Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-05-16

W. H, Vinton, ], L. Martin and G. W. Pierce
Appointed Commissioners to Construct a
Steel Structure on the Present Site for a
Sum Not to Exceed $;33 900 Provided Suit
J able Arrangements Can Be Made With Hins-
dale for Its Proportion of the Expense
The special town meeting held Sat
urday afternoon for the purpose Of set
tling the question of new bridge
across the Connecticut passed off
quietly and a resolution empowering
three commissioners to build steel
bridge on the present site at sum not
exceeding S33, 600 provided arrange
ments can be made with Hinsdale,
went through without a dissenting
vote as did also resolution empower
ing the selectmen to borrow money on
credit of the town and to issue bonds
therefor.
After Moderator Hooker had called
the meeting to order George W. Pierce
offered the above mentioned resolution
which read as follows
Resolved That three commissioners
be appointed by the chair who are re
quested and empowered to construct
steel bridge across the Connecticut
river on the present site of the old
! bridge, and 10 raise the old abutments
from three TO five feet: the pier in the
center Of the river may be utilized if,
upon investigation, the same is found
to be firm and substantial: otherwise,
the bridge shall he Of one span: that
said bridge shall be so constructed
4 that its roadway may, in the future,
+ be elevated; the roadway Of said
bridge shall be of suitable width and
of sufficient strength to accommodate
all travel, including electric cars for
either freight or passenger traffic with
six foot sidewalk. for a sum not ex-
ceeding S:33. 600. Provided, however,
that arrangements can be made with
the town of Hinsdale for its proportion
of the expense of building said bridge
and abutments, TO the satisfaction of
the committee.
George l.. Durham moved that the
resolution be adopted. Clark G. Fits
in behalf of the owners of the Crosby
storehouse, which. is situated between
the bridge and railroad tracks, spoke
briefly regarding the damage which
would be done the property by the
change of grade if the new bridge were
raised more than three feet above the
present site, requesting In behalf of
the block owners that nothing be done
which would cause any alteration re-
garding the matter of property dam
age Mr.. Pierce said the committee
was unanimous IN adopting the clause
in the resolution regarding the height
of the bridge and that the civil engin-
eer had advocated higher grade. At
least three feet raise was needed, he
said. to make allowances for the high
water In regard to the amount stat
ed ia the resolutloI Air Pierce said
that the bridge in all probability
could be built for less than S33 600 and
that if Hinsdale would bear one-third
the expense it would bring the cost to
Brattleboro down to about $50, 0O0. The
resolution was then passed and Mr.
Hooker appointed ". H. Vinton. j. L.
Martin and George W. Pierce as the
three commissioners.
Article in regard to the raising of
money by the town to defray the ex-
penses of building the bridge was then
read and Mr. Ninton moved that it be
taking the ground that if
Hinsdale should find out Brattleboro
was willing to raise money enough to
pay for the whole structure that town
might not pay any of the expense. Mr..
Pierce said that the committee would
not feel like going ahead and building
the bridge without knowing that there
was to be money to pay for it and that
even if the article were dismissed the
committee would not go any farther
than to get estimates without an ap-
Mr. Ninton replied that
there was not a bit of doubt that the
town would raise the required funds
put Mr.. Pierce was not satisfied with
a mere assertion. Col. Hooker said that
the whole meeting might as we'll be dis
missed as to dismiss the article rela-
i've to raising the necessary money.
Z. c. Crosby inquired if it was
known by anyone whether Hinsdale
vas willing to pay anything and Mr..
Tinton said that he had seen some
individuals in the town who said
hat il would Mr.. Fits then brought
up the question as to the strict le-
5ality of issuing bonds for the con
;truction of a new bridge The act of
he legislature of 1sSs which enabled
he town to purchase the bridge of the
I'D Hinsdale bridge company gave no
for the building of new
structure Mr.. Fits thought that if
he matter were legal the adoption of
he resolution offered by Mr. Pierce
pound the town to pay for anything
lllCl bIit COlull1iSSlbll SIOulO dp pIO-
-ided it kept within the limit speci
led.
After considerable discussion regard
ng the advisability of appropriating
money for the bridge construction E.
Y. Gibson offered the following reso-
ution:
Resolved That the selectmen be
to borrow upon the credit
# the town a sum of money not to eX-
eed S}3, 600 in payment of said bridge
nd abutments, and to issue the bonds
herefor.
Mr.. Crosby amended the resolution,
S25. 600 in place of s'}3, 600
nd with Mr.. Gibson's acceptance the
esolution was put before the house
nd adopted.
The Bennington case Of J. II. Liv-
ngston VS.. Carroll S. Page was argued
efore the Supreme court at Montpel-