Connecticut western news., 1901-08-08
SPECIAL TOWN MEETINGS,

this town warning the legal voters oi the Town of North Canaan to meet in special town meeting at the Town Hall in the village of Canaan, on Tuesday Aug 9th 1901, at ? o'clock p. m. ito see ii the town will appropriate money for the improvement of it's highways, as pro. vided in Chap 175 of the Pub. Acts of 1899. as amended by Chap. 149 of the Pub Acts of l9O1." The notices were dated at North Canaan, Aug. 1st 1901 and were signed by the selectmen.
 No notice of special town meeting had been furnished the NEWS for publi- cation in it's issue of August l, neither had anyone connected with the NEWS been spprised that such meeting was con- tenn plated or intended. Not until Sun day evening, Aug 4, was anyone con- nected with the NEWS aware that the meeting was to be held. Even on the day of said meeting many voters in all special town meeting was to be held, consequently only about oue-fourth of the legal voters in town attended the meeting. The majority of those pres ent were not large tax payers.
 The meeting was called to order by Town Clerk Collin, and Edward F. Roberts was chosen chairman. J H. Roraback was the only person who made speech. He stated that the ob- iect of the meeting was to see if the town would make an appropriation in accordance with the warning above mentioned. He then proceeded to ex- plain the new law in regard to state roads, and said the location where the money is to be expended is left with Commissioners Mac Donald and the selectmen. In answer to question he frankly stated 1t was the desire or in- tention to build a macadam road on the Main St. of Canaan from the NJ. E. church to the four corners near the res idence of s. W. Barues, also macadam road from Main Street along Railroad street to the railroad crossing near the residence of Mrs Pease. He said that the average cost of 75 miles of macadam road in the state had proved to be S4. 600 per mile, with % per cent less if home stone was used. He thea moved that the meeting appropriate S9OOO to be expended under the "Good Roads, law. R. D. Peirce seconded the motion. There was no debate on the motion and a rising vote was taken, about two thirds of those present votirg g in the affirmative. Quite number re- fused to vote either way when they sized up the audience and saw 1t was a foregone conclusion how the vote wonld stand.
 Many thought that the meeting did not voice the sentiments of the majority of the taxpayers of this town, from the fact that reasonable and ample notice had not been gwen. The sign post notices may have been legal, but they certainly were not generally seen, there fore at the close of the meeting a pe- tition was circulated asking for another special town meeting on tLis question. The result of the petition is that anoth- CT special town meeting will be held next Wednesday afternoon at o'clock, as will be seen by the following;
 . NOTICE
 To the legal voters of the town of North Canaan. In accordance with a petition duly signed by 2S legal voters of the Town of North Canaan, you are hereby warned to meet in special Town Meeting, at the TownH in the village of Canaan on Wednesday, August 14th, 1901, at ? o'clock, p. m. to see what action the town will take to rescind or amend the vote taken or adopted at a special Town Meeting held in said town on August 9th 1901, appropriating S9000 00 to be expended on the high ways of said Town pursuant to the pro- visions of the highway laws of the State of Connecticut.
 Dated at NorthC Canaan, Ct., Aug. 8, 1901 | EDWARD s. ROBERTS Selectmen. | J. E. RHoADEs
 North Canaan has had bitter expe- rience in trying to improve its roads with the state as partner in the busi- ness. Many think the town better not remain in partnership with the state, but had better paddle it's own canoe. THE NEWS is aware that not all towns have had an experience similar to North Canaan and it does not wonder that some towns are anxious to obtain state aid. North Canaan today is all stirred up on the road question. As previous ly stated, many Canaanites do not want under any conditions state aid for roads others want macadsm roads; others want gravel roads. THE NEWS will not add fuel to the flames by advocating either kind of road. THE NEWS believes in fair play; and all that it asks today is that all the taxpayers of North Canaan may have sufficient notice of the forth coming special town meeting and may have full and free opportunity to ex. press their sentiments and vote on the road question.
 Richard Hildreth, aged l2 years, son of Judge Hildreth of Holyoke, Mass. was struck by train on the "Consoli- dated" road at Laurel Park crossing on July 31. and instantly killed. Judge Hildreth's family had been staying at Laurel Park and were preparing to leave. Judge Hildrsth was in Holyoke. Youog Hildreth was riding to the sta