The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-06-11

ran behind last year has a familiar sound
The company's attorney stated before the
public service commission in the West
Dummerston hearing that the branch lost
S35,354 last year Back in the days of the
narrow gauge road, when it was known as
the Brattleboro & Whitehall, the late
Charles f. Thompson, who was then presi-
dent, used to feel quite disturbed, along
with the rest of the public, because it was
$50 difficult to get anything done in the
way of improvement of the service. The /
same cry was made then, namely, that |
the road did not pay. Mr. Thompson used |
to assert that at least a large proportion |
of the deficit was not actual, but was due |
to the bookkeeping and that the little road |
had to stand burdens which properly be-
longed elsewhere. The Meddler does not |
pretend to say that the West River road
did not run behind the amount claimed. |
He simply remembers what an official of
the road used to say about the finances.
| The resignation of Miss Emma j. Gregg
as musical instructor in the incorporated |
school district, after a long term of eff
Gent service, gives rise to the question |
of who will be her successor It is an inn
Iportant question and one that ought to
be considered carefully by the prudential
committee. Although the fact of her de-
cision to relinquish the duties at the end
OF the present term has not been known
generally, those who have been aware of
1
| the fact have discussed somewhat the ad-
visibility of engaging man for the posi-
ton. This idea springs not from any dis
satisfaction with Miss Gregg's work, but
from desire to have someone who can
take hold of musical activities outside the
school and develop the latent talent some
thing after the manner in which it has
been done in Keene, n H. There is no
lquestion but that there is much vocal mu-
Isical talent here, but it is in a somewhat
ldormant state, with the exception, largely,
LOT those who have been constantly under
Miss Gregg's instruction and those who
lare included in the church choirs 1t is
believed by some that with the right per-
son in direct charge as instructor the
town could be developed musically with
surprising results But however much
this may be desirable, there is an obstacle
IN the way in the matter of salary. A
competent man teacher in the musical de-
APARTMENT of the schools would cost two or
three times what the district is now pay
ing, and naturally the prudential commit
tee does not feel warranted in mourning
that extra expense when the schools alone
do not require it, especially in these times
OF high cost and business depression 1t
has been suggested that vote to engage
a man teacher might be put through at
the annual school meeting, which usually
is attended by only handful of persons,
but there would be reaction to a move
of that kind if the voters in general felt
that they had been taken advantage of.
: Speaking of a school vacancy to be filed
: prompts The Meddler to remind the vot-
: ers that there is vacancy on the school
/ board, caused by the death of Judge
y James L. Martin. The election of officers
k comes next month Does anybody know
y lbf anyone who is grooming for the place: