Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-12-05
General Vermont News.

At the annual business meeting OF the 80
ciety OF the Vermont lsh and game leagu,
at Montpelier the following officers were
chosen President, j. W. Titcomb; secretary
Il. NJ. Deal; treasurer, G. +. Lowe; vice
presidents, w. II. Peake Of Bristol, n. W
Fiske Of Isle La Motto, +. ID. Proctor o.
Proctor. l.. c. Smith of st. Adams, W. =
Webb cf shelburne, 7; n. Vail Of Lyndon
Vile and Erastus Baldwin OF Wells River
COMMITTEES on Introduction OF new game. II
p. Leach OF Highgate, W. l.. W. Ripley
of Rutland. W. s Webb of Shelburne
j. NJ. GelOt Of Middebury,F. Fl. Wells o
Burlington. About fifty new members were
added to the society, Everybody who didn't
have other fish to fry took in their sha Ol
the fth annual banquet ofthe Fish and Game
league which was held in the Pavilion this
assembled and u jolly crowd il was Music
was furnished by an orchestra and the
'iovial atmosphere" Of n sportsman lie
was 80 far us possible transferred to the
banquet hall.
Henry Z. French has been commissioned
postmaster Mt Union Village Hawley g.
White assignor to II. c. White company
Bennington, has taken out letters patent foI
an improvement In sterc0scopes. The fol
lowing NermOnters have been granted pen
sions: Increase, James II. Long. Wood
stock Howard IL Burge, Vergenn,s. orig
inal. Charles l.. Swasey, Norwich Charles
Londre, Springfield; renewal, Charles II.
Briggs, Brattleboro.
Governor Grout has appointed the follow
ing persons as examiners OF teachers for the
several counties In this st;.c: AduisOn cOun-
ty,ThOs. l.. Royce, OF Middlebury Benning-
ten county, ID. X. Simonds, of Manchester
Caledonia count, VII. Taylor of Hariwick
Chittenden county, j. L. Allen of WestfOrd
D., II Nal ~ J,lu Do
Franklin county. H. L. Rustedt of Richford
Grand Isle county, Mrs. II. W. Marvin OF
Alburg; Lamoille county. ". A. Beebe OF
Morrisyille: Orange county, Fred f.. Prich-
ard OF Bradford Orleans county, q. A.
Andrews Of Derby Rutland county. Alfred
Turner Of Rutland; Washington county,O.
ID. Matthewson of Barre Wndham county,
II. d. Ryder of Bellows Falls.
The business meeting and annual election
of officers of the First regiment Vermont
cavalry was held at Montpelier and the fol-
lowing board OF officers were elected for the
ensuing year: President. George p. Blair
vice-presidents, Co. A. +. b. Macomber Co.
B, G.. b. Currier; Co. G, Albert George Co.
ID, II. A. Bumhall Go. j., VI. VI. Dunham
Co. +. William Joyce; Co. q. ID. W. Taft
Co. II, II. o. Edison Co. |. A. NJ. Crane; Co.
X. f.. II. Higley: Co. l., Samuel Hale; Co.
NJ, Peter Leonard secretary, 5. IL. Wood
treasurer, W. l.. Greenleaf.
Col. George y. Dowley, president of the
Vermont National bank died ut Brattleboro
of amaemls. He had been in i'll health for
many months, but gave up his work at the
bank only about two weeks ago. Since then
his decline has been rapid. He was born in
Wardsboro August 16, 1s43. In 1870 lie mar
ried Ada E., daughter of William H. Estn-
brook Of BrattleborO, and by whom he IL
survived.
The annual meeting OF the stockholders
OF the Champlain valley fair association was
held at the city court room Thursday even-
ing. Directors we're reelected as follows
f. J. Booth. G. W. Brownell, E. s. Adsit, e.
W. Hawkins, 4. +. Burgess, W. B. Gates,
NJ. G. Berry, W. +. lIendee j. Is. Henderson,
W. b. McKillip, and W. T.. Greene, of Bur-
lington. Frank Talcott, of Williston, and A.
s. Webb, of Colchester.
:. s. Grifflth, the large lumber dealer at
Dandy, Is building one ut the finest fish
hatcheries in the state of Mount Tabor. He
has already large number OF watts full of
fine trout. In connection with these watts
aud hatchery he has made an artificial pond
covering five or six acres which is destined
to become an attractive sporting ground.
MIR. Griffith expects to add to his, ulrenlv
largo supply about 5OO,OOU more trout by
spring.
The next examination for postoffice clerks
and mail carriers will be held at Burlington,
December 5. There are five applicants for
clerkship examinations, but none for car
riers'.
Edgar +. Boyd, contractor and builder of
Bennington, whose whereabouts Is mys-
terry. left unpaid bills to the amount of
about 10000. There is thought to be no
doubt that his disappearance was prenedi-
tatei. He converted property and secnri-
ties into about VI, 900 in cash, which he took
with him.
In Windham county court the last week
has been spent In the trial Of a case exciting
widespread interest because Of its defining
u legal term OF "bOatablc" waters. .as against
waters which may be held for private pre-
serves in this state. 1t was entitled New
England trout and salmon club vs.. George
Mather." About seven years agO this club
was formed by leading men IN the south
ern part OF Vermont and New Hampshire
to organize preserve for private fish
ing and hunting purposes. They purchased
hundreds OF acres Of wild land surround
ing what was known as marlboro South
Pond" in this county. the club owning
land upon all sides. over which any party
must pass to reach the pond. They fenced
it of. and posted notices forbidding tres
passing. supposing themselves secure in its
possession. Over year ago number OF
old citizens Of this locality determined to
ties. the question Of rights, and number
LTtsINtSoCuy lSuluk hpph thc puma uo III
former years, resulting in suits being
brought against ten or more. this case
of Mather being taken as q test case. Judg-
ment for defendant was given one year
ago under an agreed statement of fact In
order to bring 1t to tho supreme court for a
definition of the word "boatable" in the
statutes which describe public waters. The
term under certain ruling of the higher court
md aeyaD days ware nSllmpd in the trial
resulting again in u verdict for the defend
ant. The court held that ''bOatable waters"
were those capable of transportation of
commerce, adding significantly that case
ment extends to purposes OF pleasure as
well as business. the same rs a highway
1t being for the Jury to say If these were such
In fact. They did-so flnd and that in pass
ing over plaintiffs land to reach such waters
defendant passed over public right Of way,
although owned by plaintiff. Plaintiff
promptly appealed the question again to the
supreme court, but 1t is doubtful Ii 1t Is ever
carried further.
Once in two years the state OF Vermont has
as sance for It's Thanksgiving turkey the
final adjournment of the Legislature. The
assemblage just dispersed was body with
absolutely good intentions which met with
out particular definite purpose. worked and
stumbled and acted over the things put be-
fore it as hest 1t might, and adjourned with
u reasonably good record as to harm done. At
my rate. the state is not much worse off than
1t was before. And there Is one very pleasant
thing to be said Of the Legislature ~ whole
il was remarkable for sobriety. Never within
the observation of old campaigncrs at the
capital has u session been attended with so
little linking and drunkenness ms the one
! just ended. This. perhaps some people
need to he told, was in no degree due to
| difficulty in getting liquor, but was solely
because the members were inclined TO keep