Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-04-20

HE ALLEN BLOCK SITE AND system
OF SEWERS CONSIDERED.


The special village meeting at the lower
room of the town hall on Monday evening
brought together good representation
of the voters. 1t was voted to purchase
and add to the highway the site of the
Allen block. in front of the Battell block,
and to empower the trustees to employ
an expert to tell the corporation what
sort of sewerage system 1t needs and
what it will cost.
Moderator George Hammond called the
meeting to order. and Dr. Sheldon, the
acting clerk, read the warming
/ &. NJ. Wilds. Esq. explained the situa-
uatlOn with reference to the Allen block
site, which it was proposed thar the vii
lage buy and add to the highway. When
the rebuilding of the center of the village
began, after the fire of November. 1891,
he said, it became apparent that it would
be desirable to establish new street lines
before the foundations of the new build
ings were laid in order to get more room
on Main street and to straighten Mer-
chants Row. 1t appeared to be desirable
to have the Allen block site as a part of
the highway and Mr.. Joseph Battel
thought he had scheme by which it
might be acquired. Owners of property
on Main street and the Row had to be
paid for what of their lands were taken
to widen and straighten those streets
and we of the village thought the town
ought to pay for it. Mr.. bliss, who was
the counsel for the town, cOntended that
the village should pay. A compromise
was arrived at by which it was settled
that the town should pay for the Main
street and Merchants Row property ia
ken for highway purposes and that the
village would stand whatever of the cost
of the Allen block site was not otherwise
provided for. The town paid its part under
the agreement, and the village trustees
appropriated $1,000 toward the $1,000 re-
| quired for the purchase of the Allen
block site, Mr.. Battell undertaking to
provide the rest. But Mr.. Battell had so
much on his hands that he did not have
an opportunity then to close the matter
up, although Mrs. Dugald Stewart, the
owner of the property. was given to I'M
derstand that the village would buy it,
The trustees have not till lately been able
to agree upon plan for closing uO the
bargain, and the object of this meeting is
to ask you to ratfy their plan. Ii is TO
take so much of the highway money of
the present year as may be necessary to
make up the difference between the
amount already appropriated ($l00O)
and the amount Mr.. Battell can raise,
which he thinks will be Sl500 and per-
haps more. The past winter has been
favorable for the roads. so that we can
easily spare the $500 or less required. In
conclusion, Mr.Wilds moved that the trus-
tees be directed to secure this property
from Mrs. Stewart by he payment of the
$1,000 first contemplated and so much
more as the trustees in their discretion
see fit out of the highway tax raised this
year.
II. II. Mcleod, Esq, moved an amend.
ment limiting the amount to be taken
from the highway tax to $500. Mr.. Wilds
accepted the amendment. Judge Slade
Expressed himself as in favor of the pur-
chase. The hole should be filled up
this year and a suitable fence erected
along the railroad; the thing as it now is
spOls the looks of all that part of the
village. President Braneru said there
was no question as to the right of the
village to take the property for highway
purp )ses ; indeed, this very property was
set out for HE hway uses some so years
ago.
Mr.. Wilds' motion, as amended by Mr..
Mcleod, was then voted upon and car
ried.
Sewers were next considered. Mr.
Wilds said it had often been remarked
that the village needs sewers. The con-
'i''i VI '"i"So V" 'O"' NOui
ana seminary s'ree,s mao become not
only disgraceful, but positively danger
GUS to the health of the community. The
CLOSING up OF the outlets OF drains leadlhg
upon property whose owners would no
longer allow their premises TO De cess
pools hau aggravated tne trouble TO suci
an extent tllat one resident on Nasnlhg-
ton street louhd MS clSterh Iuil OF
sewage. Two sewers are absolutely
necessary AT ohce-one from me head OF
washington street leading down II 10
court street ana so 10 the RIVER ana anon
er from me iiSnest punt Vi SEMINARY
street westward TO the river, These
must inevitably De PUT IN Wlth!h hVe
years. ana Ill me meantime we uoh
want such an epidemic TO preak out mere
as indsor Is now suffering from. Inc
trustees mad declined TO oulld any sewers
Whatever ior the reason mar anything