The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-08-11
Proposed by w. HI. VintOn
in 1908 When Plans Were
Put Before Voters
EDWARD C. CROSBY
ENDORSES PROJECT
Drawings Made Ten Years Ago to Be
Put on Exhibition in Window of
Thomas Pharmacy-State and Fed
eral Aid Likely to Be Available.

Editor of The Reformer:-
| notice in your issue of August
communication from D. T. Perry re-
garding the West River highway, and
suggesting new bridge across West
river in place of the present wooden
bridge, and that now was the time to
build it, as aid by the state and United
States government might be obtained
at this time; also advancing the idea
of making it a memorial bridge in place
of building or any other memorial
that the committee might suggest. This
last idea is original with Mr.. Perry and
| most heartily agree with him.
The plan or idea of new bridge at
West river to straigbten the highway,
doing away with a low underpass ard a
dangerous approach to the present
bridge, is not new or original with Mr..
Perry, but is an old idea renewed and
am very glad that Mr. Perry has
! again brought the matter to the at
tention of the people of Brattleboro.
| The suggestions should take definite
| form and some action be taken by the
town at proper time and some plan de-
| vised for getting aid from the state
and United States government as sug-
gested
/ Regarding the suggestion of Mr.. Per
Try, it might be well to take a look
backward and see that this project was
| (by some) thought needful as far back
as 1908. AT that time W. H. Vinton
| was chairman of our board of select
men, and the matter of repairing the
] old wooden bridge at West river came
tup. Mr.. Vinton, with several engineera
looked the location over, taking into
account the condition of the old bridge
aid position of the railroad tracks,
dangerous curves, bad grade, etc. and
decided the proper thing to do would
be TO suggest a new bridge about I25
feet west of the west side of the pres
ent bridge, a bridge that would have
a roadway 30 feet above the surface of
the water, passing over the railroad
at the north end This provided for
nearly level grade from the Eaton
place until the railroad was crossed :
then small grade from there 10 the
Bradley barn, making nearly straight
road. As Mr.. Perry saws rock foun-
dation on both sides of the river can
easily be seen.
Mr.. Vinton was so impressed with
the need of such a bridge that he sug-
gested to several that they prepare
plans and estimates of cost for such a
bridge as would be satisfactory and
suitable for the place. And /. with
others, did prepare a plan employing
L. L. Davis of Northampton, Mass. tc
make surveys, plans, etc. / have for
gotten just what it cost me, but
think around sl25. The plan was sub
mitted to the salectmen and approved
by them personally. The matter wa.
brought to the attention of the voters
+ asking for an appropriation of about
$4,000, TO be expended upon a new
bridge at West river. The appropria
tion was considered large by the vot
ers and the matter was turned dowr
: and vote taken to repair the OLE
bridge, which was done, and the re
:. pairs at that time and since have KEEP
the bridge safe for travel until tn.
: present time.
However, as everyone knows, tn,
traffic has increased. Heavier loads ar,
transported and swifter modes of trave