Moreau buys first snow plow in 1920

The automotive age brought new challenges to government officials in Moreau, such as clearing roads of snow and getting the town’s fair share of automotive registration fees.

The Town Board was set to purchase its first snow plow at a cost of $325, the equivalent of $4,259 in 2019 dollars, The Post-Star reported on Feb. 26, 1920.

“The board several years ago made arrangements for the purchase of a plow, but before the plow was actually purchased the firm manufacturing them went into bankruptcy.”

The Town Board also authorized borrowing money to pay excess costs of removing snow from highways, above what was budgeted.

(I presume that without a plow, the town cleared snow by shoveling.)

“There has been a large amount of work this season on account of the numerous storms that have visited this section of the country,” The Post-Star reported.

The Town Board also discussed contacting the state Secretary of State about its method for distributing the local share of motor vehicle license fees.

The state was making payments based on mailing addresses.

The town was not receiving payments for Moreau residents that had a Fort Edward mailing address. The payments were going to Fort Edward instead.