St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-06-21
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING.

The summerviIle Bridge Question is
Referred to "A Special Committee and
the Meeting Adjourned two Weeks
A Ruling by The Moderator Creates an
Uproar.
The special town meeting last Satur-
day afternoon in the Town Hall called
out large attendance and both sides of
the proposed Summerville bridge were
given hearing. Towards the close of
the debate the decision of the moderator,
Alexander Dunnett, that Mr.. Orcutt's
motion Was carried and that the matter
was therefore postponed to subsequent
meeting, created some sharp debate and
left the meeting in an uproar. Consider
ing the coseness of the yea and nay vote
the CALIFORNIAN is surprised that the
moderator, who has always shown such
fairness and good judgment in town
meetings, did not divide the house or
take some other means to satisfy the
opponents of Mr.. Orcutt's motion as to
WHICH S1Qe ndQ Won.
The call for the meeting was read by
the clerk and the first article was in
relation to rebuilding the schoolhouse at
Pierce's mill, so-called. On motion of
Col. T. c. Fletcher, and amended by
Senator Ross, it was voted to authorize
the town school directors to rebuild the
schoolhouse at cost not to exceed
$500.
Article was as follows:
ITO see what action the voters will
take in regard to the proposed construc-
ton of a bridge or viaduct on Portland
street, in said town, from point west
of the track of the Connecticut & Pas
sumpsic division of the Boston & Maine
railroad extending easterly over said
| Johnsbury & Lake Champlain rail-
road, and the Passumpsic river, to a
point nearly opposite the dwelling house
OF John N. Gale on said street."
Lawyer Montgomery introduced a
resolution authorizing the selectmen to
build the bridge, provided it did not cost
over $40, 900, and further provided that
the railroad companies should pay or be
made to pay their fair proportion of the
construction.
| Mr.. Montgomery explained the con-
struction Of the bridge, with an iron spur
costing $4,000 for St. Mary's street, said
the article in last weeks CALEDoNIAN
was largely untrue and referred in closing
to the accidents that had occurred at the
crossings and especially to the one that
caused the death of F. V. Powers.
E. L. Hovey also thought the GALE
DOMAIN article was very unfair and briefly
explained the bridge that the Pittsburg
Bridge Co. had offered to build. He said
the talk about our large funded debt
driving people from town was all moon
shine. Twenty-Five years ago we had a
debt of 81 1S0,O 900; today the debt is only
half as much and in the meantime our
grand list has doubled. Capt. Hovey
closed his address with a burst of elo-
quence for the future of Summerville.
Lawyer Slack presented the figures
furnished the seectmen by the Boston
Bridge Works. They would not build
the bridge for less than $4,000 and
would have double deck crossing the
river to accommodate Bay street.
single deck bridge could be built for
$4,000 less and if they could use the old
abutments on the river they could save
$4,000 more. This firm considered the
spur to st. Mary's street wild cat
scheme. Mr.. Slack asked the voters il
they wanted to spend $4,000 in the face
of their present indebtedness.
George H. Cross said the Pittsburg
Bridge Co. was perfectly reliable firm
and he backed up Capt. Hovey's state
ment as to the cost of the bridge.
E. D. Blodgett presented detailed
statement Of the Indebtedness of the
town and village.
Lieut.. Gov. C@tes made an eloquent
speech in favor of the resolution. He
considered the old debt benefit to the
town and said every year had seen some
progress. He thought it was disgrace
and shame for village like st. Johns
bury to have such causeway as now
exists.
Lawyer Montgomery took up the
question of land damages and figured
that they would be comparatively small.
He thought Mr.. Gagner's claim would
be the heaviest and that there would be
no damage to Bay street. The railroad
commissioners would assess the railroads
60 per cent of the cost of the bridge over
the tracks, which would make the bridge
cost the town about $12,0 900 less.
Civil Engineer Williams OF the Boston
& Maine road said it was his firm belief
knk 1a L..I IA M ~