The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-05-15
BEDDING


 which. started early Monday morning on the, Daniel Higgins farm near the NorWalk and Danbury railroad tracks was not extinguiGhed until late on Tuesday night after having burned over an area of about 800 acres lying between Topstone and BranchvilIe. A force of men got promptly at work to combat the advance of the flames, but quit during the afternoon in the be- lief that the fire was out. It soon re- vived, however, and the fight against it was renewed and kept up through Monday night and the next day. Fire Warden Warner could not be present to direct operations on account of ill., ness, but sent his son Lem to repre-, sent him and all the deputy wardens on the west side were also on the job. Several buildings in the path of the copflagration were endangered, but were saved by hard work. The blaze, like the one which a few days prevt- ousIy burned over a tract of about 300 acres a little further north, originated from locomotive sparks. The total property loss was considerable, most of the damage resulting from the sweep of the flames through standing tim- Der.
 By the end of this month the work of repairing the roads will be virtually completed as regards their first treat nent. It has been the policy of Su- QOINAGQf 0lOOI11SE to nave them gone over with the road machines and afterwards to cant on gravel as the next best available material where 1t may be required and to better the drainage facilities. The new system has thus far resulted in one decided advantage, this being the accomplish ment Of the work much earlier in the season than ever before. Besides this advantage those competent to judge say the work has been better done than was the rule in the past, improve ment4 by comparison being especially marked on the west side where MT. Bloomer personally directed operations It is too early yet to say just how far the appropriation will carry the betterments the supervisor would like to effect an element as to this being the uncertainty regarding the amount at his disposal. When the October town meeting voted $500 for roads and bridges it was undoubtedly the intent to expend that sum in repairs during the coming year. If former usage pre- vails, however. there will be deducted the $1, 900 which the seIectmen spent between the close of the fiscal year and the time the roads were taken out of their hands. The special town meet ing in( the spring was also plainly of the same mind as the other meeting in regard to the $5.0oo although 1t could take no decisive action of the
 
 hired MT. Bloomer believe the $l.000 should not be deducted while the se- lectnen are Of the contrary opinion. AS MT. sBloomer makes direct requisi- ton for the payment of bills, upon Town Treasurer Luttgen. it would seem that the task of deciding the question at issue may fall upon the latter and he may conclude, to refer it to another special town meeting.
 The course of Reps. Sanford and Stocking in helping to defeat the Di- rect Primaries Bill occasions surprise and regret among their constituents as this was one of the four leading pro- gressive measures in their party'G plat form, the others being the election of U. $. Senators by popular vote, the initiative and referendum and the Workmen's Compensation Act. It was also conspicuous plank in the Bull Moose platform and therefore helped to attract to Messrs. Sanford and Stocking the support of the 25 or 30 Bedding Progressives, their party hav- ing no representative candidates in this town. Not only was it a prominent feature of the Democratic platform but the Democrats of the House gave 1t the additional emphasis or caucus ap proVal. It had already been passed by the Senate. Against it were arrayed the combined corporation interests and their lobbyists as we'll the pro- fessional politicians, a kind of hos tility which furnished the strongest commendation for the measure. MT. Sanford says that his chief objections to the bill were that it would con- siderably increase the cost of elections and would place the country town at a disadvantage with the cities in case the latter com bined so1idly against them. To many persons these argu- ments seem far short of convincing. Direct primaries would cost more but the real question is whether the re- suits given by the reform are worth the outlay. All the States which have direct primaries evidently believe the results are worth the cost as none of them show any disposition to return to the old system. On the contrary all the changes are in the direction of strengthening and making more sweep ing the system of direct primaries. AS to the second objection it might have some force if such a thing as an alli- ance of the cities against the towns had ever occurred or if there were a reasonable possibility of it's occurring