St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1912-06-19
RAILROAD CROSSINGS
Supt. Folsom Has Made PROPOSE
ton to the SeIectmen.-May
Organize County Farmers.

At the meeting of the st. Johns
bury Commercial Club at the st.
Johnsbury House last Wednesday
noon considerable important busi-
ness was brought up for action. The
first matter was regarding the eli
nination of the two dangerous rail-
road crossings above the Center. It
was found the special committee had
done nothing so far but President
Cross reported that H. E. Folsom,
Superintendent of this division of
the Boston and Maine railroad had
proposed to the selectmen of the
town that if the town would pay one
half the cost of constructing a new
iron bridge across the Passumpsic
above the 'sBlind Crossing" and the
ten per cent. required by law of the
cost of building the new piece of
highway on the east side of the river
the railroad would be glad to take up
the work. 1t is estimated that the
bridge would cost about $4,000.
The Public Service Commission will
hold a hearing here in the near fu-
ture to consider this matter and the
special committee was requested to
attend the hearing.
Another matter that may prove
important was the announcement by
Joseph Fairbanks that the Sears,
Roebuck Co. of Chicago had offered
sum of $1,000,00O and would give
each county organizing grain
growing contest according to regula-
tions prescribed by the National
Grain Growers Association, $1,000.
Nf acrrrf-
culture at Washington had fund of
$4,000 at its disposal and that it
would give an additional $1,000 to
the first so counties to organize for
these contests. Mr.. Fairbanks was
to get into communication
with Sears, hoebuck Co. and learn
the conditions for such contest to
see if it would be possible to make
such an organization in Caledonia
county.
The desirability of having a paid
secretary for the club was discussed
and the suggestion was made that
the members contribute sum sufi-
cient to engage such man for a
time and see if it would not be
profitable. 1t was felt that the pres
ent secretary was giving large
amount of time as we'll as the active
committees but they could not pos
sibly get time to attend to all the
things desired. A man who made the
work of the club his special business
would be able to do this and make
the club more effective.
The secretary reported that moth |
ing had been done by the special
committee regarding improvement of
at the local freight house.
He knew that the agent, Mr.. Bur-
rows, was doing everything possible
to relieve the congestion of freight |
here but he was not furnished with |
enough competent help to handle the
business. 1t was thought best if no
was forthcoming that
the business men should collect all
the definite information possible and |
present it at headquarters in Bos-
ton.
The hotel committee reported that
Of the $4,000 pledged by local men
to build a new hotel on the Paddock !
site, $25,O25 had been transferred |
to the proposition to build on the
Academy site and there was at least
900 more that should be trans
ferred. With what the committee
has promised from outside parties
there is $4,000 in sight and it
should be possible to complete the
required.
The meeting was adjourned for
two weeks at the same place when it
is hoped there will be a large gath
aring and the matter of getting a
raid secretary threshed out.