Connecticut western news., 1882-05-31
the clements of good that are worthy of em-

the elements of good that are worthy of em ulation. In itself It is not altogether wrong It's abuse alone is baneful From it may anG does spring much that pertains to the life business activity. If speculation be not tn. sinews of trade it is the nerves, and the mol, highly organized it be the better for the com munlty in which it is exercised.
 There is speculation and speculation. Ther, is the frothy kind and the steady kind Wltl the former we have naught to do, with tn. latter Canaan should have much to do. B, stable speculation is meant that alert activity which is ever moving from common center for change and growth in all directions Ii IS restless, but sure; varying but not incon stant. Out of it may and must come the best growth oe a town or a community. Any town in Litchfeld County will illustrate this one mans honest speculations have trans formed many an easy-going old borough into an eager, throbblng, growing locality and brought wealth or competency to all classes | therein. By It trade increases, needs multi. ply, business interests develop, land values r'se' transients become permanents, and the common good is served It creates that on which growth feeds, it attracts and retains. Every new man that settles in a community, brought thither by the demand for his labor.
  town that is inestimable in it's value. By such does town truly grow. First must ex- lst the demand, the response to the call will be speedy and the stay permanent. To pro. duce the demand capital must be unlocked. natural resources developed, and common veal as well as personal interest considered. Steady, stable, legitimate speculation will do this.
 Canaan offers opportunities for such com. bination of capital labor and speculation in many ways. In the point of water privilege not many towns can boast better All through the valley in which the town lies. from the head waters of the Housatonic to the Sound the busy hmm of industry speaks of the unlon of natures gifts with man's pow. ers. only at intervals is this activity permit ted to slumber, forces at hand to Waste and capital and energy to languish for lack of push and manly application of mental and physical powers Canaan is 8 broken link in the chain et thrift that makes the Housatonic valley renowned throughout the land.
 Sh0mo ha
 use their money to further schemes in other localities not one whit better situated, ore. ferring to risk with others elsewhere to de. veioplng home industries. A deeper shame rests on those who cast dirt on the advances Qt those who even suggest that something be done to increase the revenue of the town and apply capital to home use. Let a new de. parture be preached in Canaan and all the "quidnuncs' and ''wiseacres" set up such g derlsive shout that the timid proposers of the scheme are frightened into quiet submis. slan and drift along in the sluggish current of local indifference. This has been the recep. tton and outcome of every well studied and honestly organized plan made and presented to the people of Canaan. Any and every speculative project that at best must be for the benefit of all the inhabitants of the town has been frowned down as entirely visionary, senseless and unproductive. Nothing new is wanted iu Canaan All attempts for the un. tried are relegated to the domain of the eter. nal untried, Enterprise is heresy, progress heterodoxy, nasterly inactivity orthodoxy in Canaan.
 There are toe many Rip Van Wrinkles in this town, who drowsily resist progress by ly. ing in the way of it. Their sleep has been and is profound It needs disturbing. Ii they will not wake up, at least they should turnhover and offer their bed for cultivation, If the spirit of progress can ever percolate through the thick skinned change resisters, it will so operate that they will perforce ac. knowledge it's power and move on. Against this spirit the local flight is directed. To re. resist the first step successfully is to thwart any combination of moves. Let the first step be vigorous trick and the change will come quickly enough. Permit one business enterprise to be started ip Canaan by Canaan capital and the stability of the town is an as. sured fact, it's position elevated to command ing height and it's right to respect, power and influence conceded. If 1t is the first step that costs, it is also the first step that counts.
 Among the ingredients lacking in that which goes to make up the spirit of enter prise in Canaan is cohesion, g sticking to- gether of all parts and forces. A single in. stance will illustrate this. The park project was well conceived handsomely worked up aud energetioally pushed as an idea But It lacked, when about to be lifted from the domain of the abstract into that of the con. crete, effectiveness, and after busy "bee" of underbrush clearing, the workers became drones and hiVed tbemSelyrs with their idea till the scheme IS now q by word in sister towns and a source of shame to the we'll wishers ot Canaan. The " 1. A. and similar societies coaIesce when nothing material is to be done, but fail woetulY when 8 practl. cal working out of their tapestry carpet the ories IS demanded. Societies are we'll enough Tn thelr way they are sort of moral s"asion power, beautiful but imperative. No tree ever grew from the planting of a blossom. the hard, uncouth but sturdy seed was the germ.
 The most dolesome and pertiuacious resist er of change in this town will concede frank y and fairly that Canaan has pos Utilities Tn aoint of position location, natural means | md resources. not surpassed by any town in | he county, nor by any along the line of the I R. The same person will also concede hat these possibilities might have been de | 'eloperl and furthered and that the town