The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-05-29
DUST ON STREETS
A COMMUNITY
INTEREST
Filth on Main Thoroughfares
Menace to All
VILLAGE MEETING MONDAY
Correspondent Confident That oues
ton VIII 30 Handled In Sensible
Manner.


day will afford us an opportunity to
take distinct step In advance, put US
farther along towards that progress
sion and public spirited community
that Bennington ought to be, and at
heart believe really is--if our citi-
zens will look at the question at issue
in fair, generous, broad.minded
fashion. The writer is very hopeful
that such will be the temper Of the
meeting, and that whatever discus
sion may be necessary TO make clear
the practical and feasible thing to be
voted, Will be conducted from the
wholly non-partisan and unprejudlced
point of view.
No one may dispute the absolutely
imperative need OF having our streets
sprinkled not merely for comforts
sake but for the sake OF simple de-
cency.
That we should have gone as far
into the summer as this eating dirt"
through the failure Of private enter
prise Ton account apparently OF mis-
understanding which dismissed with
out debate the article In the warn
ing Of the annual village meeting re.
lating to this matter) Is shame and
disgrace to us. Personally, have
felt Inundated for the town. OF which
In many ways am proud. In the pres
ence OF visiting friends and strangers.
Explanation and apology are difficult
under the conditions. We have many
OF US shared in this feeling.
Now. why may We not prevent q
repetition Of this unhappy experience
for all time to come? We can get
this problem OF street sprinkling
which Is relatively q very small prob
lem among municipal problems, and
doubtless causes the outsider to won
der that there should be any stir al
all over II, on a permanent basis OF
solution--if we have mind to do so
Just how far 1t is best to go In hav
ing the watering OF our streets done
at the expense Of the village is for
the village to decide Several prop
ositions have been suggested which
ought to be fairly and fully discussed
at the meeting. But for one | an
convinced that now Is the time to &c
far enough In this direction so thai
we shall never again want to return
TO the antiquated. hap-hazard, unsat
isfactory manner of doing this bust
ness, which has been year after yeal
the subject of more or less dispute
and complaint.
Il And In respect to this there is one
particular point | wish to make. II
Is said by some, IF we can't have
every street In the village sprinklet
at the public expense, we ought moi
| to have any of II, Let those pay fol
the thing that want It," That Is sup
posed to be an argument for the
equities OF taxation, and Is earnestly
put by well intentioned people. W.
all sympathize, or ought to, will
every contention that seems to lool
towards justice and right. But some
times little broader survey change.
the aspect Of n situation. Now 4
would be fine indeed II we might hav,
watered every rod of road within the
village limits. but there are perhaps
IA miles of roadway. and that would
be rather big undertaking. II 1
can be done, however, well and good
But what ! wish to urge is the recog
milton of the common interest of al
our people In having at least the bus
mess section of the village cared for
Whether one lives in the heart of tn,
village or In It's outskirts he is Wit
ally concerned that our trading an,
marketing places and CONSTANT,
travelled streets be- kept clean an,
sanitary.
Watch the trolley cars sweepin,
Main street and the automobiles whir
ing even denser clouds into the nj
and every little gust Of wind iron
the mountains starting a miniatur
cyclone at dozen points at once, an,
all driving dust and filth into our MAJ
kets and stores, and then say II 1t |
mot only fair dealing with our mel
chants and others but also a require
ment for the preservation of condi,
ions OF public health, affecting ever
man, woman and child in Benninl
ton, that these principal street
should be watered as village business
Il Is a very narrowed view that fail
to see that what concerns one part @
our community equally concerns a
the rest. There is new civic sens
abroad In this land OF ours which al
preciates this unity of interests an
the worth of all standing together Il
an unselfish and generous way Sha
we not have It here In Bennington
II Any other disposition is petty, pre-
vincial and out OF date. For mysel
have too much faith in the goo
sense and public spirit of our citizen
of whatever party or class, when thi
matter is thoroughly understood, {
believe the village capable of an
small, haggling, makeshift arrang,
ment. Let us on Monday by unan
nous and hearty vote do the best W
L L..