract should it so de-
sire. Mr.. 2. F. Chapman went to New
York on Monday and saw Mr.. Turk, the
companv's representative, and writes
that the town can be released from the
contract. if it wishes, witlouJ cost to it
or to individuals.
Two warnings for the town meeting
are posted. Each is dated March If and
each is signed by E. j. Mathews and S.
X. Sceley, selectmen. The articles of one
of the documents read as foll.ws: \
/. TO see il the town will vote 10 re-
scind Il vote passed at the last annual
town meeting authorizing the selectmen
to purchase and cause To he constructed
an IRON bridge over Otter creek in the vii
lage of Miidlebury.
2. TO see if the town will vote to pro-
cure and cause to be constructed IL stone
bridge over the said Otter creek and to
provide means for the payment for that
bridge.
3. TO do any other business that may
properly come before the meeting.
The other warning is longer, as
follows:
|. 10 see what action the town will
take in regard to resembling or modify
ing the vote passed at the last annual
meeting appointing committee to pur-
chase and cause TO be constructed an
iron bridge in the village of Middlcbury,
including PIERS, abutments and roadbed
and providing for the payment of the ex-
pense of the same.
2. TO see what action the town will
take in regard to II contract alleged to
have been made by said committee with
the Pittsburgh Bridge Co. for the con-
struction and putting on of such iron
bridge and matters pertaining thereto,
whether to let such alleged contract
to stand or to take measures to procure
the release, rescission or modification of
the same.
3. TO see what action the town will
take in regard to the construction of a
new bridge across Otter creek in the vii
lage of Middlebury, and the material
thereof, or the repairing of the present
bridge at the same place, and in regard
to providing for the payment of the eX-
pense of such construction or repairing
and all matters incident thereto.
1. TO transact any other business that
may lawfully come before said meeting,
The occasion for the renewed consider
alton of the bridge matter is pretty gen
orally understood, but it may be as well
to state it. Mr.. Joseph Battell is con-
templating large expenditures for the ad-
vancement of the material interests of
the town, and it was found that he was
very much opposed to the erection of such
bridge as the contract provided for.
His plans have in view in a large degree
the beautifying of the village and town,
in which he thinks il very important that
all things should harmonize, and especial
ly so important Il feature as this central
bridge. He is theref' re anxious that
when ii permanent bridge is built it shall
be of stone. and to that end is willing. as
AS will make this beyond question the
cheapest bridge, all things considered,
that the town can erect 1t will be re-
membered that he offered to provide for
$1,000 of the expense, if the gross cost of
the bridge was $4,000, so that the town
would be out but $4,000. He is quite
confident that the whole cost need not
exceed $4,000; but, if it does, he will
pay half the excess. Under this arrange
ment $4,000 bridge would cost the
town $4,000, or $1,000 one $4,000,
and so on.
Now that the anulment of the iron
bridge contract has been provided for,
should the town deem it wise to take that
step, there seems to be nothing in the way
of having a stone bridge. Letters re-
ceived yesterday morning by Selectmen
Mathews and Seeley confirm the infor-
nation received from Mr.. Chapman on
Wednesday as to the position of the
Pittsburgh Bridge Co. with respect to the
contract.