Connecticut western news., 1907-10-10
NORTH CANAAN
 TOWN MEETING

LARGER SCHOOL BULL DING NEEDED Favorable Vote on Two Highway
 Changes A. R. Appropriation
 Doubled-Tax Rate is IF 1 1-2 Mills
 School Committee to Report at a
 Meeting Nov. 2.
 Town Clerk s. G. Camp called the annual meeting of the town of North Canaan to order, in the Town hall, Mon- day afternoon. Wallace Canfield was chosen moderator.
 The appropriation for specific pur- poses. under article of the warning, was passed.
 A tax of 121a mills was laid on the grand list for the expenses of the en- suing year.
 Relative to the laying out of the new road from Clayton toward Canaan Val lev, which was the next matter consid cred, Henry Roraback said: 'tFt was voted last year to instruct the ,selectmen to lay out a road over the land of Frank Miller, from the Clayton store toward Canaan Valley, believing that by so doing they would avoid the necessity of rebuilding two bridges. If this change was made, anyone going from Clayton ito Canaan Valley would be obliged to drive a short distance toward .Sodom. cross the Konkapot river near the old blacksmith shop, then go south to the road leading to Canaan Valley. MT. Miller, opposes such action and in the event of not reaching an agreement with him. it would be necessary to take steps to condemn the property. If, how ever, lthestown does not care to give the matter further consideration, 1t can drop it now and rebuild the bridges over the river'
 J. B. Reed said the road has been talked about for a number of years and the bridges have been left in a more or less dangerous condition. The road is the old turnpike and in times of high water the road is sometimes submerged and a good deal of expense caused. The proposedllay out is on higher land not reached by the water and people in general are satisfied that it would be a desirable change, that it would save ex- lpense for all time, and that no bridges would be necessary. MT. Miller says he would dislike to have the road laid out ,on his land but if it is laid out, he would like to have the town take the entire field as the road will cut it in two and deprive the pasture of running water.
 The question was discussed at length and when put to vote, the action of the selectmen in laying out the road, was unanimously approved.
 State Auditor Edward $. Roberts, who is also member of the town school board, sprung a surprise on the meeting by advocating the enlargement of the school building in district No. 3 which is the designation of the school in this village. MT. Roberts advocacy of school expansion should have surprised nobody, however, as the need of larger quarters has been apparent for some time-
 MT. Roberts said: .'We have an abundance of scholars in No. 3 but we have not sufficient room for them. It is absolutely necessary that the school house be enlarged to contain two more rooms and it will be matter of less than two years before we will have to build still more but it seems to me that this addition will probably be ample for a year or two. It is not matter of choice, it is one of necessity. The school board did not feel like going ahead and constructing the addition without bring ing the matter before the town. It seems to me that a resolution can be passed instructing the school board to go on and build the necessary addition to the school house for the convenience of the scholars"
 John B. Reed thought the matter a very important one. He said: "It seems to me that to spring resolution of this kind without looking into the matter is little premature. The ground about the school building is limited and if the influx of families is going to con- tinue, it is a question if we had not bet ter have a separate building. The grounds are not large enough for the school house that is now there think we might get along for this year and in the meantime the matter might be looked over and a committee appointed to investigate. Furthermore, we are taking scholars from Salisbury and the chairman of the Salisbury school con- mittee says they expect to cut off the appropriation and send the scholars to Amasville where they have ample room