The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-01-25

be called before February l. LII ls now Sau
that the warning for the special town meet
ing recently held was illegal, and the entire
proceedings are thereby null and void. IL
this be true, and IL is confirmed by legal
authority that cannot be questioned, IL mat
tered little to the future citizens OF Mont
pelier whether the special town meetlng
voted tax of twenty cents or twenty dollars
! he statute bearing on the subject provides
that warnings for regular special town
meetings. shall be posted at least tweive
days before the date of the meeting, ana that
the same must be recorded in the town
clerks Office before it is posted. The warn.
ings were printed in some outside town and |
were posted in ample time, but no record OF |
them was made in the office OF the town |
clerk. In fact Town Clerk Wheel lock did
not see a copy Of the warning until day or
two before the meeting. The next move by |
either side is awaited with interest.
A special meeting of the city council was
held Wednesday evening in Mayor Senter's
Office to settle some business matters the
present board did not wish to have put by
for the future members OF the city council
to contend with. Most of this business was
transacted in executive session which fol-
lowed the open meeting The committee
appointed to investigate the claim for re
bate of taxes for 1897 made at the last meet
ing by Patrick Tally, reported that they
found Tally to have been member OF Com,
pany II at that time and therefore should
not have been assessed. 1t was voted to
grant Talty's claim. The committee APP
pointed to investigate the sewer question
presented by Don H Dodge reported they
thought Mr.. Dodge should pay the regular
assessment for sewer connections aud it
was 80 ordered. Sheriff Bancroft reported
that the children coasting on Hubbard
street and First Avenue came down over
the electric car tracks on Barre street and
that he considered 1t dangerous. Mayor
Senter ordered him to see that coasting on
Barre street is stopped. City Attorney f.
p. Carleton presented an extended report
in relation to the property held by kelliher
Brothers and claimed by the city. The re-
port was laid on the table for further action.
A request presented by Q. II. More to run
pipe for the conveyance OF compressed air
to the Montpelier and Wells River stone
sheds was granted. The following bills
were ordered paid: K. l.. Putney, for teams,
S29; Peck Brothers, $12l; j. w. Brock,
for rent, 1925; E. d. Hyde, supplies, $434S;
W. e. Mcdonald, 81 30; H. B. Daley, 81 90;
j. Q. Adams, team, $12; town of Berlin,
lumber, "a; j. r. Langdon estate, rent
S136: Volunteer Hose Company, No. /,
nay roll, 1925; NJ. e. Smilie,ci Judge,
S158.9o; George Wheeler, overseer, $500.
Folk lore is authority for the statement
that upon st. Agnes eve, January q. every
maiden should try the magic spells. II
supperless to bed you go, nor look behind
nor sideways, then will st. Agnes dreams
be the sweetest OF the year. There are
other signs and portents which may help
to make festive evening for merry party.
Nut.shaking is one of the mystical arts.
Probably the Christmas tree of evergreen
has not yet been abandoned. Hang upon
its branches quantity OF nuts of various
kinds-put on in such way that they may
be shaken off very easily. When the
proper hour arrives for the nut shaking,
each damsel in turn stands beneath the tree
and while one Of the party gives it gentle
shake, she holds out her arms to catch all
the nuts which fall. The charmed number
seven rules the evening. So the girl who
catches seven nuts, or any larger number
which is a multiple of seven, ia considered
most fortunate-marriage, riches and honor
being foretold. II only two nuts are caught
an early marriage is signiied, or a double
nut answers the same purpose. Three nuts
mean legacy; four indicate great wealth (;
five voyage across the sea; six, fame as an
artist, author or musician; seven, the pos
session of the gift most desired by the find
or. A line of prophecy-similar to old
fashioned mottoes-may be written and
wrapped about each nut before 1t is hung
upon the tree. II a number OF English
walnuts have been included among the
nuts, when they are opened the shells may
have tiny candles put in each, and then
they are started out upon voyage in tub
of water. Each boat or shell is named as
the candle is lighted and set adrift. The
boats that sail together will be partners for
life. A penny should be dropped in one
side OF the tub and ring in the other.
The boat that drifts toward the ring will
marry for love; If toward the p my, for
money.
Ten members OF the board of trade as
sembled at Mayor Senter's Office Friday
evening to hear the report OF the several
committees recently appointed and to dis.
cuss the Mad River Valley electric road
problem. In the absence of Nc. Senter
j. g. Brown was appointed secretary for the
evening. The committee appointed to
correspond with the Stevens Arms and Too
Company of Chicopee Falls, Mass, re-
ported they had received a communication
from that firm saying that they had pur-
chased land near their present factory so
that they did not wish to change their loca-
ton. The Mad River Valley electric road
committee reported that they met Messrs.
Kennedy, Flynn and Humphrey of the
Barre and Montpelier road at j. G. Browne
office last Thursday and talked on the mat.
ter OF raising the necessary amount to build
the road. Mr. Kennedy said that stock Il
the amount Of 500, 900 must be taken on tn,
line OF the road, and that Montpelier woul {
be asked to bond for $4,000 He though
$4,000 additional could be raised by sub
scription. The estimated cost of the roaC
in running order is $350,000 which many
think IL large az it has been stated that tn,
road could be built for S12 900 a mile in
GLIDING sidings. There will be twenty-sil
miles of road and seven bridges to be built
1t will be necessary to build the rOaC
stronger and make the road-bed more solid
for freight traffic than for a common passen
ger road and therefore the cost will bi
more. The towns of Waitsfield, Warren
and Fayston have already bonded for sun
of $4,000 and there has been some talk O
bonding In Moretown. 1t is proposed +,
build spur across the river at Middesel
in order TO connect with the steam road "A
that point with freight. Alderman Blanch
ard said he had always been in favor of thi
road as he thought it would he OF grea
benefit TO this city, Thomas Marvin move,
that the report of this committee be- ac
cepted and placed on file. On motion OF A
j. Sibley this committee was instructed q
investigate further the cost of the proposes
road and at the proper time ask the cit
officials to call city meeting to act on tn
matter of bonding.