Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-11-02
BvaffLebOrO Local
FOR GOVERNMENT BUILDING.
Available Location on Main Street
Between Flat and Elliot.


An undercurrent OF ointment in favor
of government building in Brattleboro
crops out whenever there appears TO be
any excuse for agitating the subject,
and while there are some who would
oppose an effort TO secure such n build.
ing for the town on the ground of its
interference with town finances, there
is no doubt that very many, IL the ques.
ton were put 10 n vote, would vote 10
have federal building erected in Brat.
tleboro. The life appointment as Judge
Of the United States district court
which has just come TO James l.. Martin
has resulted in renewing discussion Of
the subject, says the local correspondent
of the Springfield Republican, and the
suggestion is heard that the board of
trade, which recently has been organ,
lied, bring the matter to the attention
OF Congressman Kittredgc llaskins with
Il view TO having him use his influence
10 help carry out the idea.
This recalls the fact that in his first
term in congress Col. Haskins intro.
duced bill asking for an appropria.
ton for government building here.
Immediately certain Brattleboro citi.
zens stated their disapproval of the
measure, their principal ground for OBJ.
ieeting being that such building would
necessitate the removal of the postotlice
from the town hall building and deprive
the town of the 1915 which it receives
annually from the government for post
office rent The bill died with that SEES
sion of congress and no further effort
for a building for Brattleboro has been
made. The town has shown rapid
growth in the past few years, so there
is little doubt that the space occupied
by the office would rent more easily now
than at the time Col. Haskins bill was
introduced, but whether the income now
realized by the town from the rental
would be duplicated is question.
Based on the population of the town
and the net receipts of the post
office, as compared with population and
postoflice receipts in other towns which
have government buildings, Brattleboro
was entitled to government building
long time ago. The net revenue to the
government from the Brattlcboro post
office the past year was $l7, $50. 'There
might be mentioned many New England
towns having a smaller population than
Brattleboro IS and yielding the govern
ment from third to a half as much net
postal revenue which have government
buildings. In some of these buildings
regular sessions of court are held.
While there is no provision of law for
holding regular sessions of the United
States court in Brattleboro, such an
arrangement possibly might be made,
but even without regular sessions of
court there is need for a court room for
the convenience of the numerous hear
ings in chambers which are held here.
These hearings are now held in the
probate court room, the Brooks house,
the Judges residence and other places.
Should the erection of a government
building be brought about, one of the
most central and available locations
would be on the land now occupied by
the Brown livery stable and the Judge
building. The selection of this site,
would give opportunity for
the Strengthening of Main street at that
point. thus solving problem which has
been discussed for several years.