Morning journal and courier., 1891-08-19
BLOCK ISLAND.
Periander Discourses on It's Fences Chance for Investors.
 RIocV TSIlND Aup IT.


 Chance for Investors.
 BLOCK ISLAND, Aug. IF.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 During the year large sums of money have been expended in the erection of fences on Block Island. The individual who in years gone by roamed at large now finds his way barred by formidable fences, which rear themselves on high with solid blanks and cruel wires. There is no more helping the summer girl over the low stone walls of the good old times, which gave such capital opportunity for the display of helping nasculinity and its acceptance by gentle and winsome femininity. There is no more holding open of gates while the beloved passes through with demure twinkle which made you dream of the portals of wedlock. No more assuring glances in the presence of recumbent COWS as if you longed to do battle with wild bulls in her service.
 You must prod wearily in beaten roads where there is sand; where large pebbles rolls; where there are no side paths, or anything in the least romantic or pretty. A barbed wire fence six feet high encloses the bluffs west of the south sight all the way to the road through the center of the island. This land, old visitors may re- member, was years ago bought by syndi- cate who proposed laying out roads and paths; building themselves houses and do- ing all other things which constitute i'm proving. But they did nothing. They seemed to think that simply because they had purchased others would purchase of them at high figures; and thus fortunes would be made without effort. The syn dicate has come to an ignoble end and the land has reverted to the original owner through mortgage foreclosure. The fence may be an expression of the disgust of the original owner at the outcome of the ven ture It may indicate that he is never more to be tempted to part with his prop erty, and that hereafter he proposes en- loving the walks and the views alone. The proprietor of the Spring House has fenced in his possessions down to his bit of shore, so that guests of the Ocean House may not trsmple his few blades of grass and may keep within their own premises. He has also built over the | springs which give his house its name the | ordinary spring pagoda, where the ordina- | " boy dips for the ordinary nickle. The asserting of private rights is rampant It | even goes so far in one instance az the moving of building so as to intercept 8 neighbours view of the sea.
 1 proper enforcing of the meum is to be commended if accompanied by due re- l cognition of the tuum, especially if the | two harmonize and lead to works of pub lie utility. The days when property was and could be held in common have long gone by Deeds, fences, boundaries and legal rights are appurtenances of civiliza- ton and should indicate advance in intel Iigence and manners. It is bit to be feared that the Block Island fences are rather indicative of a growth of private and malicious selhshness which will be Of no value in public interest. There have been no corresponding acts to show that the Blockislsnder has the good of the pub lic at heart. There are no more sidewalks than years ago; no better approach to the beach. While on the beach the same old ramshackle bathing houses stand in the same dilapidated rows and are served by the same inadequate service, 1t would seem as if old ocean, his patience worn out, had at last aroused himself to ven | geance; for he has been throwing up from his depths masses of stones and pebbles and is f1inging them over the beach. In front of the bathing houses are already insurmountable barriers. You have to walk many hundreds of feet further be- fore you can reach the water without dan ger of cutting your toes off. If this con tinue Crescent Beach will be thing of the past and the glory of Block Island will be gone forever.
 If the amount expended in erecting hurtful fences had been put into side walks, proper approaches to the beach and suitable accommodations at the beach there would be large surplus of cash and praise, and Father Ocean might have been
 placated in time. The we'll established DO
 litico- economic principle that contribu-
 tions to public good rebound to private
 profit is not understood on this island
 never has been, and apparently never vii
 be till the whole of it has been taken away from it's present owners and is possessed
 by men of intelligence, enterprise and en the whole island and to do to it wha |, should be done, it would yield many hun ' dred per cent. on the investment It i
 completely discouraging to have seasol after season pass without . thing beinl done to attract. Each year one meets pre- cisely the same obstacles to comfort; tn same intolerable inconveniences and hui
 sances. The island grows but does no
 improve. It is the only place on the whol | NeW EuSlduu cOd6I WHICH C0QGQueS
 show no regard for the demands of mod
 ern civilization and refinement. As COT 7 sequence those who come are either thos l who know little and care less for moder : civilization and refinement or those wh
 find compensation for the loss in the ii 8 lands most extraordinarily salubrious ell
 mate. There is no such air to be breathe g anywhere in the United States. Capita = ists who are tired of prospecting for wes
 ern gold fields and have lost faith in wes a ern railroads might most proftably tur
 their millions in this direction. The ii r flanders will never cooperate. It is not f their blood nor in their training. A
 hope from home sources must be abar doned. The aborigines must be extern . 2 mated, exiled or reduced to servitude.
 " There have already been few attempt ,. made by outsiders, but these attempts $ :, far have been feeble in cash and feeble i
 energy. A land improvement compan # must improve and have cash with whic
 to do it. The Clay Head company b. l, done no mora than the South Bluffs con