The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-08-15
INSIDE INFORMATION
Why the Village Improvement Society
Is Limited In Its Efforts.

Us Limited In Its Efforts.
Editor OF the Banner.-You ,nouir,
as 10 the whereabouts OF the VIilao,
Improvement society, while a distress
ed public Is crying out against the
Wretched condition OF our streets. and
wishing that the crowds OF strangers
brought here by the new trolley need
not see 30 many ragged spots ana nm,
kempt corners In our otherwise attrac
tive village.
The Village Improvement society a.
right here In the midst OF this mnItI
tude OF needs and Is suffering from
the clearness OF vision which emphas.
ICES each and every bit OF unslghtII.
ness passes, apparently, as an unseen
blemish before the trained blindness
OF those whose care could and sbouId
change ugliness into beauty ON their
own premises.
tour society-detects a hundred
pieces OF judioious trimming and tIdy.
ing and simple decorating which IL
longs TO do. knows how TO do. and
would joyfully do were It's treasury
/ comfortably filled, instead OF mereIy
not empty" Let me open that treas.
ury for public inspection.
Each year the town votes 10 us stO0
Tor use In the cemetery; we nav on,
annually nearly 5000 for It's care. This
care means the care OF IFS drlyeways
supplying the gravel or ashes 10 wash.
90 out spots and the occasional NOV.
ing OF all lots whose owners viii NOT
or cannot pay for their regular caro
on course all self supporting and pub.
NC spirited lot owners pay for weekly
moving and trimming.
Membership fees. nifty $50, eents
annually from about thirty ladies'. are
our only other fixed income. though nm
III the present year. n. W. Putnam has
sent US what was equivalent 10 afty
t5O) dollars a year since our begin.
ming. II Is plain why We feel helpless
IN lace OF the many things 10 be done
great and small. which even a modest
income would enable us 10 do.
We are hampered too, by property
owners who. while neglecting 10 care
TOT their own places. are quick 10 ~.
sent interference from outsiders.
Our main effort lately has bec, On.
wards squirting individuals 10 take
prlae IA neatness about home premis.
-, however humble the dwelling.-and
oareiessness seems uncommonly evi.
dent TO US this season. We have no
power TO prevent barns and lots being
deiaced by glazing advertising DOS.
ters. humiliatlng as Il Is 10 Us 10 hear
the surprised comments of stranger
upon the use Of property In the center
OF our village for these flaming nancrs
And We do not admit 20 these crltIcs
mat much Of this DETACHMENT A done
by our well TO do citizens who tbus
ada ten or twenty dollars 10 their I'M.
COMES aud make pretty places hldeous
We did interfere seriously with the
business Of advertising ON Trees hg,
1annot arrest a man for defaclng his
3Nh uee-we can only protect trees
rom vandals not owning them: ana
some OF the few remaining trees on
'oor Main street are plastered By their
We do not exist as n street cleaning
bureau, yet a few years ago 40 inuag.
rated the weekly cleaning OF ar
'rosawalks. paid for the work througb
me season. then the village took n nm
md stu continues IL.
Our organization was formed In fSSg
men the cemetery park was purchas.
q and opened by generous hearted
iuzens who laborcd with the VIllar.
improvement society. This great im.
stands as a monument 10
ar society.
We are Just now concerned over the
isgraceful condition Of the east end
the cemetery and the roadside az.
Tder' seeing use for several hundred
oilars In trimming shrubs. straight.
ming lettering fence, relaying A Tor.
NIX stone wall and placing Eultabi.
osts NJ openings. Through an unex.
ected gift We are able to do a little
THIS region and hope 10 build stone
ate posts soon. We wish the people
specially owners Of lots on that east .
All would sumter there and note the 4
ceds and they may find work for
lelr own hands
Hoping you know more about the {
mage Improvement society for this o
tier. ] remain. D
Yours truly. c
Jennie A Valentine