Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-10-16
Middlebury improvements Society.


The board of directors held its regular
monthly meeting Monday at the home of
Mrs. A. K. Carr. 1t was voted to furnish
wastepaper receptacles for parks and main
streets if the village trustees would have
them emptieI from time to time. 1t is
believed that many citizens would take
the trouble to throw papers into the re-
ceptacles instead of onto the paths if
they were provided. Where such con-
venience exists the public soon becomes
educated to make use Of it and so prevents
the unsightly litter that disfigures our
village.
The treasurer reported 1904 on hand
this money is at interest and is to be ex-
pended as soon as it can be judiciously
on permanent improvements. Some
ornamental shrubs are to be planted in
the spring; Mr.. Hosford of Charlotte is
making an estimate to present to the
society as soon as possible.
The Rutland Railroad Co. in response to
request of the committee OF the Middle
bury improvement Society has had an
engineer estimate the cost of draining,
grading and curbing the grounds of the
Rutland Railroad station. This amounts
to over $780, At present the Rutland
Railroad Co. cannot undertake it, but
we are promised that, when it is possible
it will make the improvement with our
cooperation.
The women feel that this work is the
most pressing and have thought best to
allow sufficient sum to accumulate to
meet their share of this most desirable
improvement.
The society Graves the patience and
the continued patronage of the public.
1t will need every dollar that its MEM
bers can afford to give to carry it's work
through prosperously. OF course if its
support is diminished or withdrawn the
work will be crippled, postponed or made
an utter impossibility. Those who criti
else the lack of visible achievement of
the society will do well to remember
that it is only handful of disinterested
workers who have had the cause enough
at heart to serve on committees and to
attend monthly meetings. They have no
personal stake in the matter-simply zeal
for the public good. Before complaining
of their inefficiency it would be we'll to
show all the obstacles they have encoun-
tered. In the parks they had to wait for
the completion of the work begun by the
trustees, then the severe drought made
| fall planting unfeasible. At the station
the initiative being taken by the railroad
company.
In December the annual fee will be
due. Those who as yet see no adequate
return from their dollar or dollars invest.
ed may rest assured their money is safe
in the bank and will be wisely expended
when the opportunity arrives. But that
in order to do anything worth while the
public must be faithful to the cause.
The willing workers can do nothing
without necessary funds.
The acts of vandalism perpetrated
during the summer have been most dis
heartening. The generosity of Mr.. Means
met with such rebuff that the women
have feared similar treatment when they
have the occasion to do ornamental plant
ing. A young tree on South Pleasant
street has been wantonly cut by an axe
and two flower gardens pillaged, the up
rooted plants being thrown about, show
ing the motive to have been purely de-
structive.
Criticisms from friends of the society
and such acts AS those described above
from the enemies of village improve
ment have not made the path of reform
pleasant to the workers.
The members present at the last meet
ing were Mrs. Ransom Benedict. Mrs
Ezra Brainerd, Mrs. A. X. Carr, Mrs. G
III. Dickinson, Mrs. S. S. Eddy, Mrs
) VIM. McGilton and Mrs. ID. Meg. Means