Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-05-03
ATTEND TOWN MEETING TONIGHT

Every voter interested in the welfare
of Brattleboro ought to consider it his
duty to be present at the special town
meeting in Festival hall at o'clock to-
night to vote on the question of appro-
priating money toward carrying out the
proposed railroad development. This is
a matter OF vital concern to the town,
and the thoughtful voter ought to ap-
preciate the Importance of taking IA
vorabe action on the two propositions
which have been submitted by the rail-
road and town officials-to authorize a
bond issue of $4,000 as our share
toward the proposed new passenger sta
ton, the Bridge street overpass the
abolishment of the Vernon street grade
and other improvements aggregating
more than 100000, and to authorize the
selectmen to buy the Brattleboro House
property for $15,500, the building to be
removed and the land used as a public
square. Many reasons why these ap-
propriations should be made have been
set forth ably in communications in
previous issues of this paper.
For several years Brattleboro people
railroad outlook as affecting this COM
munity and have been keenly alive to
the Importance of having the town di-
rectly connected with two trunk lines.
They cannot afford to shrk their re-
sponsibility in this hour of triumph in
bringing the two roads to an agreement,
and we do not believe there is any dis
position to do So Far from being a
burden to the taxpayers, the expendi-
ture required would be of incalculable
benefit, and the soundest investment the
town ever made, looking forward to
permanent improvement.
There is danger, however, that the
Importance of securing the Rrattleboro
House property may be underestimated.
1t was bought for the protection of the
public, at a time when delay might have
worked greatly to our disadvantage. In
it's present condition it is of little val
ue for hotel purposes. With a hand
some railroad station nearby it would
be unsighly by contrast, and one easily
can imagine the existence of conditions
which would make it a menace to the
community 1t was acquired with just
tneSe tnlnSS IN view But It's site Is
valuable and the town should own it.
There is no thought of converting the
site into a park, public garden or any
thing of that sort. 1t is needed for a
public square, an approach to the rail-
road station, where every citizen may
have a chance to rest and where teams
and automobiles may stand without be-
ing in the way. No such place exists in
the business section of Brattleboro at
the present time.
A way has been provided whereby the
town may acquire this property on an
absolutely sound business basis, where
in half dozen substantial citizens bind
themselves to refund to the town the
purchase price with interest if after six
months from the time all the proposed
improvements are completed, including
the removal of the hotel, it is desired
to dispose of the land. This agreement
is published in full in this issue of The
Phoenix.
Vote tonight in a way that will
demonstrate our good faith in every
particular in encouraging those who have
given freely of their time and means
and energy in making this great public
benefit possible.