The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-05-16
ENTER PROTEST TO
10000 GAL. "GAS' TANK
Some Property Owners Near Boyce Lot
on North Main Street Were
Heard BY City Council.

Protest against the location Of 20,
900 gallon gasoline storage tank on the
west side of the Boyee property lot, ad
iacent to $40 North Main street, was
voiced at special hearing before the
Barre city council last night by the
owners OF property just north sof the
proposed site, the objectors being Mrs
u. 4. Callaghan and Mrs. Almina
Ahern. who, together with Mr.. Gala
CHAN, based their protest on the ground
that the tank would be a fire hazard
and that their tenants would object
and that il would not be an ornament
To the surroundings The council, after
more than an hours consideration, de-
eided to postpone action on the appli
cation of divers Battery station until
direct word from the insurance com
panies had been secured.
Those who protested said that il was
not a fiji place for gasoline tank in
the thckly settled part of the city and
on Main street and that their nforma-
tion was that the tank would increase
insurance rates whereabouts. Would you
want big gasoline tank right IN front
Of your property was the question
they put to various members OF the
city council. The reply Of some was
that they might not think it desirable
to have big gasoline tank. or even
public garage in front of their prop
erty. but If there was no fire hazard
they could not well object. So Is a
gasoline tank fire menace is the
question on which will probably hinge
the granting Of the building permit.
When called upon for his viewpoint,
C. A. Oliver, who intends to put in the
large tank, said that the risk from fire
was negligible, SO far as he had been
able to learn; that dealers in gas
tell him there is a small chance of fire
starting in a well lI-built and well-kept
that If from static electricity a flre
starts in a tank il can be easily smoth-
cred by throwing wet blankets over
the manhole on the top; that he per
sonalIy had seen large tanks in thickly
settled parts OF large cities and near
railroad lines, too.
A. A. Boyce stated that an insur-
anee man had told him personally that
IL a tank il placed on the Boyce lot
there would not be an increase OF in
surance rates in consequence. Both he
and Mr.. Oliver said that no deal had
been closed whereby the latter was 70
build there although the matter had
been talked over.
The Boyce lot, so.ealled, which. by
the way, is still the property of the
Bovee estate. has large vacant lot
north of the Boyce house, the lot hay-
inc about 100 feet depth. Mr.. Oliver
proposed TO set his tank, either above
or under ground, on the rear Of the
lot. tearing down George Mann's old
stoneshed to make room for rail
road siding from the Montpelier g.
Wells River main line, said siding to
run about 30 feet into the lot in order.
to facilitate filing; piping to run to
n selling station nearer the front OF
the lot on Main street, the station 10
be reached by covered driveway from
Main street so that pumping at the
curb would be eliminated; the station
TO be enclosed with fence Of such
sturdy breastworks Ms TO keep out in
truders and careless persons. Mr.. Oil
yer said he hoped to have a station
which would improve the looks Of the
lot
The petitioner did not know whether
ne, should prefer n tank under ground
or above ground; it was about $3.50
with him and he awaited the pleasure
OF the city council in that respect--if
the council should say under ground,
all right, if above ground, the same.
A whole lot of somewhat extraneous
discussion entered into the hearing,
with the city council listening. both be
cause il was more or less interesting
and because the members of the coun-
eli really wanted TO do what seemed
to be the fain thing 10 all concerned.
II was with this latter idea IN mind
that, after hearing the pros and cons,
the council decided TO postpone action
tin more information from the insur-
anee companies. had been secured. The |
hearing adjourned at $50.