Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-09-01
THE MEDDLER.
III ne eOat IT'S yon put u en-

Mondays fatality on the West River
railroad emphasizes strongly the ioiiy
of at, empting to use heavy roiilns
stock over roadbed that was cor
structed for narrow gauge ra,he,
without first having II Thoroughly
re- ballasted. Since the ROAD wac
changed from narrow to STANDARD
gauge there has been continuous
round of difficulty In keeping the
heavy locomotives on the iron, anu,
although the work of re-ballasting
has been going on with some degree
of rapidity, there are sun many
nlaces on the road where there is
hardly any foundation for the track.
No doubt the management thousht
the roadbed sufficiently firm to pear
nm under the strain temporarily, put
this theory has been conclusively dis-
proved. It's a pity to think that tne
loss of human life was necessary 10
bring home the lesson.
The Meddler has been trying to lei
n week pass without bringing up the
subject Of automobiles. but 1t seems
an impossibility TO do So rms Is
merely a suggestion. however, ana
ought to be given Consideration
Drivers of heavily loaded teams are
In the habit. when ascending hill. OF
hIocking the rear wheels OF their
wagons with stones In order to al
low their horses rest. It's humane
practice as far as the horses are CON
cerned. but the trouble Is that tne
stones are generally left In the nign-
way. These stones are probably no
more of nuisance to automobiles
q
the automobile traffic has Increased
they have become more noticeable.
wouldn't II answer the purpose just
as well IL teamsters carried STOUT
block of wood with which to DOCK
their wheels? The block could be az
tached TO the rear of the wagon Win
n rome or chain and in that way
would always be ready for service.
Brattleboro people--if there We're
any-who arose early wednesday
morning I'm the hope of getting a view
Of the solar eclipse, were prevented
from thoroughly satisfying their Gu
riosity on account of the clouds which
obscured the sun during greater
part of the time when the moon was
between It and the earth. There were
n few intervals. however when the
shadow could be seen plainly by look
ing through smoked glass. and those
who happened to be gazing skyward
when these intervals came had the
chance of observing a phenomenon
which will never lose its interest.
From the standpoint of the astrono-
mer an eclipse of the sun Is hardly
worth studying except from a point
where II Is total. but to the ordinary
mortal there is plenty OF excitement
In watching even partial extihcuoh
of Old Sol
How silent the boomers of the Con-
necticut river dam project have been
lately. Can 1t be that there is really
no likelihood that Brattleboro VIII
ever have the opportunity to pront by
the natural resources that lie at ner
feet. or is the enterprise only awaiting
the arrival of somebody with plenty
of push and a generous amount OF
capital? For the sake of proving or
disproving the persistent rumors 70
the effect that the scheme was simply
one to advance the interests OF GER
tain political aspirants The Meddler
interrogates the men having the mat
ter In charge. whoever they may be.
Enunciate plainly so everybody can
hear nlease. The Meddler.