Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-05-15
VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT.

HrataIebOrO aad Its Possibilities"
THE MEETING TUESDAY EvRNING-MR NORTH.
RoP's ADDRESS - ORGANIZATION OF VILLAGE
IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.
An audience numbering probably about
300 persons gathered in the town hall Tues
day evening in response to the announcement
OF q lecture by b q, Northrop, LII D., hav-
ing IN view the formation Of Brattleboro
Village improvement Society. Col. L. K.
Fuller, acting as chairman OF the evening,
briefly stated the objects had in view, eI.
pressed his hope for the success Of the move
ment. aud introduced Mr. Northrop, who
spoke for an hour on "Brattleboro aud Its
Possibilities"
Mr. NOrthrOp's Address.
In opening his address the speaker said
that drive Of an hour and half about town
during the afternoon had been a revelation to
him. He thought he knew something about
the attractiveness Of BrattlebOro from a for
mer visit here, but the work OF development
and improvement which had gone on vas n
surprise. He fully concurred in the remark
OF the chaiIman that "GOd had given Brattle-
boro for location one of the most beautiful
spots on the earth" He had been struck
with the signs OF taste, OF thrift and beauty
everywhere apparent In a town where one
firm alone employed some 500 artisans, he had
been surprised to fnd that there were no
homes OF artisans in the ordinary sense OF
that term. All of these we're homes showing
comfort intelligence and cultivation within.
He had been glad TO notice that the streets
we're generally in good condition, and that
the fences were rapidly disappearing. showing
that the battle with the horses aud the cows
had been fought out. He congratulated the
town on its common, which bad been so
Oreatlv imnVOvaA nd I'll
pleasure. ground for the free use of all the
people OF the place. Especially did he CON
graduate the people on the enterprise, public
spirit and generosity shown by one of their
number, Mr.. Crowell, in opening Highland
park for the common enjoyment OF the CON-
munity, and in undertaking the construction
OF reservoir which guaranteed to the village
an abundant supply of the purest water.
Turning TO the discussion OF the general
subject OF village improvement, Mr.. North.
rop said that the earliest movement in this
direction on record took place in New Haven,
Conn, 100 years ago, when James Hillhouse
gave $500 to grade the common aud plant
trees, and the outcome of that movement Is
seen to-day in the magnificent elms which
have made that city noted the world over.
But the beginning Of that movement in re-
cent years, which has resulted in the forms
ton of more than 200 village improvement
societies, was 10 Stockbridge, Mass, and its
originator was Mary Hopkins, niece of Pres
ident Hopkins. The location of StockbridRe
is in itself delightful, and that movement, BY
seconding nature, has made 1t the most beau
hful town in Massachusetts. Beginning
purely in an impulse for improvement and
adornment for their own sake, it has resulted
IN great economic advantage, q return 10 dol
lars and cents, which has compensated many
times over for all the outlay involved. Men
OF wealth from the great cities have been
drawn to the town by its beauty and attract
iyeness and have built elegant residences
there, and the outlay of their money and the
payment OF their taxes has been Of great pecu-
mary advantage to the residents. Numerous
incidents similar to this where rural adorn-
ment, by making the town attractive for resi-
dence, has brought large and unanticipated
money gain, were cited and particulars given
IN detail-As at Williamstown and Great Bar
ringtOn, Mass, Clinton, N. Y, and In many
places In New Jersey.
Besides its benefits in the direction thus
intimated, Mr.. Northrop said an improvement
society encourages public spirit and an active
interest In ones own town and home-a spir-
It which lies at the root of patriotism and love
OF country. Daniel Webster, in his love for
the old home of his childhood, and William
Cullen Bryant in what he did for his native
town OF Cummington, were cited az examples
OF what this spirit has done-a spirit which
wins universal admiration and respect. Such
societies promote good fellowship; they bring
tue people together on common ground and
develop and establish that true spirit which
should rule in our community life and which
hnds its best expression in the motto OF the
Swiss csntons, Zone for All; All for One"
One OF the most important results wrought
by these societies is in the care which thew
compel for the sanitary condition of toWps
thus preventing numberless cases of sicknesa
and death from unwholesome surroundings.
They cultivate taste for beauty, neatneas
and ornamentation In ones SURROUNDINGS
They show that, given certain sum of mon.
ey, 1t is as easy and as cheap 10 build with II
q mouse which is oommodious, and at the same
time pleasure to the eye, as to make an ugly
dwelling whose only model Is an enlarged dTv
goods box. Many Brattleboro streets he
speaker said, are already lined with trees but
there are yet many gaps which should be ELL
cd. In this connection valuable suggestions
were given. The rule must be TO plant those
trees which experience has proved 10 be best
adapted to the local soil and climate. The
tulip tree-the common "white wood"-was
one OF the most beautiful trees after the elm
For rapid growth TO cover barren spaces no
tree exoels the European larch, and it's timber
Is remarkable for durability. In Venice the
lareh Is used for tying-posts for gondolAs, re-
sistlng both air and water for years, and in the
palaces OF the old doges there are TO day laroh
hmbers and easements which retain their
soundness unimpaired. Yearling larohes can
be bought in any number at 81 per thousand.
Much stress was laid on the caution not TO
plant trees Of too old growth. Experienced
foresters prefer yearlings 10 older trees at the
same prices, because in a few years time the
younger trees outstrip the larger ones I'm
growth. The reason for this is that with the
little trees one gets the rootlets as we'll as the