Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-01-29
THE MEDDLER.
~ he coat MS PIT ii on y

During the past week many people
have predicted that the backbone or
winter Is broken and that hereafter
the mercury will keep a respectable
distance above the zero mark. Crows
are reported to have been heard on
Saturday and Sunday, and this the
local weather prophets say Is a sure
sign that the worst Of winter Is over
Predictions of warmer weather Mt this
time OF year are a sign OF n cheerful
mind, but It should not be forgotten
that spring Is yet a great way on. Ac-
cording to the calendar there are
nearly two months more OF winter, and
the chances are that there will be lots
more snow to shovel and considerable
more Ice to cut before the mayhowers
begin to bloom.
Just at present Road Commissioner
Eames and his force OF assistants are
having an extremely busy time get
ting the highways of the town In
passable shape. Loads and loads OF
snow have been carted away from
Main street this week. and there Is
still enough left to make good sleigh
ing. Along the line Of the electric
road there Is such an abundance OF
snow that In places sleighing Is a dan
gerous occupation. Indeed 1t Is sur
prising that more vehicles have not
been capsized The sidewalks through
out the village are hardly In better
shape than the roads, for where they
have been kept free from snow they
are covered with coating of Ice that
makes walking difficult feat. lib
eral distribution of sand would be APP
preclated by all who are obliged to
travel on "shanks's mare"
The praise that the narrow gauge
has received for its successful battle
against the elements this winter may
prove to have been given too soon be-
fore warm weather arrives. Although
very little has been said about 1t the
road Is in a very poor condition just at
present to meet the conditions to
which In all probability 1t will be sub
jected during the next month or two.
In the first place the two woodworking
locomotives are the only motive power
available now. the famous coal-burn-
ing engine having been at the repair
shop In st. Adams for the past four
weeks. Then, too. people who have oc-
casion to travel over the road daily, or
rather as often as trains are able to
run. say that the snow is piled to such
a height at each side Of the track that
a heavy storm accompanied by WIND
would put the line out of commission
for an indefinite time. Even II such a
storm is not forthcoming two engines
are not enough to accommodate the
business which the road ought in JUS
tice to It's patrons to be doing.
In the light of these facts and a
knowledge Of conditions that have
existed In the past. 1t would be n well
come change to the majority of the
Brattleboro & Whitehall stockholders
lif the legal proceedings now pending
would result In the appointment OF a
receiver to look into the roads anairs.
Nobody would care how much OF the
proceeds went into the receivers pock-
ct as long as he kept the road suff-
ciently we'll equipped to do business
the year round. Many people who
have interests in the West river valley
have gone so far as to express the
wish that the road might be taken out
of the New London Northern's hands
entirely and placed in charge of some
one who has the welfare of its patrons
at heart. There are men in Brattle-
boro who have said that they could
raise sufficient capital to operate the
road as an independent line. the
Meddler thinks he is voicing the SEN
timent of many when he expresses the
hope that these men might be given
chance.
| In mentioning the signs which be-
token the coming of spring The Med
dler forgot one omen that can always
be relied upon and that is the dis
cussion relative to the outcome of the
annual town meeting. Already there
| has been a good deal of talk as to
what will happen when the voters get
together on the first day of March, not
only in regard to the license question
but in the choice of officers for the en-
suing year The news comes from
some quarters that there may be
change in the town fathers but wheth-
er any concerted movement has been
inaugurated is not definitely known.
AS to the result of the license vote
there seems to be a growing sentiment
in favor of trying conditions as they
are for another year. and If the law
and the licensees work as harmonious
~ together as they have for the past
two months it is likely that the yes
vote will predominant.
Madllar