Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-05-23
THE COUNTY BUILDINGS.
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE FOR AND
AGAINST THEIR REMOVAL.
The Citizens Committee OF Brattleboro, An
swers All the Arguments Put Forth by the
Opposition Brattleboro Taxpayer Answers
hnothnn

swers All the Arguments Put Forth by tn
Opposition Brattleboro Taxpayer Answer
Another Taxpayer.
Editor Reformer;
In view of the interest that has beer
shown and suggestions made relativ,
to the proposed change of shire, thu
committee of citizens interested in thu
move, deem it proper to now make /
few suggestions, called out by wha1
has appeared in opposition to the plan
First, we must all agree upon care
full thought, that the county seat anC
the location of it belongs not to any
town, but to the whole county. 1t is
not like an industry or institution
which has been built up in a commun-
/ ity and which only selfish interests
may take away. 1t is part of the ma,
chinery of our government and should
be for the benefit of the majority and
not for the private emolument of any
community. We agree that the burden
is upon those asking for the change to
show the necessity for it: all things
being equal, it ought to remain where
it is. We believe, however, that the
necessity for the change Is apparent.
I
ings, and new ones were to be erected,
where would they be put: Could New
fame be formidable candidate in that
event? Suppose, too. private lndi-
vidual had business scattered over
the territory of this county, with the
proportion in each town that county
court business is. what place would he
choose for his headquarters: This, it
70 I bn Vi p,, Lst I tn1
question.
There were at one time two shires
for Windham county, at Marlboro and
Westminster. They were so established
because it better suited the majority
of the population then. Afterward the
county seat was at Westminster, and
for the same reason. Then it was re-
moved to Newfane Hill, the same ar
gument controlling them. In 1925
came the change to Fayetteville vii
lage, all for the same cause. No one
thinks now that Marlboro, or West
or the owners of property on
Newfane Hill have a vested right in
the shire of this county. Brattle-
boro has no such right in it. If from
a fair balance of argument. the people
of the county feel that it is better to
have it in Brattleboro, it ought to
come here.
The suggestion has been made that
a part or all of the town of Rocking
ham, Westminster, Marlboro, Will
mington, Nottingham and Halifax can
as handily or more readily reach New
fame than Brattleboro. That must be
to the people of those towns
they know how that is. What do they
say about it? The people cannot reach
the shire town as the crow flies. Take
the natural routes of travel and public |
which place is the more
accessible for the great majority:
1t is true the county has expended !
several thousand dollars in the last ten |
years on its hotel at Newfane. This !
vas done, not because it is any part of .
5he ordinary requirements, for the I
county seat, but because the situation
If the shire at that place made it alb
'olutely necessary. The hotel yields
nothing to the county. 1t is a contin-
lal expense and must be. 1t is some
hing that would never be thought of
n Brattleboro. The question of its
would be entirely cut off
f the shire were here Had it been
moved here ten years ago, all that has
been put into this hotel since, would
rave been saved. 1t is said there are
ooms fitted up for jurors sitting on
cases where they have to be
Kept together. This is so, but what is
he saving 1t all had to be done be
ause there was no other place to keep 4
hem. We can furnish plenty of such
,laces in Brattleboro. The state has
O pay g per day for each man so kept
t the county hotel. 1t would have to
,ay no more at the best hotel in Brat
leboro, and not so much at several
faces here which are just as good as
he county hotel. Granting that for
hotel, it has been we'll run, {
ct, as an argument, it wholly fails to
Import the claim that is made for it,
he county seat should be in such
lace as has accommodation for the
ublc without the county building or I
INNING a hotel. We ask the question {
hat man is there in Windham county !
tho has ever made anything or ever
aved anything at the county house {
bove what he would have to pay for as {
God accommodations in Brattleboro: {
he need for a new jail is conceded. {
the county seat is to remain in &
-ewfane one should be built with 5
ut question, but ought the county c
, put in its money there? And an $
Their thing must be thought of rel /
tive to the question of people at S
ending court. We think any one n
an be satisfied upon investigation that i
equally as good can |
e obtained in Brattleboro for any rate
lat is paid in Newfane. We will be j
BILE to furnish list of places who Il
ave for a long time kept boarders. t
FINISHED dinners and rooms at rates e
S low as any we ever heard of at New 4
me. But more than all this. taking the v
ne people who attend court, a large a
of them would be near home, Il
r within easy reach of home if the f
ounty seat were here. Take all the
eople from the river towns, it is not
kelly they would at any time stay in
rattleboro over night. They would
IMPLY get their dinner here. The
eople of the county know now that we L