The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-04-02
The Meddler
IF the coat fits you, put it or


Last week The Meddler had it in mind /
to write something about the peaceful
way in which the winters accumula
ton of snow and ice was disappearing.
This week his thoughts naturally turn to
the damage wrought hereabouts by the
Connecticut rivers sudden rampage, for
the subject Is one that has held popular
attention to the exclusion of practically
everything else. Excitement over the
loss of the bridge Sunday night was fol
lowed by discussion of the questions of
liability for the accident and location of
the new structure, and these matters are
now and doubtless will be for some time
to come included under the head OF
timely topics"
On the question of liability for loss
of the bridge The Meddler's opinion is
probably worth no more than that of
any other individual, but he has one
nevertheless He believes there is not
the slightest doubt that the accident was
due to the Vernon dam and that in con-
sequence the Connecticut River Power
| Co.. should expect to stand the loss, as
it doubtless does whether or not it add
mits the liability. Whatever theories
may be evolved with a view of shifting
the blame Cor the ice jam on the Boston
& Maine railroad bridge south of this
town, or on the piers which hold the
Ipulpwood boom few miles farther
south, the fact remains that the barrier
which caused the jam in the river oppo-
site this village was the solid ice above
the dam. And it was the accumulation
of broken ice against this barrier which
caused all the trouble above, rather thar
any unusual volume of water. Had the
river been open from Broad brook soutl
there is very little likelihood that dam
age would have resulted from its break
up; certainly the extent of the havoc
would have been nothing like what i
was.
! |. Whether the Power Co., officials vii
decide to acknowledge frankly their Ii
ability for loss of the bridge or attemp
to evade it is a matter for them to de
eide but The Meddler believes the select
. men of Brattleboro and Hinsdale hay
e adopted the proper course in deciding t
e hold the company responsible. 1t
= iprobable that other property owners VIII
t have suffered damage and loss will tax
! a similar course, including both Centre
n corporations.
: OF equal popular interest with til
Question of responsibility is that of Il
cation of a new bridge. There are
good many persons who contend tha
the proper place for such structure
10 from Walnut street to the high land Q
re the mountain slope north of the islam
I'd They argue that bridge so locate
le would be beyond any possible damas
~
\, by water or ice, would do away with
e, grade crossing of the railroad and won
y cost little if any more than a bridge {
the old location raised nigh enough
= olviate future trouble. There is consi
elable objection to the Walnut sire
plan, however, on the reasonable grou1
that it would divert traffic from the bus
ness part of the town and in effect pl
- Brattleboro considerable distan
Inf further from the towns to the SOU
be on which it is dependent for trade. n
t. a few persons, in fact, believe that if
'" new location is to be chosen it should
. further south rather than north.
though there is no unanimity of sem
b. ment as to the most feasible point Ju
hg at present the idea which seems to ha
I'm :, , .
" the most general approval is that of
bridge on the present site, at a level a