Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-04-04
WOMEN APPOINTED
TO TWO BOARDS
New Board of Aldermen Tackles
City's Business-Matter of
Contract for Electricity for
Municipal Light Plant Left
With a Committee

The new board Of aldermen met Monday
evening and for more than three hours
wrestled with the city business AFFAIRS.
President Luck, whose mother died in
the morning, was absent and Alderman
Mansur presided in his place.
Among the things which took up the
attention Of the board was the coming trial
In supreme court Of the suit Of e. ].
Walker against the city Of Burlington.
Martin s. Villas was present to argue for
considering a settlement in the case. He
took the stand that to try the case In the
supreme court would cost more than to
settle it with the plaintiff. The case has
to do with some property owners In the
southern part Of the city Of whom Walker
Is one who wish to have the city build
new street. The claim that years ago
when O'Neil, McSweeney & Andrews
bought the tract of land south of Spruce
street the map was laid out with a street
to be known as O'Neil street and the map
was a matter Of record for 10 years. Walk
er, among others, bought lots on the
land and some of them erected homes
under the assumption that the street
would be cut through at certain point.
The street on which they constructed their
homes was used freely for pedestrians and
sometimes for teams. There were no OBJ
staces and the street seemed sure
thing.
When the city did put street through
It was at an entirely different point than
was anticipated and the rear OF their
homes was the part which was on the
street. They now seek to have the city
cut through a street from st. Paul street
to South Winooski avenue. This would
give them a frontage. 1t appears that
the street would be only about 200 feet
long and would oblige the city to buy
some land in addition. The project has
been up before and refused by the street
commissioners. 1t was then taken to
county court and the proposition was
again thrown down.
Monday night Mr.. Vilas's suggestion
that a commission be appointed to con-
slider the matter was strongly opposed by
Alderman Woodbury., who could not see
any advantage in the city's taking on an
other worthless street to constitute an
expense. The matter was left just where
1t was.
JUICE FOR CITY LIGHTING PLANT.
The matter of the contract with the
Burlington Light & Power Co., which
had been left over from the preceding
month, was another subject Of impor-
lance to be considered. The contract
expires on April and the subject Of a
short or long term contract comes up
at that time. The matter was finally dis
posed Of when it was voted to have Alder
men Woodbury., Caisse and Dolan, who
have the matter in hand, consult with the
electric light people and report back
to the board at a special meeting the
facts and best rates which could be
obtained. Alderman Dolan thought that
there should be a meeting of the citizens
regarding the matter Of the renewal Of the
contract to ascertain their sentiments.
Alderman Caisse said that IL there were
such ameeting any proposal to make a
contract with the Power company would
be turned down, regardless Of it's merits.
report from the fire commissioners
was read which asked that the water
department be ordered to make some
alterations in the system which would
give the high pressure, which now sup
plies a part Of the hill for fire pur-
poses, a wider range of territory. At the
present time there are only about %
pounds Of pressure for Mt. st. Mary's
convent and about the same for st.
Joseph's school at the end Of North
Prospect street. Other large buildings
also were endangered and it was pointed
out that the change for the better could
be made economically. A committee was
ordered to investigate the advisability.
The fire commissioners also asked that
the allowance for uniforms be raised
80 that the maximum would be $685. This
also was ordered investigated.
Alderman Caisse brought in a motion
to raise the salaries of the mayor and
city attorney to $1,000. The bill also had
the feature OF providing for additional
work and office allowance The matter
will be referred to the salary committee.
when one Is appointed.
TWO WOMEN APPOINTED.
3 Other business transacted was the con-
hrming OF the appointment of Miss Mollie
Mower to the library commission and
Mrs. Nellie Flynn to the park commits.
sion.
Applications from number for per-
mission to operate trucks of capacity
more than that allowed by the ordinance
were read. On account of the danger to
bridges 1t was not deemed best to grant
the permits, and the question as to
whether the board had power to do 30
arose. 1t was decided that because of the
number OF applications which are being
received date would be set on which
state Highway Commissioner Bates could
be present at a hearing. The hearing will
probably be held April II.
The garden committee and suner-
intendent Of Schools Chttenden appeared
before the board and asked for an ap-
preparation to aid in the work of school
gardens and they received big surprise
when the amount $500, which was all that
was asked for. was increased to 500. on
motion of Alderman Dolan, and the
motion was carried unanimously. Mr..
Chittenden told of the products of the
school gardens which were worked under
very adverse conditions last summer, but
which produced. among other vegetables.
l,65O bushels Of potatoes, go bushels Of
tomatoes and 5000 pounds of squash.
There were a few applications for ner.
mission to put up signs and oil pumps on
the street These were for the most ma RI
granted, except where there was soma
fault In the manner of making ont tho
application
BILLS PAID.
The principal bills ordered paid were az
follows:
Water department March statement.
$3,06.32; electric light department March
statement, Sc. 149'0 fire department, March
statement. $i17.4l fire department March
payroll, $2,4A41; fire department March
statement, (call mem. $1s2; charity de-
partment. March statement $1,21839; H.
brary department, March statement
ss65.67: police department. March payroll,
S1,967.34; Edward Merchant, labor for