The Newtown bee., 1889-12-27
STAMFORD.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.

At the town meeting, Saturday even Ing, to take action on a proposition to light the town, the matter was indefinite ly postponed. A short piece of sewer was voted to be laid from the residence of Mir Baxter to connect with that now laid near the residence of Charles B. Curtis. The action of this meeting seems to afford text from which a sermon might be preached, the theme being, What shall we do to be saw ed from the profound slumber into which Stratford has been plunged for SO many years? Good citizens seem to be welded to the traditions of the fathers and act upon the principle that what was good enough for them Is good enough for those who now fill their places. Other equally good citizens seem to have no desire that the town should be anything else than quiet, pleasant place, in which to spend eight or nine months of the year, then re- moving to the city to enjoy the conven- fences, the lack of which is not felt dur ing the pleasant season that they spend in our midst. These two classes seem determined that those who realize that the world moves and that this is a day of action and progress shall not be allowed to demonstrate to outsiders that we are arousing from our slumbers and are try ing to take proper place in the ranks of wide awake, progressive towns. Our To- cation Is one very desirable. We have any quantity of land which can readily be made available for building purposes. Notice, for instance, what is known as the Booth farm, now owned by Mir Knowlton. No better building sites can be found in Fairfield county. Yet, dur ing the past year or two, the owner has done his best to dispose of 1t for building purposes and could not find buyer. And what seems to be the reason? It looks as If the mechanic who lives in the city and enjoys we'll lighted streets to guide him about during dark night and good dry walk on which he can get to his daily labor and his children to their school could not see sufficient benefits accrulng to himself to exchange all this for q cheap home and from six to eight inches of mud or snow to wade through, for four months in the year, to reach the station and the scene of his daily labor or for his wife and children to reach the post office, store or school house. The farmer from Putney or Oronoque has, need of a walk or a lighted street. He keeps horse and Is seldom from home after dark and the wealthy Summer so- iourner has them, at the time they are needed, in his city retreat. It would seem that the addition of a hundred fam lilies, with the accompanying new houses and improvements, would increase the tax list sufficiently to make good returns to the farmer who objects to such im- provements on account of his increased taxes. The other class, who don't wish any improvements in the town, but would prefer it to remain as it has been, pret- ty village in which to pass quiet months In Summer, we think will some day find themselves in the minority and be oblig- ed to give way to the march of public improvement. In partial proof of this, look at the passenger traffic from our sta tlon since the first of October, 1888, to January l, 1890, period of 15 months, the total number of tickets sold to Bridgeport from this station has reached over l6S, ,000. There are now about 100 regular commuters. Now, fellow towns people, forget your old time prejudices, confess that the world does move and unite in any improvement that will bene- fit those now here and induce others to take up residence in our midst. It may increase your tax bills for a while, or it may jar on the conservative feelings of a life time, but it will be sure to come back to you, like bread cast upon the wa ters, in increased valuation, demand for land and a feeling of satisfaction that you have got out of an old rut and done something for the benefit and comfort of some one besides yourself.