The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-11-24
The Ever Present Bridge Question.

The legal voters of Montpelier are patient
and long suffering, but they cannot be blamed
If they rise in their might and demand
that the bridge question: which has filled the
columns OF the local newspapers and agitated
the minds of the people of Montpelier ever
since last spring, be settled and laid to rest
Ever since the city council voted to hold a
special city meeting at Armory Hall next Mon
day evening for the purpose of determining
whether the city would vote to build high
way bridge across the Winooslxi river, at the
foot of Charles street, instead of the foot
bridge, as previously decided, and since the
city council voted not to build a steel bridge
near the works of the Lane Manufacturing
Company, but to put in wooden structure on
the old site, the question OF bridges has been
more than ever in the public mind. j. j.
Bergen and James Canning, employees of the
Lane Manufacturing Company, have, within
the last few days, been circulating a petition
which has been numerously signed, praying
that the recent action of the city council be re-
scinded that the present foundry bridge be
closed, and steel bridge be built in its place
across the river at a point some two hundred
and fifty feet farther down Elm street.
Before the voters take action at the meeting
next Monday evening it is well to. consider this
question carefully and see what the city, by a
former vote of its common council, is legally
bound to do. AT a joint meeting of the select
men of the town of Berlin and the city council
of Montpelier held on June 9, last, the follow
ing resolution was unanimously adopted;
"REsoLvED-Upon the discontinuance of
the suit against the city of Montpelier by the
town of Berlin, calling for commissioners to
W;nooski river in the vicinity of the c. III,
More granite works. We the aldermen of the
city of Montpelier and selectmen of Berlin,
hereby agree to build and maintain a frst-class
foot bridge, or an ordinary or any other kind
of highway bridge, as in our Judgment may
| seem best at such point as in our opinion. will
| hest accommodated both the people of berlin
and Montpelier in that vicinity. and if a foot
bridge should be finely decided upon. the ex-
pense of building said foot bridge shall he
pelier. but if highway bridge is built, the ex-
nense of game shaiI he apnorf;oned or divided
as seems lust and right to ali the parties in
interest. This resolution means to cover the
present season IA far as tbe building of some
sort of a br;dge ia concerned but ia not to he
come operative until said case has been dis
missed if court Is in session or nroner dis
continuance has been entered with the comfy
clerk. If the court is not in session. And we
hereby agree to construct a steel bridge across
| fine river in the vicinity of the "Red Arcbi
bridge. said steel bridge 70 he fortv-nine feet
over all in width with buckle plate, aspbalt
| floor With nlanl waIks the exnanse to ha All;
v;dad On that Berlin shall nav three ner cont
and Montnelier seven per cent
| L I n. 4
pener mas agreed WIN Dernh 10 Duild 1901
prluge AZ .he polhe naii.eo anu sne Ganhot
hohoraply 20 paIh On tiiat aSieeii,eni. II TINS
aereeilenME slo su oe lepuuia'ed TPonIPeher
canhot coilec! from 'he towh OF Dernn us
snare for puhiHinE 'ne new S1eea pr;age az me
I1oe Vi 2pu'h MAIN s.ieei' ine opinion Vi hls
lioh9!, .he Hayor' W .he contrary Io,wI,n-
s 81. .ne ioDt pTiug9 as proSiueu lor IN
.ils r9Soiu.loii Siiouiu pe Jul. anu .ne soters
SHOULD exercise d care INA. lney are hot ipole
|
prluge wlll COSY put nt,le more tnai WIN the
1907 pridge. II hlghW,ay bridge is ultimately
punt at tilis point IL VIII De an overhead cross
ing, cosVIg many tilousinus OF dolaIs n ne
central vermont ana Mohtpeier ana wells
river railroads. VIII VIII ngh' grace crossing and
III the end they VIII "ln' ana th9se VINO adYo'
cate building cheap highway prldge at tins
point at the present !lne IN place oil the loot
prldge proVldeu Tor III tne apoVe resolution, do
hoI or understand the iacts III tne case
IN voters are getting IN an unpleasant
! -: - 49,. 80 e 80. 49,.