The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-08-08
The MeddLer
"U the coat fits you, put it on


consideration in the letter which The
Reformer printed yesterday from Coun
ty Road Commissioner David T. Perry
suggesting that Brattleboro's memorial
to the participants in the world war
take the form of a memorial bridge
across West river. All that he says
about the need of a new bridge at this
point is true beyond question. The
present structure is not only unsuited
| to the heavy traffic to which it is being
subjected daily but its location is such
that the southern approach can never
be made safe. When the time comes
for the erection of new bridge across
| West river-and that time cannot be
postponed much lenger-it will have to
be so located as TO eliminate the dan
gerous underpass at the foot of the hill
and this probably cannot be done in
any better tay than that which Mr..
Perry suggests.
The matter of new bridge across
West river is one that has come up
tat intervals for many years. In 1908
when the construction of the Vernon
tdam and the consequent change in wat
Ter levels made necessary a change in
1.-The height of the present structure the
matter of a new bridge was carefully
investigated by the selectmen. One of
the, plans which they suggested was a
Ideck bridge extending from the Eaton
place across the river and above the
West river railroad tracks to the Put
lncy road beyond the Bradley farm.
The estimated cost of such bridge
{ with trestle approaches and a concrete
floor was $4,000, but when the propo-
: Isition was put before the voters at the
tannual meeting it was turned down
with hardly any discussion, the general
opinion at that time being that the
{ Iold bridge would serve a good many
E lyears longer, as it has.
Needless to say, estimates made ter
tyears ago have little if any bearing OF
: Ipresent-day costs, and it is doubtful
Iif the type of bridge discussed in 1905
would prove most desirable now. The
fact remains, however, that new
bridge must be erected before long, an(
as Mr.. Perry, suggests, there is a posi-
: bility that considerable help might b.
Forthcoming from the state. Indeed
in view of the federal aid that ha
lbeen promised for the highway improve
ment between this town and Putne,
i it is not unreasonable to hope that fed
leral aid might be secured toward TIL,
construction of new bridge, especial
r ly it it is true, as rumored, that mill
It itary considerations have bearing OF
e the selection of the highways which
), the government spends funds upon.
J. As to the idea of having a new bridg
e serve as a world-war memorial Their
e will doubtless be wide variety o
opinions, but there can be no gainsay
ling Mr.. Perry's statement that tn
better the highway approaches to
town the better impression given tn
r. travelling public and that "the locatio
is of such memorial at the best entranc
n to our town would reflect the pride an
:. enterprise of it's citizens for all time.
4
tie If the patriotism of some Brattlt
er boro residents is to be judged by TIL
q appearance of the American flags dis
n played at their homes it is pretty "ras
ged' patriotism The attention of til
Meddler has been called to what n
d mains of the American flag foatin
a. from one of the flag poles on the to
Of of Island Park pavilion and to anotl
er on a home from which it is sal