The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-05-06
SHALL THE CITY BUY THE GOLDEN
FLEECE?

The voters of Montpelier are summoned
to meet this evening at 1880 o'clock in the
building of the above name, to answer
this question The City Council was in.
structed at the annual meeting in March to
consider this matter, and, If regarded favor
ably, to call a meeting OF the voters to act
upon its recommendation We under
stand that the Council has investigated the
subject, but does not recommend the pur-
chase. Owing however, to the public in
terest in the matter it has concluded to re-
fer the decision of the question to the vot-
ers. The building is familiarity known to
every person. The property under consid-
Grafton includes, besides the building, the
lot in its front, which has frontage of sixty
feet on Main street. 1t has depth OF about
1893 feet the rear line is 1872 feet, and where it
abuts on the city lot it is 971 feet wide.
There are Al 1856 square feet Of land. The
price asked is $26, 800
The Council estimates that the expense
of making the changes necessary to adapt it
to the requirements Of the city will be not
far from the price received for the Capital
Hall property, or $500. This estimate
covers a vault, offices for city clerk and
water superintendent, room for City Council
meetings, hall for caucuses, room for hook
and ladder truck, for Volunteer Hose Com
pany and for storage.
The voters of Montpelier should be able
to Judge, without instruction, or very pro-
longed or arduous deliberation, whether or
not they desire to invest some $4,000 in the
Golden Fleece property, or any other sum,
for City Hall. They ought to be able to
decide, without assistance from news
paper or other counsellor, whether or not
they prefer a back lot, or front lot on the
main thoroughfare of the city, for location
of City Hall; whether they would prefer
building planned and built for other uses,
to one planned and built for the specific
needs of the city; whether they would pre-
fer to put $50 600 into the former, or a sim
liar sum-and more il needed-into the lat
ter, on front lot, Of ample dimensions,
they already own. 1t is public matter
and should be decided on public and bust
ness grounds. The Capital City of Yer
mont needs to act with caution and DELHI
Grafton in this matter, with due regard to
the best interests of the city, now and here
after, and with proper Difference to that
local pride which il large factor in the
prosperity and good fame of any commu-
nifty. Montpelier has larger number of
handsome public buildings, proportionately
il not absolutely, than any other city in
Vermont. In its City Hall it should main
tain its enviable reputation in this respect.
The WATCHMAN abides in the Judgment it
has previously expressed on this subject.
There seems to be no pressing need OF haste.
The provision of a City Hail. must, however,
come sooner or later. We do not believe the
city is ready, or the voters sufficiently we'll
informed, or have a Judgment sufficiently
II they say now that they will not buy the
Golden Fleece, or il they say they will
leave the project in allegiance, it would
seem to be the part OF wisdom to put the
matter into the hands Of a special commit
tee OF citizens, with instructions to report
at the next annual meeting Of the city,
Plans and estimates OF the cost of City Hall
ON the city's own lot should be provided.
Before the city shall decide to do one par
ticular thing, 1t should have an intelligent
understanding of what other things it may
do, aud what they will cost. The dictates
of wisdom and good sense would suggest
the placing of these matters in the hands OF
competent citizens committee, of men for
example like Fred E. Smith, c. p Pitkin,
Hiram Carleton, Thomas Marvin, Hiram A.
Huse, M. Il. Smile, George III. Guernsey,
an experienced builder, or others whose
names will readily suggest themselves.
Let the voters all come out tonight and
reason together about these things. The
meeting is called at the Golden Fleece at
7:30 o'clock,