Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-02-21
TAE SPECIAL VILLAGE MEErINo.

Tuesday evening. They decided to defer
indefinitely the purchase of apparatus for
making stone roads aud to let the trus-
tees solve the problem of lighting the
streets rs they saw fit.
Clerk George Hammond called the
meeting to order and read the warning.
+. A. Bond was elected moderator, DR..
Sheldon, the moderator chosen at the an
nual meeting, being i'll.
Prof. Boyce submitted the report for
the trustees and the committee of seven
chosen at the annual meeting to assist
the trustees I'm looking up the subject of
stone roads. He said
Your road committee visited Shelburne,
Burlington and Rutland. We examined the
common macadam roads ana those win
the crushed stone roNd is the finest road at
present constructed, when properly laid
down Vt is n road that requires but little
attention afterwards. Though the first
cost is somewhat more than that OF
dirt road, when You take into account
periods Oi 20 years or more the stone road IL
much the cheaper OF the two
Dr. Webb's roads are plain inacadam from
to 10 inches thick and they cost about $4,000
Il mile. Some OF his drives have II thin coat
ing OF macadam not more than OF inches
thick and cost about $1,000 per mile. Ihe
stone he uses IL Il red sand rock, Ike that USED
in the construction ot our Methodist church,
and is quarred on the farm. Burlington
people use trap rock, which is about as hard
rs our boulders.
II we had commenced to build stone roads
20 years ago, all our streets would now be
macadamlzed and would have cost US not
more than we have already laid out In their
construction. When such roads have been
constructed they can be kept in repair at a
| very small annual expense.
Limestone or marble makes II good toun-
datiOn, but Tor the top course something
harder j. required. If on investigation it is
found that we have adequate supply of
these, we would recommend the purchase OF
IA stone crusher. sitter and horse roller at
a cost OF nOl more than $500. II the village
votes to purchase IL plant we would advise
that a committee OF Two practical men be ap-
pointed to make the Investment.
Mr. Boyce also submitted the follow
| ing:
Resolred, That the village buy "a stone
culshcr, engine, elevator, screen, bins and
/ roller, not to exceed in price $500; that the
trustees issue Per cent 500 orders TO pay
for the same, running 10 years, but optional
with the village to take up any time after
| two years.
ReSoired, That there be reserved from the
road money 500 each year to pay the inter
/ est and The balance uscd to t,kr up the or
der, after two years, As the trustees may think
best.
The report was accepted. and a motion
was made and seconded that the resOlu-
tions be adopted. Judge Slade moved an
amendment making the amount laid aside
each year $500 instead OF $500. Hon. j q.
/ w. Stewart moved that the resolutions be
laid on the table. He was not, he said.
iii the habit of opposing Improvements,
but in his opinion this is no time to 90
into experiments which might prove
costly. Business is dull and it is hard
enough for people to pay their taxes low
without adding TO them. Judge Slade
explained that the proposed move did not
contemplate an Increase of expenditures {;
it was simply Il plan for getting greater
value for the highway tax necessarily
expended. Something permanent might
as well be gotten for the money as to lay
1t all out in drawing sand upon the roads.
w. NJ. Jackson thought men out of em-
poyment could be relieved by setting
them to work quarrying stone and so
have it ready for use in the spring.
Judge Slade declared that the roads were
as bad in spots AS they had ever been
during the 81 years he had lived in town.
o. +. CUmstOck queStiO the accuracy
of Judge SHADES statements. Hon. j.
w. Stewart said that it would take %
years to build the roads on the plan pro-
posed. He understood that tlrst-class
stone roads cost $4,000 IA mile. 1t was
no time to embark on eXtravagant enter
prises. G.. Nj. Wilds, Esq, disapproved
of going into the making of stone roads
at this time, when all sensible business
men are keeping as close 10 the shore as
DOSSlDlt. Oul IOdlN dIt SOOu
as good and better than those of other
Vermont villages of similar or even
= greater size. Experience had shown that
all improvements cost at least twice as
much as had been figured, aud other
! things, such as sewers, were needed more
than stone roads. If tins were simply
; scheme for getting greater value for the
l highway money, 1t might be we'll to enter
e upon il: but it will NOT stop with the eX
I penditure of the highway tax. The
amount of uncolected taxes showed
clearly that additional burdens ought MOI
To he imposed upon taxpayers \ ballot
e was then taken on MI. Stewards motion
[ to lay the resolutions on the table ant
g. +. Marshall and John A. Fletcher
were appointed tclerS. There were 10
votes cast, ~ of which were in favor o
, Mr.. Stewards motion, and the resolution,
were tabled.
I George Hammond thereupon Offered
a these resolutions:
Resolred, That the village OF Mlddleburl
: purchase within the next Twelve months al
= entire outfit Tor Il stone crushing plant, al
- complete and set mp AT some place designat
ed by the trustees, not earlier than the lSt o
April or later than the lst ut June. 1897, TIT
: whole cost not to exceed the sum OF $24OO
ResOlred. That Thomas +. BOyee and Allal
y Calhoun constitute II committee to puTehas,
- the plant which in their Judgment is the best
HeSotred, lhlt II hltcI II rcasOnhplc lTlhl l
. proves IA recommended to the conn lttee
a lher the trustees shall draw An Iorder upOl
. the treasurer for the payment Of the SAM
I out of the road money to he raised the pres
}. ent season, S2lOO being reserved Tor that pun
f pose.
a Mr.. Hammond said that during tn
= last 10 years over so, 900 had been spen
p on the village roads and during the las
five years the average annual eXpendi
ture had been S2S0O. Mr.. Nilds salt
-. thar the $1,000 could not legally be So
N aside for the purchase of a plant rs con
templated by the resolutions. Afte
J. brief debate "a vote wa, taken on a mo