The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-02-28
Local Board of Trade Held
an Interesting Meeting.
THE BRIDGE QUESTION
And Other Matters TO Come up a, Town
Meeting Were Talked About Inform.
ally a, Smoker in Grange Hall Las,
Evening.


hail last evening 10 discuss Informally
various matters Of public interest that
will come before the voters at next
Tuesdays town meeting, The gather
ing was not for the purpose Of attempt
ing TO pat through any particular
scheme, nor was Il connected IN any
way with local politics, but solely for
the purpose OF allowing the board OF
trade members 10 become better ae
quainted with the questions ON which
the town will have to vote next Tues.
day. There is no doubt that Il accom-.
plishcd It's end
{. o. Robbins, president Of the board
of trade, called the meeting TO order
and briefly outlined its purpose, calling
attention first Ia the article in the war
rant regarding new bridge across
West river George ". Pierce asked
that the selcctmen give such informa.
tion as they had in regard to the pro.
ieci and ". II. Ninton replied by out
lining the propositions which appeared
! in this paper two weeks ago; namely, a
bridge ON the present site at an esti-
mated cost Of from $4,000 TO $1,000
D -
road track at an estimated cost of si2,'
900 to $4,000. L. G. Crosby inquired
as to the liability of the Connecticut
River Power company in connection
with the bridge at West river and Mr..
vinton replied that the company was
holden only for money enough TO make
! the present bridge safe from any high
water that might come as u result of
the dam. Mr.. Crosby submitted diff
ferent bridge plan from those of the
selectmen, his idea being to cross the
West river railroad track at the north
side of the river, the trestle work of
the bridge leaving the main highway at
point Just below the present Eaton
house and crossing the West river
some distance west of the railroad
bridge. Mr.. Crosby said he favored
this plan for the reason that il would
save 9 feet in elevation and would get
rid of the curve at the foot of the West
river hill. He also said that if this plan
were adopted the present highway
bridge could be used until the new one
was completed.
David T. Perry said that the impor-
tant thing in building bridges and high.
ways was the elimination of grades and
it was his opinion that with new
bridge on the site of the present one
il would cost but a small amount to re-
duce the approach at this end to 6
per cent grade and the approach on the
northern side to q per cent grade. 1t
was Mr.. Perry's idea that with the
grades reduced TO this extent bridge
on the present site would answer the
purpose fully ms well as a more expen.
sive bridge and trestle work above the
railroad track. He said further that
in building any bridge the town should
bear in mind that plank flooring was
out of date. Some discussion followed
in regard to the difference in the cost
of building bridge this year and
waiting until after the water had been
raised as a result of the dam. In an
swer to a question by II. G. Barber Mr..
Crosby said that he thought this change
in the water would make difference
of about $4,000 in the cost of each
abutment. G. l.. Dunham spoke briefly
in favor of the overhead idea and asked
that an expression of the sentiment OF
the meeting be taken. Mr.. Ninton
thought this an unwise plan as it might
lead people to think that the board of
trade was attempting to steer the
town, and his view semed to meet with
the approval of majority of those
present. C. A. Boyden disagreed with
Mr.. Durham as to the overhead bridge.
He said the difference in the cost was
so great that the town could not well
afford to decide on the larger amount,
particularly as taxes here are high
enough at present.
The next question brought up was
that of reducing the grade of Vernon
street. Mr. Robbins said the board of
trade had been told by the power com
pany that it expected to locate some
new industries on the fiat near the
Brattleboro Cabinet company's plant
and on this account was extremely de-
sirous that the grade on Vernon street |
be reduced. With this idea in view the
company recently made survey of the
highway with the thought of cutting
eight feet from the peak of the hill.
Mr.. Robbins did not have the figures of
the cost of making such cut, but it
was estimated that it would be in the
of $4,000. }. Il. Mellen
said that few people aside from those
who had freight to draw realized what
an expensive proposition the hill was
and it is his opinion that if the people
directly interested would explain the
matter to the voters outside there
would be no trouble in securing an ap-
for making the improve
ment.
G. w. Pierce, j. G. Stafford and D. 7.
Perry all spoke briefly on the question
Of good roads, the latter stating that
was far ahead of Brattle-
boro in the matter of permanent high
way work.
C. R. Crosby called attention to the
shameful condition of the road just this
side of the Brattleboro Cabinet com
Dany's plant and asked if something
could not be done to remedy it imme-
lately. He said that most of the en-
,loyes of that factory were obliged to
.eturn from their work by way of the
.ailroad track because of the depth of
he water in the highway.
The remainder of the evening was !
;pent in an informal discussion of Y :.
Ions ,oo4+aru of interest to the tn Adl