The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-06-08
Citizens Turned Down South
Main Street Project Nv the
Close Vote of 122 Is
GRADE Gro SAG
A r. .SIBJECTION
$48,000 Cost of the Project
Was Also a Stun
bling-Block

4 BY final vote Of l23 to lis the legal
voters of Barre, assembled in a special
city meeting at the opera house last
night, voted against the proposal to is
sue bonds in the sum of $4,000 and ex-
tending over period Of eight years, for
a paving extension on South Main street
and the erection OF cement concrete
bridge over Jail branch. Earlier in the
evening nearly 800 voters were in the
house when motion, made by ex. Mayor
Harvey E. Hersey, to table the article re-
lating to bonding, was voted down, but
the number had shrunk materially when
the voters came to deal with finalities.
Much that was germane to the issue
land a good deal that was wholly irrele-
want was discussed while the subject was
under debate, Motions and counter mo-
tions were entertained by the chair be-
| fore the issue was sharply drawn and
when action on the bonding proposition
was finally taken, question which had
Tits genesis in the city council and sur
must bear in the moil of that well known
body. was submerged for season. at
least, and perhaps for several years.
A big element in the defeat Of the
bonding plan was the apparent failure Of
the council In submitting the bridge and
paving program to the electorate for APP
proval or rejection, to provide for sat
isfactory disposal of the grade crossing
nuisance near the Trow & Holden plant.
That the scrutiny Of the inquiry office
should be turned on the failure of the
old town fathers to inhibit the railroad
from crossing the main public thorough
fare at any cost must afford fine figure
Of the imperishab bility of mems acts. OPP
ponents of the project, in all sincerity,
no doubt, argued their objection on the
grounds of economy and their arguments
carried measurable conviction. but the
grade crossing issue, nevertheless. was
the heaviest factor in bringing about the
defeat Of the resolution to bond.
City Clerk James Mackay called the
meeting to order at o'clock and Frank
G. Rowland was elected moderator after
the reading of the warning Interrogated
by R. s. Currier, City Engineer r. Q. Lee
gave a brief survey OF what the council
proposed to do in the way of draining
grading, curbing and paving from the
present stone-road terminus to the bridge,
of building a cement bridge and laying
His estimate fixed the cost OF
the paving, etc, at S33.333 and the bridge
at $4,000 Only once did
the reported refusal OF the traction com
pany TO bear its share Of the assessment
come to the surface, and then it was dis
missed briefly when Chairman Glysson Of
the aldermanic street department said
The council had done its best to bring
The company to book.
IT was S. Hollister Jackson a former
member of Nermont's public service COM
mission, who broached the question Of
yrade crossing elimination. He spoke at
ength on tentative plans for the elim-
nation and thought that the paving pro-
ect should not be carried through with
,ut consideration of the crossing. His
words were echoed in part by Mr.. Currier
nd V. L. Ayers, who was for eliminating
rossings on South Main. Hill and Ayers
treets. Mr.. Jackson quoted former
as favoring plan to lessen
he liability by crossing elimination. J.
:, Tierney. who said he had been pretty
lose to the situation for Ia years, gave
TO support the argument for
rossing elimiaation. Mr. Tierney was
lso apprehensive OF additional expense
) the ,ity by reason of increased ex-
enditures in the water and FIRE depart
tents. j. r. Callaghan, who was on his
,et several times before the hall was
acated. cautioned the city to 90 slow in
BENDING its money Mr. Callaghan stole
,me of Mr.. Hersey's thunder by men
onng something about a half million
olar debt
The first clash came when ex-Mavor
ersey, sinking his plummet into ante
,llum history. neatly turned an anec-
,te that was TO have an important
,aring on his opposition TO the bonding
an. Mr. Hersey spoke with character
tie verve. interlarded his remarks with
rures bearing on the cty's indebtedness.
ID choked off further discussion of the
sue. for the time being, by moving that
ticle l, ito see if the city viii bond or
sue notes" etc. be tabled. The mo-
IN was variously discussed and after
ief conference. it was decided to sub
i the question to ballot.
The chair appointed Judge II. W. Scott,
ex Ironside. r. :. Currier and Athol
n tellers and balloting proceeded.
hen the votes were counted. the chair
nounced that the motion to table had
en- lost by a vote Of q to l3s a total
2S0 having been polled
Then the debate was resumed. r. 6.
rrier would have the chair entertain
,tion TO pave South Main street when
sr the city council, after petitioning
public service commission for a grade
.ssing elimination. should report a sat
lctorv adjustment in the matter. Nr.
,ksou arose O. saw that the publiG
vice commission regarded the south
in street crossing az one Of the worst
the state. Alex Ir1uside moved that
council proceed with the bridge work
J hold the paving project in ahev1nce-
p motion was lost after Mr.. Ironside
others bad r'id their respects 70 the
olete structure that spans the Jail ~
present time.
.-chi here Nr. Calsrhan's motion e
rr-rr urs fhuufor.F down rrrrri-.