The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-10


 comes the first selectman to put up a sign, Five Miles of Unim- proved Road. Travel at Your Own Risk"
 Attention Universe! The County Council of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States met at the Community Hall, Southbury, on Sunday, December 8th. Lead ing county, state and national of ficials attended. Newton Post, No. 1907, with their Ladies' Auxiliary, were hosts. Refreshments were served following the business meeting. Plans for the year ahead were discussed and old comrades renewed arguments that started in France, Belgium, Italy, Siberia and on the high seas.
 This year the Veterans of For eign Wars are facing many serious problems. The youngsters are again mustered for duty. Going away, these new soldiers look with in- creaSing respect on the men who have also served. To them they turn for advice, and leadership Veterans know soldering, camp life and discipline. This is especially true of those men who wear the bronze Cross of Malta emblem of the V. F. w., because only men who have served in wartime on foreign soil or hostile waters can qualify for membership.
 Mere candidates for judge of the town court have been suggested to this column and are hereby mem toned. Oliver Gilbert, an experi- enced jurist, sportsman, mechanic and Democratic registrar of voters should be considered. Mir. Gilbert knows about almost anything that might come up, except black wal nut trees. We've had some diff ference of opinion about walnuts, but Oliver rates with us, just the Same) Deke Beardsley, former soldier, contractor, family man, and level-headed citizen deserves ar opportunity. NIT. Beardsley is a taxpayer and a faithful party worker. Deke would make an ex- cellent judge.
 The townsfolk are wondering who owns state land. When the new bridge was constructed over the Pomperaug. the old abutments were left intact and a park was created, handicapped and seeded down. Now, on the old bridge foundation on the left bank of the stream. garage has been built by a property owner who has also built a fence around a portion of the park. Adjoining property own- CTS are considering fencing the rest of the park and possibly erect ing tea room or a tavern there under the shade of state-planted trees.
 What serious minded citizens are wondering is, what became of the bench mark on the old bridge footing? A bench mark is some thing that surveyors use to start lines or contours from. A bench mark is usually set by the Coast and GeOdetic Survey. In years past, bench marks were almost sa- cred and nobody monkeyed with them without proper authority. If our bench mark on the banks of the P0mperaug has been disturbed how are we to know what our elevation above sea level may be?
 That park has been named The Bridge Plaza. It's an ideal spot for picnics, for travelling medicine shows, or for pig auctions. All of our taxpayers helped develop that park and everybody should have the right to enjoy it. Years ago, Q travelling photographer arrived here in Britain and made his pitch on the church lawn. Flushing dam- sels were photographed. new babies were exposed to the lens. Then somebody had to spoil the fun by asking the picture-taker to show his credentials. He had none. If that fellow ever comes back, we've got just the place for him to set up his tent at Bridge Plaza.
 Times change. Folks like Charley Bradley move away and others arr rive. Bridges that were once strong enough to hold up . f0ur-h0rse load of saw logs are destroyed and new PWA bridges built to replace them. That's progress. we supp pose, but wouldn't it be swell lf we could just turn back Che years to that memorable election when cars ceuld be hired for s4 and votes cost sS each? Things were evener then.
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