Lookback: March 31, 2008

March 31, 2008 04:00 am

— 25 YEARS AGO -- 1983
The Northway's emergency telephone system becomes a thing of the past. State legislators chose not to include the system's $230,000 operating budget during fiscal 1983-84.
In order to avoid a state-ordered salary that it feels is too high, the Essex County Board of Supervisors passes a resolution making the office of district attorney part-time beginning Jan. 1, 1984.
District Attorney John McDonald's application to Essex County for $28,873 in back pay is withdrawn, at least for now. It is withdrawn pending conferences between attorneys.
A federal commission recommends the closing of 17 ports of entry along the U.S.-Canadian border -- three of them located in the Northeast. Local ports targeted are Cannon Corners, Churubusco and Jamieson's Line, near Malone.
50 YEARS AGO -- 1958
The Clinton County budget requires a larger tax levy that the budgets of 50 other counties in the state chosen at random in a Press-Republican county government survey. The other counties had populations roughly comparable to Clinton.
Taxpayers in Rouses Point vote nearly 7-1 to install a new $430,000 sewage disposal system. The final count revealed 290 voters in favor and only 45 against.
A curtailment of operations at the Sheridan Iron Works in Champlain is announced as a result of economic conditions. The curtailment will involve the laying off of some 30 workers. Hope is expressed that the layoffs will be temporary.
A threatened strike by the Builders and Common Laborers Union is averted as members accepted Champlain Valley Contractors Association offers. Members voted to accept a 35-cent-an-hour pay increase over a two-year period.
75 YEARS AGO -- 1933
Hope for the speedy construction of a Rouses Point-Alburg vehicular bridge by the states of New York and Vermont is dissipated when the Vermont Legislature adjourns without the introduction of a bill that had been prepared to enable the Lake Champlain Bridge Commission at act on the matter.
One road project on which there has been no delay even during winter weather is the Whiteface Mountain Memorial Highway. The road builders kept at work on the high side of the mountain despite cold, wind and snows.
Fire believed to have been caused by an accumulation of rubbish on the third floor of the Weed and Moore business block at 36-40 Clinton Street, Plattsburgh, causes damage and loss of stock estimated at $10,000.
The Montcalm Landing Station of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad is being changed to the Fort Ticonderoga Station.

100 YEARS AGO -- 1908
Five hundred fifty miners and laborers are temporarily thrown out of employment at Lyon Mountain by the shutting down of the mines. The shutdown is for a period of 20 days and is due to over production of ore.
Paul Smith expects to have the trolley system up and operating about May 15. The new car is nearly completed at Schenectady and is one of the finest to be built of its kind in the country.
Charles Dormer, a 16-year-old boy being held to await action of the grand jury on a charge of grand larceny, is found by the sheriff to have attempted to dig out of the Clinton County Jail.
The new Masonic Temple at Malone is dedicated by the Masonic grand master of the state.

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