The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-12-16
QUESTION OF USE
OF VILLAGE TEAMS
Town Road Commissioner Says They
Are Employed as Much as Is Con
sistent With Economy.

Editor of The Reformer:-
May / say a few words in answer to |
the item appearing in your issue of yes
terday, re the town not using the village
teams.
In Justice to the selectmen they have
repeatedly brought to nay attention the
employing of the village teams and /
have, consistent with proper manage
ment and economy, used them and some
few days ago made an effort to make
more use OF them in connection with the
winter work. l feel that Commissioner
Roberts will bear me out in this.
| wanted to make arrangements to
use the two village teams in connection
with the snow roads and work with a
view of doing away with other help, but
was advised that we could only have the
use OF one team and am compelled to
furnish driver by the town for use of
the horses on the plough, which means
that the village supplies two horses and
one man and the town man and | con-
| slider the town is making a sacrifice by
| this arrangement.
Regarding employing teams at SIS
| a day on the Main street drainage job
permit me to say we pay So day for
each team and they are used on the Job
| only at times and the village team is
used at all times, excepting when the one
regular team can do the necessary work
alone. Since the questio ion of working
the village teams has been criticized
more or less, | would ask your indulgence
to place before the taxpayers the true
situation.
| During the summer months it is not
practicable nor Is it economical from the
taxpayers standpoint because of the fact
that at certain times during the day
they have TO do the watering of the
streets which changes would disorganiZe
the working crew. 1t is customary to
have a certain number of men with so
many teams. If we have the desired
number OF men with the teams engaged
and two teams drop off it leaves us with
a surplus of men for the work required
and since it il out of the question to be
in position TO engage and lay off men
in order to suit the convenience of the
village teams it makes it costly to the
town and taxpayers.
My predecessor, who ably handled the
road affairs of this town, wass kind
enough to explain the village team ques-
ton before leaving; and permit me TO
say we were in hearty accord that it Is
out of the question TO handle any propo-
sition with satisfaction when one has
not entire control of the proposition.
| understand | have been more fortu-
nate than he from the fact that we are
now permitted to take one of the teams
beyond the confines of the village limits.
Since that time the village teams have
been paid the following sums Week
ending Nov. s, s!52; Nov. Is, $22 81 !;
Nov. %, 1913; Nov. %, s3S; Dec 8,
; $54; Dec. -, sl2.
Since it is unreasonable to suppose
that private individual would permit
me to take on and lay otxhis team to
meet the convenience of the village teams
I have done all in ury power to meet The
wishes of the village commissioning con
sistent with the towns requirements.
, Thanking you for the space in your
valuable paper, am,
Yours respectfully,
. CHARLES J. DUDE,
Road Commissioner.