The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-01-05
TOWN MAKES BID
FOR GRAVEL BANK
Sullivan Asks $4,000 but Sc
lectmen Shave That
Somewhat
OTHER GOOD BANKS
ARE AVAILABLE
If One Cannot Be Bought at Reason
able Figure Condemnation Proceed
ings Will Be Brought-Motor Truck
Carriage Cost SIS a Day.

Carriage Cost SIS Day.
One of the most important questions
before the selectmen at the present
time is that of acquiring a gravel bank
for the town, and today an offer was
mailed to Daniel Sullivan naming a
figure which the town would pay for his
gravel bank at the corner of South
Main street and Oak Grove avenue.
Mr.. Sullivan has quoted the select
men price of $4,000, but at a meeting
of the selectmen Saturday night those
officials considered that the price was
too high, and their offer shaves that
figure somewhat. The selectmen do not
feel justified in paying price far in
excess of what the land would be
worth for other purposes, and if Mr..
Sullivan does not accept their offer they
will look elsewhere.
The Sullivan plot is about three acres
in extent, and it has been examined by
engineers and found to be of good
quality for the most part
Two other gravel banks are under
consideration by the selectmen, both of
which are available. One of these has
not been tested, so not much is being
said about it, but on the surface it ap-
pears to be of excellent quality and it
is ample in quantity and is centrally
| located. Unless some previous deal is
! closed the selectnen will have some
test pits sunk next spring to deter
/ mine for n certainty its quality.
Another available bank is in Center
vile, north of the Herrick estate, al
though the heirs are not especially de-
sirous of disposing OF it. The de-
post covers a large territory, and the
quality is good, but there are out
groupings of ledge which reduce the
quantity.
Russell H. Briggs has a considerable
gravel deposit in Centerville, but he
will not set a price on it as he has a
good market for the gravel and prefers
TO sell by the load At present he is
selling to the town and to contractors
The quality is not considered by the
selectmen as quite up TO that of the
other banks mentioned
The acquisition by the town of 8
suitable gravel bank is certain to bt
brought about before long. and if on,
cannot be bought at a reasonable price
the town viii secure it by condemna
tion proceedings.
More gravel is being used every
! year. as the cement work is about five
sixths gravel, the roads are surfaced
with gravel and the tarvia roads ar,
given a gravel dressing periodically
The cost of hauling by motor truck il
SIS day, so it is essential that cen
trally located bank be secured. Las
summer many loads were hauled from
the Walker hank on the north edge o
the town, and while that bank
! available the selectmen think it is to
far away to warrant them in buyin,
it.
: The charge for gravel ranges from
90 cents to 25 cents a cubic yard, an,
if to this is added the SIS day 70
carriage it will be seen that the expens
is considerable. Moreover under th
: present arrangement the larger stone
/ have to be raked out after the grave
e is dumped in the road and have to b
n .carted awav, which further adds to th
y cost When the town buys a grave
a bank it will install separating plan
le and a screening process will separat
the gravel according to the variot
le sizes desired, and the saving thus e
rs fected will go far to offset the hie
g carriage cost.