The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-07-20
City Council COmbatantS TO
Get Evidence
AS TO WHAT IS The BEST
Decided Last Night to Suspend Per-
manent Work on North Main
Street Which Means for
the Present year.

Neither granite blocks nor macadam
viii be laid on North Main street this
year This decision was reached BY the
city council at midnight last night af-
ter five hours wrangle which was par
ticipated in also by many citizens. 1t
was not done, however, until the pro-
pavement people had forced the tabling
Of the original resolution which ordered
the macadamizing of the street. An
agreement was also reached to set aside
$4,000 Of this years permanent street.
fund to be used on North Main street
when they decide what kind Of street
they do want.
1t has been long time since the
council played to such large and ap-
preciative audience Of citizens and along
about half past ten they took stage
fright and wont into executive session,
chasing the citizens into the street and
continuing their discussion undisturbed
by the presence.
But before they were driven ont the
citizens had presented several petitions,
and talked more. G. w. Melcher pre-
sented "A additional names of men and
firms to a former petition against the
use Of maeadam, and William Barclay
presented another along the same line,
signed BY $50 men, mostly working
mem" he explained
Not to be outdone, Fayette r. Cutler,
one Of the abutters on the street under
consideration, presented a petition ask
ing that North Main street be macad-
amized; and he asked for the re-reading
Of petition presented May Fl, signed
by an but four Of the abutters on the
section, who wanted macadam
The petition presented last night BY
Mr. Cutler reads as follows;
eve, the undersigned citizens Of the
city Of Barre, having the best interests
Of the city at heart and believing that
il is for the best interests Of the city
Of Barre that streets in the residence
portions Of The city should be macadam-
lied instead Of paved with granite
blocks, respectfully petition your body
that you continue to macadamize North
Main street
I'VE further believe in the inan-
cial condition Of the city that the ma
cadam is best for the city, in that If
macadam i used good street can be
obtained the present summer, while If
ii il paved with granite blocks it will
be years before the same can be accom-
pished"
These petitions having been presented
TO the council, the members INDUCED in
a little experience meeting" saying that
they were not cranks on the subject of
streets, were not "weddedn to any par
ticular theory and were Of open mind.
ready 10 do what was best for the citv.
That being their state Of mind, the in
evitable course was the suspension Of
work altogether on North Main street
until they could determine what IS real
" the best material under the eondi-
tions. Alderman Thurston urged that
committee of disinterested citizens he
sent TO Massachusetts, to learn condi-
tions there; but no action was taken
last night.
However, the original resolution or
dering the street committee fo ma
cadamize the street was still IN vogue,
and the next step 0f the council was to
get that out of the way. Alderman
Thurston wanted to 90 about 1t BY get
ttr,as Ah.s .r H.,
ell in favor of reconsideration thus re-
tanning Cushing's Manual in all its inn
peral majesty, He was willing to give
his consent provided the council would
stop all permanent street work this
year and lay aside the appropriation for
next years work.
Alderman Alexander objected to this
proviso and when be couldn't get Alder
man Thurston to withdraw ii he @toog
the bull by the horns. so to speak, and
moved that the rules regarding recon-
sideration Of resolutions Be waived. The
motion was seconded and when the
question was put 1t was declared By Mayor
Robins I'd be carried There were pro-
tests to the decision, but no one appeal
ed or demanded d roll call
Mayor Robins standing by his de-
csion, Alderman Alexander then moved
that the resolution be called up Car
ried, several not voting. The resolution
ordering macadam being then before the
meeting Alderman Campbell took the
occasion to move its re-adoption, see
onded by Alderman Thurston At this
point Alderman Alexander thought II
would be wise to 20 into executive sos
sion, whereat the citizens faded away
Following their departure the council
talked until nearly midnight and then
carried motion, on Alderman Alex
ander's initiative, that the resolution
be laid on the table until they could
determine what material is the best to
use on North Main street and that So,
600 Of this years permanent street fund
be laid aside for the work This means
the suspension Of permanent work on
that street at least for this year. The
street committee had already dug quite
a hole just north Of Granite street which
viii be filled
George n. Sector finished work sat.
urday night at Tilden's shoe store and