The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-12-30
Cheering Report On the Cit5
Water Supply
CAUTION TO BE PRUDENT
City and the Railroad Are at Odds Over
a Highway to Lead Into Territory
to Be Reclaimed from the
River.

IF the patrons are not wasteflH in
its use, believes we will have plenty of
water" declares City Engineer Reed in.
reporting on his inspection of the cisy's
reservoirs and intakes. Engineer Reed
states that he finds both the reservoirs
and the intakes in good condition for
the winter, and he expects that with or
binary prudence exercised Barre will not
have a water famine during the winter
months, something which various oom-
munities in Vermont are said to be fac
ing. There has been much conjecture
among townspeople as to the status Of
the city water supply, and this report Of
Engineer Reed, which was made last
night, will be reassuring.
The city and the NJ 4 w. r. r. r.
have run into a snag over the project to
change the course of Stevens branch SO
that it will cut straight across Burn
hams meadow instead of making the
loop back of the Main street buildings.
The snag is all over roadway from
Prospect street to the territory to be
reclaimed from the river. The railroad
is willing TO grant the public use Of
thoroughfare which shall be provided for
its freight house patrons, but is un-
willing TO give the city jurisdiction over
such thoroughfare, while thus far the
city has inastedon a regularly laid-out
street OF at least sixteen feet width.
The matter was argued at some length
at the regular meeting Of the city coun-
Gil last night, the railroad, in being
called upon to state its grounds, reply
ing that the facilities Of the present
freight house on Burnham's meadow are
entirely inadequate and the corporation
proposes to enlarge and build freight
house which shall end on Prospect street
and run back TO the location OF the pres
ent structure. In order to build this
structure, said Supt. Stanyan and At
torRey Fl. @. Shurtleff, every inch Of
the width OF the land Is required. There
fore, the railroad doesn't want to he
bound down to q regulation street which
the city might insist on and which, in
case OF the city's ownership, could be
kept cleared OF obstructions such as
teams OF railroad patrons which we're
backed up to the doors Of the proposed
freight house.
The railroad proposed that the city
have an entrance to the reclaimed land
between the city hall and W. +. Shep-
ards land, but that plan was shown to
be impracticable at once, since the pro-
would come up against the rear Of the
Blanchard building
Perhaps 1t should be stated ait this
point that the enabling act now before
the legislature gives the city the right
to take such land of the railroad north
the course Of the stream, which would
include the right to seize the land for
the regulation roadway. The bill in its
present status had been agreed upon at
the legislative hearing but Attorney
Shurtlef explained that he was away
at the time the amended bill was com
pleted, otherwise the railroad would not
have agreed to the broad jurisdiction
which stipulates the right Of the citv to
seize any lands of the Barre rrailroad,
north of the northerIy side of Prospecs 7.
street." except such land as is used for
main tracks and depots. That section
the railroad wishes amended.
After listening to the objections bv
the railroad men, the council referred
The matter to the city attorney to confer
with the railroads attorney to see ii an
agreement could be reached on further
amendment; failing in which the bill.
now ready to be passed by the House.
viii probably be withdrawn again. Mr..
Stanyan and the Others present agreed
hat the proposed change of the stream
would be a great benefit to the railroad.
Il it would be to all concerned. and thew
,oped some agreement would be reached.