Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1889-10-31
WHY REMOVE THE FRNOKs
Some Potent Reasons Against Ths
Project.

Some Potent Reasons Against The
Tothe Editor OF the JouaNkL AND CsuRIER:
Why remove the fence that sncloses our
historic old Greeni Ii there any need of it,
Is it not simply wasteful to remove IT. 1t Is
. becoming fence. It il democratic, yet or
namental. 1t IL substantial. 1t Is of iron.
1t il not deoaying. There is no need of es-
Inmates for repairing 1t, a. In the case of the
old State House. 1t needs no repairs. 1t
was built to stay, and it will last many, many
years as ornamental as 1t is at present, without
hardlya cent for repairs. Common sense
would dictate that some plan of identifying
the Green be adopted and executed before
taking the fence down, II 1t is ever necessary
to take 1t down. Make the improvements
Hrst, and talk about taking the fence down
afterward. While we favor q wise spirit of
progressiveness, We hold that this scheme or
plan ID not . wise one. believe 1t would
be sad blunder to tear down the fence as
the Green is now. Even the simplest i'm.
provement of the Green-grading its not
talked Of. The first CRY is, pull down the
fence. The fence 10 ornamental; dispute IL
If you can, successfully. It is definition;
grassy sward, from utilization with wagon
wheels, truck wheels and express wagons. It
10 exclusive In proper sense, and yet no one
Is excluded. 1t Is as open to the public as
the air we breathe. It ia the peoples Green
to-day. 1t is not leaning fence, nor a
dilapidated fence. It stands erect, plumb
and true. Why tear 1t downt Why commit
such waste of public money! Are there not
ways enough for the use of the public
Ia- A.:
or that improvement being needed. The
fence is no obstruction to view. It binders
no one from seeing all that is to be seen.
The Green is certainly . happy refuge for
nurses and children on all bright days, par
ticularly the summer. Donald g. Mitchell,
I see, fsvors taking down the fence, but
don't do 1t until your improvements
are all made, or at least until the first steps
toward identifying the Green are accomplish
ed. Mr.. Mitchell's home is in the country.
practically, and he needs no fences, perhaps,
cut at his beautiful Edgewood home; but as
to the New Haven Green, let as view that
matter practically. It is In the center of
tceming city and not In the outskirts. The
man or woman who dwells in the center of
crowded city experiences q sensation of relief
ON leaving the turmoil, excitement and hurry
of business, with It's strain, and entering
upon the qwietude of the Green, leaving for
the nonce business tension behind. New
York city would give millions for Just such
Green in it's business center. Beautify the
Green and then talk about the fence ques-
ton.
| Again some talk a. though New Haven was
an overgrown city, a. If the Green was an
encroachmsnt and was needed for business
purposes. Let me commend such to an hour
with Thoreau, or Emerson, or Edwin Ar
mold. Life IL not ali centered In business
blocks and counting rooms. That one spot
Of green In worth millions to New Haven.
New Haven IL not an overgrown city. Few
cities of the size of ours cover q wider area.
Wehave abundant room to spread and srow.
Ask any real estate dealer, or take walk or
drive. into our suburbs. II Is chiefly des-
truotive spirit, not the true spirit of progress
that clamers for tearing down the fence. Itisa
sensational spirit, q spirit akin to vandalism
that calls for this wastefulness, with not q
single Improvement made on the Green it.
self. There are hollows and imperfsctions
that FIRST need attending to. Then bring on
your walks and terraces, your fountains, and
then, talk about making the Green fsnceless
and destitute Of grassy adornmsnt. Don't
forget also that IL will be an expensive job to
tear down the fence, waste OF money and
A unnecessary piece Of work. Fzzoz.