The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-01-24
BETTER CONDITIONS
FOR WORKINGMEN
RECOMMENDED
Mayor Gordon in Annual Message De-
clares That Such Plans Should
Stand Foremost.

Gordons annual message TO the city
which was read before the aldermaniC
board at its regular session last evening
The mayor believes that any move which
has for its first purpose the amelioratior
Of conditions which endanger the health
and menace the lives of men employed in
the granite industry deserves priority
over program for tax reduction and he
emphasizes his opinion at sohc length in
the opening paragraph of the message.
He deplores the circumstances which in
spire natural desire in young men of
the city to turn away from the granite
industry and points to the fact that only
one apprentice is working nt the banker
to-day where five were learning the trade
10 years ago.
Touching up street departments he
characterizes as foolish some of the many
complaints that have been received in the
/ past year and admits that Others have
been well merited. He recommends that
the city's highway system be divided
into sections with view to periodic in
speetions by the employees. For the po-
lice department he urges the addition of
another regular patrolman The water,
charity and fire departments are COM
mended for their efficiency. In closing,
Mayor Gordon speaks of the zeal dis
played by some of the ex-aldermen in
carrying on their committee work with
view to making a good showing at the
end of the year. The mayors gentle sa
tire is brought into bolder relief when he
explains the custom of appraising at
their original cost machinery and other
city property that have been in use for
years.
The message is given in full as fol-
lows:
"To the Citizens of Barre:
"A good many of our citizens have,
through lack of employment, left our
city during the last year. They have
mostly all found an opening at other
trades and great many of them find
working conditions less dangerous to
health and viii stay away.
I'VE all believe in low taxation but
there is another matter of more vital i'm
portance to our little city than low taxes,
namely. the health of our workmen. We
hear of capitalists, who won't invest in
Barre on account of high tax rate, but
the time is coming when the workman
will not sell his labor here on account OF
conditions. Look around the
granite sheds and see how few appren |
tices are learning the trade to-day, not |
one where there was FIVE ten years ago. |
"As emigration is at standstill on |
account of the European war. and will
be at low ebb for a few years to come |
owing to depopulation in European coun- |
tries. and with most of our granite cut |
tiers of to-day watching an opening at |
some more healthful employment, where
ia Barre to get men to do the work when |
the great advertising of Barre granite /
brings in its full returnsf Something |
has TO be done to improve health condi-
tions in the granite sheds, for men are
learning that high wages don't mean
much II you are down and out at fifty.
"The ever increasing motor traffic
makes the expense of the street depart
nent increase every year. Not only is
his mode of travel harder on the streets,
put slight defects that were not notice
lble in the older and slower traffic, are
quickly made into real defects by the
witt and heavy motor cars of to-day.
There has been a great many complaints
bout the streets to this Office during the
vear, and although many of them were
oolish and without reason still some OF
hem are deserving of consideration.
''The original appropriation of $4,000
las been increased from time to time un I
il at the close of the year total of /
l6,S00 has been used by this depart I
nent, but the So, 100 expended on the mo- |
or truck, also the new motor for the {
tone erusher should be brought into con- !
Iteration before passing judgment on
he large addition to original appro- a
ration. II
II would recommend that the streets
e divided into sections. said sections to
e gone over periodically by at least two
zen and team, filling in and repairing 4
II defects before they get large enough i
D be serious. ?
81 hope the difficulties which hampered b
ne present council last fall in their ef- S
,rts to pave South Main street and erect a
new bridge over Jail branch will be re-
loved, and that midsummer of 1917 il
i'll see the work completed. f
"We have been very fortunate in the Fl
re department, in the small amount of |;
ss during the year, also in the complete s.
.covery of our chief from his unfortu p
ate accident in the spring time. We @
ere also fortunate to have had such an T,
Die fireman in Second Assistant Car Ct
inter to carry on the work during the e,
lforced absence of Chief Gladding. Fl
"With the two young horses purchased p
lis fall. which are getting into good e:
APE. and the addition of three regular
-emen, this department is in good con- Ia
tion. in
Would recommend few more alarm br
'xes installed in the needy parts OF the II
~. m
''Thc police department has been i'm b,
owed in the past year by the installa OF
On of telephone call boxes at convenient gr
rts of the city. also by the appoint w
ent of a deputy chief. I believe that rs
other regular policeman should be ap- pt
intcd in the near future. as the fire. la
ent hiring of specials warrants the w
me. 81
~The poor. like our chronic kiekers, vi
II always be with US. Although the
partment had 10 have an additional We
of 81 600 over the original pr
600 TO carry them through the year, IN
does not reflect any discredit on the pli
,ritv committee or overseer. as every lie
ng IN this department is handled in a ju
" careful and economic manner; but re,
. depression In our only industry has tn
reased the number in need Of help. al.
The water department has done q an
"a 81 4.