Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-05-29

without committing trespass This con.
dition is wrong, and should be remedied
while the opportunity is open. The pro-
per course would seem to be for the viii
lage to acquire the title to some tract of
land, not necessarily a large one, on
the banks of the stream. This could be
maintained as public picnic ground and
would not necessarily involve any ex-
pense whatever. Perhaps some public
spirited citizen will present such a piece
of shore property to the village. Perhaps
the time will come when such piece of
land can be bought at a reasonable price.
Whenever and however the opportunity
comes it should not be allowed to pass.
BY all means let Middlebury have a good
park or picnic ground on the bank of
Otter Creek and open to all citizens, rich
or poor at all times.
ESTABLISHMENT OF A PUBLIC DUMP.
l am informed that no public dump
has ever been established for Middlebury.
1t seems to have been the custom to get
rid of rubbish surreptitiously or by spe-
cial favor or in some other more or less
irregular manner. This is quite wrong,
and the remedy is SO simple that the con-
dition should not longer exist. Such
place for the disposal of refuse should be
provided at once, even if it be necessary
to buy small piece of land for this spe-
cial purpose.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS.
1t should be clearly understood that
the improvement of a village like Middle
bury is not accomplished in day nor in
a year Unless village improvement is
something more than a passing enthusi-
asm 1T is not worth while at all. Unless
your society is to be a permanent one
and is to have a permanent influence
in the affairs of NIiddlebury it will be
better for you to disband at once. l be-
lieve all of you are determined to keep
the work going, and l sincerely hope that
the improvement of Middlebury will be
the lifelong effort of every man, woman
and child in the place. There must al
ways be some leaders, and hope those
now moving in the matter will have the
courageand patience to continue year af-
ter year in spite of the inevitable dissap-
pointments and criticisms.
From the very nature of the case
therefore your plans should be as far
able to accomplish some definite and
visible results Immediately it is even
more important to lay off intellgently
many large Improvements of so great a
nature that they cannot be accomplished
without the help of many years.
In many of the Improvements which
you neutrality-suspicious. in majority of
them-the good sense and practical iudg-
ment of your own citizens will direct
you to the best possible results. In
certain number of cases however YOU
will need expert advice; and l wish par
ticularly to remind you that the COM
mon mistake is that of neglecting such
expert service. 1t is very seldom in
America that matters are left in the
hands of experts which might be more
economically or effectively managed
without their help. In your street work
therefore, in your landscape gardening,
in public works involving architecture,
in your tree work, and in all other enter
prlses of this sort you will find it the
soundest economy to employ the best
professional advice which you can COM
mand
A great part of village improvement
consists in public education. Most peo-
pie wish to do the best they are able.
Thus whenever better methods are point
ed out to them their conditions are inn
mediately improved. 1t will be an i'm
portant part of your work to awaken a
general enthusiasm for village improve
ment amongst all classes of people in
Aliddlebury and to disseminate every
sort of information leading toward bet
ter things 1t will be well to provide
occasional public lectures on road build
ing, on the improvement of private
grounds, on the care of planting of trees,
on the design and structure of public
buildings, and on all related topics 1t
will be desirable also TO have the pur-
poses and methods of village improve
ment presented in the schools and even
in the churches. If desired l will make
some further suggestions along that line.
Finally wish to thank you for your
various courtesies and to wish you every
possible success in your undertakings.
F. A. WAUGH.
Amherst, Mass, May 7, 1908.