Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-02-28
DANIEL PRESCOTT THE MAN
FOR THE OFFICE OF ROAD CORNERSTONE

FOR THE OFFICE OF ROAD COMMISSIONER
Perry and Warren Are in the Field Agains
Him but Neither is Thought to be Proper
ly Fitted for the Place-Much Dissatisfac
tion Over Mr.. Perry's Work the Past Yea
: -Twenty-Three Years. Experience in Rail
road Grading Has Made Mr.. Prescott Fa
: miliar with Road Building
With the rapid approach of the town !
annual March meeting the politica
situation and the relative merits o
the candidates for town offices natu
rally become the topics for discussion
by all who take interest in such mat
ters. AS was stated in last weeks Re
former there seems to be no difference
of opinion regarding the proper per
sons for the various town offices witt
the exception of that of road commits
sioner. AS matters stand today the
prospect for a fight over this office is
decidedly good.
At the beginning of the week several
candidates were mentioned as being
ready to accept the place but the aspect
has changed daily until now there are
but three names which are seriously
discussed. David Perry, the present
incumbent stated positively to Re-
former man Wednesday that he was in
the field, and Gilman Warren, who has
been Mr. Perry's strongest competitor
in the last two meetings, is making a
canvass for the position. An effort was
made the first of the week to place in
| the field man who would have the
/ support of large number who had
expressed their dissatisfaction and " no
could be elected with comparatively
little trouble.
II. f. Weatherhead of West Brattle-
boro, who has had large experience in
town affairs, was chosen as the proper
person and an effort was made to have
him enter the contest, Mr.. Weather
head is not an office seeker, and was
l,disinclined to get into the fight unless
Mr.. Perry would withdraw in his favor.
Perry and Warren apparently had the
when the name of Daniel P. Prescott
has proposed Since his entrance into
the fight Mr.. Prescott has developed
a strong following and determined
effort is being made to land him the
winner, He has had % years. exper-
fence on the Passumpsic and Central
Vermont railroads as section boss and
afterwards roadmaster, and he is fa
miiar with all sorts of road work. If
elected he will give his entire time to
the work-a very strong argument in
his favor Mr.. Prescott is a man of
sound judgment and absolute honesty
With him as road commissioner Brat
tleboro citizens may be sure that some
thing will be done toward the improve
ment of all the roads in the town.
Judging from the present status of
affairs it seems very doubtful that Mr..
Perry can win. There is no question
that his work during the past year has
been unsatisfactory in the extreme, |
and it can be said truthfully that |
roads in the village never have been in
such poor condition. Mr.. Perry is
road builder of no little reputation and
has satisfactorily filled large contracts
for permanent work in Massachusetts,
Knowing as he does what good roads
are he is doubly to blame for allowing
the highways in and about Brattleboro
literally to "go to seed'' as they have
done. Western avenue was never in
such stony, hummocky and uneven
condition as at present. In the worst
Of last summers dry season mudholeS
If various depths could be found in
almost any part of the avenue, and
)ther streets were in similar condi-
ion. Stones of all sizes and shapes
,ould be picked up anywhere in the
but they remained through
he season to cause profanity from
automobilists and even pc
iestrians, who like to see a well-kept
highway. When such state of affairs
las been allowed to exist it is no Won {
Ter that citizens with the welfare of q
he community in mind refuse to sup |
,ort man who had it in his power to I
,etter matters.
While preferred over the present in
umbent. Gilman Warren's chances of {
lection are not so bright that they
parkle greatly. Mr. Warren has had I
luch experience in road building in {
Halifax, but it is a question whether q
e understands the method of high {
'ay construction necessary in town l
he size of Brattleboro. Then, too, 7
is age is against him, for with the Z
resent task before him a commission
r needs all the vigor and endurance !,
{ the prime of life. !,
Viewing the matter as it stands Mr.. j
'rescott seems to be far the best man .
or the place. As far as Mr.. Perry is Il
oncerned it is case of eve certain u
: can do no worse and perhaps we
lay do better,'' and a large part of a
[r. Warren s support comes from this "
cry feeling. IT
We publish herewith a letter from i.
ol. j. Gray Estey in which he heart a
y endorses Mr.. Prescott as a candi- y
ate: Il
Editor of the Reformer-Dear Sir 2
How me to bring to your attention N
lie name of Mr.. d. P. Prescott for n
lie office of road commissioner for the IL
'wn of Brattleboro. Mr.. Prescott has a. a.
ad over 20 years experience in the "
ire and maintenance of railway road W
I'd and | believe would fill the above o.
entioned position with entire satls- Je
ction to every one. Yours truly, OF
J. G. Estey. Sc
Feb. ~. 1902. h'
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