Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-03-04

who paid taxes only on 100000.
Mr.. Thompson said our grand list was
approximately S4S, 0O0 and tax of 81 20
would raise SS4,0 O0 where the same
amount could be raised with tax Of 81 40
if the grand list was 100000 Mr.. Thomp-
son said any man with common sense could
see by an examination of the list that
there were scores of men and estates that
paid only a fractional part Of their real
value. This is simply a question OF fair
ness between man and man. Mr. Thomp-
son thought the listers ought to see
that the list was increased, and showed
that the law as to their duty was explicit
and sufficient.
G.. b. Hit moved that the tax for the
coming year be 81 cents on the dollar of
the grand list, as recommended by the re-
firing selectmen. +. G. Crosby moved for
an amendment, making the tax 80 cents,
as he thought this sum would be sufficient
on account OF the money which was com
ing into the town treasury from the divi-
deud declared by the Brattleboro ~ White
hall railroad company. j. G.. Stafford
harangued in favor Of the 80 cent tax. He
declared in favor OF closing the doors Of
the opera house, and OF stopping macadam
road building. criticised the road work in
down upon Canal street, etc.
A. c. Davenport's motion to lay article 3
on the table until article 20 in reference to
a highway tax had been acted upon was
voted down Mr.. Crosby's amendment
prevailed, and tax Of 80 cents was voted.
4. G. Davenport nominated James Con
land, p. Cunningham and G. O. Day trus-
tees Of the Bratlleboro Free library for a
term Of three years, and they were chosen
II. b. ChamOeraiu's motion appropriating
$1,000 for the maintenance of the library
was carried, as Was Col. +. lannon's mo-
ton appropratins so for the observance
of Memorial day.
The salaries Of the town officers were
made the same as last year, the motion be-
ing made by j. G.. Stafford. An appro-
priation OF $500 was made, upon motion
OF j. &. Stafford, to meet the deficiency
in the road commissioners department the
past year. The town voted to exempt
from taxation the polls OF the members of
Western Engine company No. Of West
Brattleboro e. b. Hits motion that the
jurisdiction Of the constables be extended
throughout the state was carried.
DR.. Fremont Hamilton introduced res
olution instruciing the selectmen TO inspect
the gravel bed on Maple street, and. if they
saw tit, to condemn the land and use the
gravel in the construction Of highways.
j. G.. Stafford uncorked more oratory in
an attack on the mania of building
stone roads He was in favor of paving
Main street and of wiping the road build
ing plant ont Of existence, throwing his
invectives particularly against the $500
tent which is payed for the plant.
=. ). Eames spoke at length in regard to
the need OF underground drainage, of the
damage which had resulted from the over
flow of water upon the streets in the vii
ldge, etc. Selectmau Putnam stated that
the overflow on Canal street last summer
during the big storm came from negligence
in not having the man-hole cleaned out
Mr.. Eames said cleaning ont OF the man
hole made little difference when stones as
big as a mans head were being washed
down the street, and that the underground
drainage was insufficient to take OF half
the water.
Patrick Cummings introduced a bit of
butfoonery into the proceedings by his re-
marks in rich Hibernian-so rich in fact,
/ that his words were iniistinguishable. +.
/ Is. Walker said something about the con-
ditlon of Elliot street, but spoke so low
that he could not be heard.
David Perry replied with telling effect to
the criticisms of }. G.. Stafford. Mr.. Perry
said the wisdom which inaugurated the
| system of building stone roads was just as
| good today as formerly. 1t was much
cheaper 10 use the crushed stone than
| gravel. The life of gravel was not over
two years. The road building plant was
not fad. We need the plant, and we
will never make progress in this direction
until we use it. The policy of building
the stone roads is not an ignorant one, the
| ignorance comes in not sustaining the
policy.
j. G Stafford said we could not afford
to carry on the plant, that we cannot col
lect the taxes today, He was in favor OF
the economical, old fashioned way.
G, d. Whitman said formerly Main
street was a mud hole in fall and spring
and dust bed in summer. We wanted
Main street in a condition to ride on, not
swim in.
Mr.. Perry said Mr. Stafford had not con,
sidered the cost of paving, that the expense
of paving Main street from the town hall tC
the Peoples bank would be as much as al
that has ever been spent for town stone
roads.
DIR. Hamilton spoke of the good results
brought about in Middlebury over 20 year.
"SD ~ WV h'N VI SloNNl bl lllSh " O . an
told of his own observation of the easy-go
ing and slip-shod methods in building on
stone roads.
After a vote in favor of DR.. Hamilton
resolution the meeting adjourned. AS tn
crowd filed out of the hall Justice Newton
administered the oath to the newly-electet
seectmen and Vinton, Gleason and Put
nam assumed the responsibilities of tow
fathership.