St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-11-05

| MI Duuuy dooSl lSu LudI d lndJOllIy vi
the names were secured by saving: do
you want an electric road?" "Yes. -
Then sign this" He claimed also that
in most instances nothing was said to
these people about taking stock in
the enterprise He insisted that a
good deal of prejudice had been
worked up as against those connected
with the old charter. Mr.. Slack denied
this and asserted that no unfair means
had been resorted to in order to get the
signatures.
In controversy with Mr.. Dunnett over
the grand list showing of the two sets of
incOrporators, Mr.. Bundy emphatcally
stated, without examination of the fig
urts, that the group in bill 33 repre-
scented the largest amount of capital.
Later Mr.. Slack shoW,d this not to b.
the case.
Col. T. c. Fletcher spoke OF the charter
granted tenyears ago; sad he was inter
ested in the electric light company; that
when they started out for an electric
road charter recently he and Mr.. Dunnett
had some conversation about the mat
ter; that the latter said New Hampshire
parties were interested in the other APP.
phcatlon tor charter, but did not say
who these parties were; that Dunnett
promised to give them "a lively chase.
Col. Fletcher maintained that he and his
associates had gone into it for the pur
pose of building the road aud not to
hang it up, and had taken into their list
of incorporators men representing all
parts of the village.
Dr.. Stiles thought Dunnett & Slack rep
resented outside parties and had taken
this means to get a chartlr; he didn't
think many of the persons named in SEN
ate bill 16 intended to put dollar into
the road. c. H. Stevens said he wanted
to have the charter in the hands of peo-
pie of the town; he was interested in the
road and ready to help tie thing along
!. c. Clark said when the first step was
taken for a charter it was after foreign
parties had advertised that they would
ask the Iegi l4ture Tor one. He thought
it much better for St. Johnsbury p,ople
to control the road.
Mr., Dunnett said there was probably
very little diff renee in the financial stand
ing of either party represented. He re-
ferred to a Mr. Goss, who had had some
experience in electric road building in
New Hampshire, and who had talked to
tor St. Iohnsbury; Mr.. Goss had said
that II charter were procured be would
see that the road was construct ed-was
willing to furnish al the capital if neces-
sary. Mr.. Dunnett said the people had
been FESTIVE for years because no electric
road was Forthcoming. Two years ago
he tried to have the old charter called
off, and had talked with Mr.. Bundy
about it he latter being in the house
aud Mr.. Dunnett in the senate. But Mr..
Bundy didn't agree with him, and it was
finally arranged to give the charter an
other year of lite. Many of the People
OF ST. Johnsbury, have feared, bv reason
OF the tact that the Incorporate named
in sena,e bill 33 were concerned in the
old charter, that the road would not be
built II charter were granted them now.
He didn't recall having said anything to
Mr.. Fletcher about q lively chase" The
reason the persons named in bill 16 are
anxious to have charter granted is
that they believe the road will be built,
and are uncertain about it il the charter
| is given to the other set of men.
| Mr.. Slack said he had talked with Mr.
Fletcher and asked him it he wanted a
road, and the reply was, Eyes, If it paid.
vestlgate whether a road paid he had
had ample time to do so. He favored
having every dollar OF the stock taken il
st. Johnsbury, and had talked that way
to all he saw about making a move for 9
charter: and there were people who sale
1--WE don't want the charter given tC
those who want to kill he road" Every
body would have chance to take stock
and any OF the persons named in tht
other bill could come into this organic 1
ton if they chose to.
DR.. Stiles said he had talked with sew
eral of the incorporators named in senat
bill 33, and they had to him dlstinctl,
they were in favor of gong ahead wit
the road,
The question being asked as to how
soon it was proposed to go on with tn
construction in case charter were grant
ed, Mr.. Clark said there had been a com
pIete survey made ten years ago. that i
at hand now, so that considerable ex
pense would be avoided in that one d
rection. Mr.. Dunnett, for the 9th
e. parties, said their purpose was to b gil
building the road as soon as possibl
after organ zlng.
Mr.. Slack r>f,rred to the tact that ii
y parties who had held the first charte
p had turned 1t oyer TO the Board of Trad
/, who had in turn passed it on to the Blu
-, lington parties, who had let it g by dt
fault; and now the hrst.namen partie
b are here containing for a road for 81
e ohnsbury,
= The committee were evidently not pre-
pared to pose as arbitrator. and IT,
i chairman, Senator Phelps, asked If tn
j conf ct,ng interests could not be ha
{ mon zed into one petition Tor char e.
# The hearing was then adjourned, wit
the understanding that an attemE
would be made to get together.
0 The &C ion of the senate in refusing pa
sage OF the house bill to extend by fife