Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-05-27

COtDy mouse escape
ain 1885, Mr.. Colby's two sons. Henry
c. and Edward A., entered the house as
partners and the firm of John A. Colby q
Sons was established. The following
year the furniture factory ct "A North
Elizabeth street was built to supply their
growing business. In 1889, the firm
moved from the State street store to the
present building at 14S Wabash avenue. I"
Mr.. Colby was married to Miss Abr
gail Ford Cedy of Randolph, VT, April
2a, 1857. or four children born to them,
Berry c. Colby alone survives. Mrs.
Colby is sister OF Mrs. Mary Bass and
of the late Mrs. Emily Green Of Ran
dolph and has many friends and acquain-
tances in this town and Braintree. After
his retirement from active affairs, Mr..
Colby and his wife divided the time be-
tween their home in Chicago, their sum-
mer residence at Delavan, Wis, and their
winter home in Los Angeles, Cal.
An Electric Proieet--and More.
At this time, when projects looking
toward change in the electric system Of
Randolph village are under discussion, it
is opportuDe to present one that has been
discussed more or less for several years
one that contemplates not only the deveI-
opment OF the necessary power for such q
system, but several other benefits of
equal, or perhaps greater, account.
We have, flowing through Our village,
branch OF the White river. II Is not a
large stream, but much Of the time con-
siderable fiowage passes this point. Right
in the center Of the village it is d ahmed
at two points. Just above the Main
street bridge is the Sanford grist mill
dam, providing water power for that bus
mess, and a surplus, at odd times, for the
Kilburn sawmill. A few rods below the
same bridge Is the privilege Of the Sar-
gent, osgood & Roundy company, giving
small power for the foundry plant.
The Sanford dam creates . storage reser-
voir OF limited capacity. Above this
dam, between School street on the south
side and Park street on the north side,
stretches q long, low meadow whose level
is but few feet above that of the branch
which moves sluggishiy through It. The
proposition is to built q higher dam
where the Main street bridge crosses the
stream. food the meadow back for dis
tance of a mile or so, creating a large
lake, with q storage capacity OF many
millions Of gallons. Then tap the dam
with a good-sized penstock, carry ii down
to some suitable point near the foundry
and utilize there the resulting power to
supply the village electric system.
Here are some OF the advantages that
would sccrue:-
/. We should have cur own electric
system. light and power, located right
here, With no heavy loss resulting from
long-distance transmission. and no
stretch of high-pressure current to main
tain over miles Of trunk line. II would
be advisable to install 3 meter service,
and with the matter in our own hands as
a village we could start with low meter
rate and gauge the rate so as to make the
system seit-supporting. meter service
In this village would mean such a saving
! in power that Il is probable that with the
7 plant described we could depend upon
water power for the greater Part OF the
year. An auxiliary steam plant should
be provided, though, for use In times Of
low water or other necessity. munich
pal system would put the matter in our
own hands. with its opportunities for
economies, Improvements and corrections
Of the service, as the need demanded.
2. The artificial lake, lying 20 the CEN
ter of the village. fronting on Main
street, only few rods from the depot,
would add immeasursbly to the attrac-
tiveness Of Randolph as q place Of resi-
dence, and prove strong attraction to
hundreds Of summer people. We could
enjoy, and offer to these guests. all the
advantages Of boating, camping and fish
ing that any natural lakeside resort ca \
provide. II would surely result in a
heavy increase in our summer business.
with possibility Of the erection of no.
tells, boarding houses and cottages on the
many vantage points that would front or
be within easy sccess Of its shores. A
body OF water, as has been often re.
marked, is about the only attraction our
village new lacks.
3. The upper end OF this lake, before
i reaches the village proper, would be an
excellent point to cut pure ice, as the wa
ter there would be free from contamina-
ton. municipal ice business. with q
pure product, stored in sanitary way
and delivered on a cost basis by the hun
dred pounds, would be q wonderful i'm
provement over past or present condi-
tons, or, IL this could not be done, the
right OF cutting could be leased under
satisfactory conditions.
4. BY erecting heavy concrete dam
where the Main street bridge now stands,
which seems to be the natural point for
It, that eyes3re-the covered bridge
SouAu Dc itlnOteu ana IN ITS place q nice
steel structure abutting so high on the
present approaches to the bridge as to
abolish the doable grade in the highway
BY which great waste now results-giv-
! ing almost a level transit across from one
side to the other, high enough above the
dam TO permit the ice and high water to
pass beneath. The improvement here
outlined would also result in the removal
OF some of the unsightIy surroundings OF
that locality and give nice frontage at
the lower end Of the lake. enhancing the
value OF nearby property.
OF course such q project as this involves
heavy outlay, running up into many
thousands of dollars, and ought not to be
undertaken until a careful survey and es-
innate has proven it to be both feasible
and advisable, but is it not worth consid.
ering
The Sanford mill property-the key tc
the situaticn-is now in the market and
can probably be secured at a reasonable
price. The land and property damages