Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-02-08

/. But the strongest objection 10 the
trolley scheme is the proposed seizure and
use of our streets and highways, without
compensation, and without the consent of
a majority of the voters and of the grand
list land especially the grand list, taxes up
on which have built them and keep them
in repair) and in total disregard of the
rights of abutters, which in other states
are carefully protected in like circum-
stances. Our business streets Main street
especially-are quite too narrow to be so
used without serious interruption and dam
age TO the ordinary business, and imminent
danger in using or hitchng horses therein.
In winter the large accumulations OF snow
and ice in Main street and elsewhere-oft-
en- from one and one-half to three feet
deep-would etfectually block the trolley,
sometimes for days and possibly weeks to-
gether, except at an outlay for removing
them altogether disproportioned to income.
Perhaps, though, it is expected that the
town will step in and keep the trolley
tracks and the streets clear at its own eX-
pense In fact, is the town to be put to
any additional expense whatever by reason
of the trolley; and, if so, how much and
in what way? These are points to be care
fully settled beyond all dispute at the start,
else the town will surely suffer. Think
twice, and go SLOW fellow citizens. The
town, too, has just entered upon definite
policy of permanent street and highway
improvements which, if not interrupted is
sure in a few years to give us first-cass
| streets and roads throughout the town: and
| already about S1j, 900 has been judiciously
| expended i'm pursuance of this policy. The
managers propose to locate the trolley in
some of these streets, in which money at
the rate of $4,000 to $1,000 per mile has
been recently expended, and thus unfit
them for the ordinary uses for which they
were constructed. If this is permitted it
requires no prophetic vision to foresee that
the policy of permanent road improve
ments will be- greatly checked or totally
abandoned; for it is not suppOsable that
taxpayers will continue to tax themselves
to construct expensive roads and bridges
for the use of a private corporation like
the trolley. Good roads throughout the
town, that all may safely use at will, would
be many times more valuable to the people
at large than any trolley, however success
full.
Is the Charter Adequate
5. The charter under which it is pro
posed to build this road was granted il
| 1888, when probably not one member OF
Ihe geheIdl asselholy udu ever nedru Vi
trolley road, except, perhaps, as a remote
possibility, or intended to grant the righ
to build any other than the usual horse
tramway. 1t is confidently claimed tha
under this charter a trolley road canno
lawfully be built; and this claim is sustain
ed by the carefully considered opinions o
several eminent lawyers, some of them o
national reputation. One of them, after 1
critical examination of the charter, wrot,
as follows: sit is very plain to me that, up
on established doctrines of the law as t
rights of such a corporation, an electri,
railway is not authorized by the charter il
question. Without now saying whether
think the charter is valid to authorize tn,
making and operating horse street rail
way, am very confident that that is tn,
utmost that could be done under it. Tn