Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1916-03-10
TOWN MEETING,
Mlddlsbury Accepts Beauests OF
Col, 6attell, Large Attendance
and Keen Interest.

There was close contest between
Harry l., Hunt and Fred S, Brookins
for seectman, the latter winning by a
vote Of 1870 to 49, No'license was car
ried 25O to 2lS, the largest majority for
several years, The town also voted not
to allow druggists licenses the coming
year, the vote standing ls9 to 23l,
When the ninth article Of the warn
ing was read, "ro see what action the
town will take concerning the bequests
of the late Joseph Battel in reference
to the land given the town for parks, "
President Thomas read and explained
the clauses of the Battell will referring
to.the beQuest, lie stated that the prop
erty on Chpman Hill was in the grand
list as 1875 acres, valued at $1,000 The
woods east of the town include about 95
acres, appraised at $25OO. The will also
provides for a fund of $4,000 for the care
Of the parks, to be under the manage
ment of Thomas +, Boyce and another
trustee to be named by the Probate
Court, President Thomas said he be-
lieyed the devise was generous one
and that the park would be of great
benefit to the town in the future.
Willis N. Cady suggested 1t might be
well to divide the question, since some
might favor one park and not the other
Judge Button introduced resolution
accepting both tracts and the ,und for
their maintenance, under the conditions
of the will, and this was carried unani-
mously.
The bequest of $500 a year in lieu OF
taxes on the Battel block was refused,
President Thomas said that at the time
the will was drawn such property held
by an educational institution was not
subject to taxation, but that the law
had been changed and the college was
now paying taxes on income producing
property in the town, and was perfectly
willing to do so. He explained that the
Battell will provided that the block be
kept insured and rebuilt if necessary;
that t was now assessed at S73, 900 and
therefore yielded the town in taxes
much more than the bequest. He said
that under these circumstances he did
not expect the town to accept the be-
quest, and moved that it be refused,
which was carried unanimously.
Mr.. +. b. Cornwall for the library
trustees said that there was possibility
that the town could secure $3.50
library building from the Carnegie Cor
poraton, provided tax of four per
cent for library support was voted.
This was done, with the understandn
that only the usual sum would be eX-
pended unless new building was Sc
cured On the general question of the
library, Judge Weeks spoke strongly,
testifying to the large numbers who
used it and its benefit to the community.
There were several votes on the APP
preparation for band concerts, but at
last the moderator declared that $500
was voted, which seemed to be the will
of the majority.
One hundred dollars was voted for
Memorial Day, $65 for the village and
$35 for East Middlebury.
On motion of H. L. Hunt, seconded
by w. N. Cady, $1,000 was appropriated
for permanent roads to take advantage
of the law granting State aid for high
ways.
The plant of the Bryant Manufacture
ing Company in East Middlebury was
exempt from taxation for period of
five years. This plant was burned re-
Gently and the owners have rebuilt,
despite attractive offers elsewhere.
There seemed to be no opposition to the
exemption.
The question Of a new bridge on
"Muddy Branch" near the Fuller Pierce
place was left to the selectmen, to do
as they thought best
1t was voted to take advantage of the
new law as to the collection of poll
taxes, after Milo X. Moore had explain
ed that it would permit of closer col
lectons. On the other hand the plan
of the last legislature for uniform sys-
TEN of town accounting was rejected
general town tax of 10 cents was
voted. For the schools outside of Dis
trict No. tax of so cents was levied
and for town highways So cents.
James B. Donoway was moderator of
the meeting and Joseph M. Burke clerk.
Beside Fred A. Brookins selectman the
other officers elected were Elroy Ses-
sions, school director for three years,
C. E. Seeley lister for three years, Will
liam M. Jackson overseer of the poor.
His salary was made 500 as in previous
years. Charles E. Pinney was re-elect-
ed trustee of public money and treas
urer, and the former board of auditors,
consisting of George E. Marshall, Oscar
| H. Cushman and DR.. w. II. Sheldon,