Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-06-19
Thnt RniIrnnhRn

Last Wednesday, when the directors and
managers OF the Vermont Valley railroad
were in town, on the occasion of the annual
meeting of the company, the opportunity
was embraced to call together the property
holders who are Interested in the improve
ment of the bank behind the east side stores
for consultation with the railroad people.
The subject of what is necessary to be done
there was discussed freely and it was unani-
mously agreed that some steps TO ward perma-
nent improvement should be taken at once.
In view of the Importance of this subject to
the people of Brattleboro, and having refer
enoe also to such expressions as we're made
at this consultation, we believe it essential
that brief statement covering the whole
matter should be made.
To begin with, this unsightly bank is now
for the first time really ready for permanent
Improvement. The erection of the Hooker
and Ryther buildings has completed the abut-
ting property from the town hall down. II
seems that it is very uncertain where the di-
Viding line between the railroad road. bed and
the abutting real estate lies The first thing
10 be done, therefore, is to put on a surveyor
and have the line defined. Either the sur
veyor or some other competent man should
also say on what line the mutual interests of
the railroad company and the property hold
ers require retaining wall to be built, and
he should indicate the necessary height and
strength of this wall. These essential pre-
llminary facts having been obtained, another
consultation of all the parties in interest
should be held, when a mutual agreement
could be reached as to the part each should
do or pay for. At such meeting the matter
of filling in behind the wall and grading and
turing would naturally come up, and full
understanding could be reached as to the
manner of completing the improvement. If
the railroad company need greater width of
land under the bank than they now have we
believe the AUDITORS will freely concede them
all they may require
On the part of the property holders It
should be said that they all express an earnest
wish to have the improvement made, and are
willing to do their full share toward it. None
OF them claim that it is thing which be-
longs to the railroad company or companies
to do alone. We say companies, because the
SSAhPohy1 hb l6bbb6B OF Llo
narrow gauge road, will undoubtedly come in
for share of the work and expense. The
work must be mutual one of all the parties
in interest. Public sentiment in Brattleboro
is aroused on the subject as never before and
demands that something be done.
At the meeting on Wednesday it was sug-
gested that the bank could be improved"
by clearing of the rubbish, putting on lit
tie soil here and there, and seeding it down.
1t Is true that this would be temporary i'm.
Provement and make the place less a men
ace to the public health but it would not be
permanent. Grass could not be made to
grow on such slope, and in a very brief
time things would drop back to their old con.
ditiOn, and all this agitation would have TO
be repeated. When once the improvement
Is made in workmanlike manner il is done
with forever. II will take care of itself and
nobody would think of disfguring the place
with rubbish. The time to do the work ia