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

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not now in an ornamental condition.
This space should be somewhat filled I'D
to uniform grade and should then be
kept erased and moved. AT the west
end of this triangle an old Lombardy
Xpoplar completes with young elm. |
would recommend the removal of the
poplar in order that the elm may develop
to better advantage.
| On the Main street side of the school
grounds some improvement could be
made by small fiji south of the street
between the roadway and the sidewalk.
The entire portion of the school grounds
which is now in grass would be greatly
improved in appearance if a better
growth of grass was induced by liberal
application of fertilizers. This recon-
mendation would apply more particular
ly to the pleasant park west of the school
building. The trees would also show the
benefit of such fertilization, and strong
ly recommend that steps be taken to pro-
vide this tract at least with an annual
supply of plant food.
In connection with the various ques-
tions which come up in the treatment of
the area now under discussion l suggest
that the townspeople of Middlebury and
the people of Middlebury College con-
slider carefully whether better approach
to the college buildings could not be
secured through the development of
Franklin street than is now given by the
meagre diagonal cross walk which cuts
through the school grounds from Acad-
envy street.
THE VILLAGE STREETS.
Besides calling my attention to the
three particular problems already dis
cussed you asked me to make any fur
Their suggestions and recommendations
with regard to any possible improve
ments about the village of Middlebury.
First of all it seems to me attention
should be directed to the streets.
| am informed that, except for a small
area about the park, the street grades in
the village of Middlebury have never
been fixed by survey, and that the streets
in general have not been laid out by a
skilled engineer. The present irregular
ity and obvious lack of system in the
development of the streets shows the un.
fortunate result of this course. | urg-
emily recommend that, as soon as prac.
ticable, the village authorities take steps
to have the streets surveyed. Such a
property lines, the sidewalks, crossings,
etc, and should particularly determine
the grade levels to be given all such
streets. Such survey need not be very
expensive.
When such survey is made some
competent attorney for the village ought
to examine all the titles to the property
involved. The village ought to know
exactly what land it owns in the way of
streets, it ought to know what roads are
owned by the town, it ought to be plain
ly understood what parcels of private
property are being used as streets; and
in general there ought to be no doubt
about the division between private prop
erty and the public street. l am sure
that the whole business of street improve
ment will go forward in a much more
satisfactory manner if it is placed upon
a thoroughly sound, legal and business
basis.
Such survey having been made, and
the legal ownership of all the property
having been fully determined, it would
seem best to have the new street plan
presented for public hearing and dis
cussion in the town and village meetings.
After full and open discussion the town
and village should by vote adopt the
proposed plan. with or without amend
ments; and such plan should then be-
come the basis of all future street i'm
provements. Although there may ap-
pear to be no immediate need of all this
work by engineers and lawyers / cannot
too strongly urge its Importance. Doubt
less some public spirited attorney of Mid
dlebury would be willing to do the legal
work as his contribution toward general
village improvements; or perhaps some
attorney already in the employ of the
village can attend TO the matter.
ON STREETS AND PRIVATE GROUNDS.
Middlebury is blessed with a large
number of fine trees. More might be
planted, but as rule improvements will
consist in cutting out few of the poorer
specimens now planted. Certainly every.
thing should be done to develop the pres
ent good specimens and to preserve them
for future generations. The best way of
doing this would be to employ an expert
tree man TO 60 over the trees belonging
to the village every spring. 1t is not too
late for this work TO be done for the
spring of 1908. Should your society
bring such man to Middlebury he would
doubtless find considerable number of
engagements also with owners of private
property who would like to have their
trees examined, pruned and otherwise
repaired. l would be glad to recommend
to you privately men who are thorough
ly competent for this sort of work.
ELECTRIC LIGHT AND TELEPHONE POLES.
One of the perennial problems in the
modern city or village is that of regulat-
ing the telephone, telegraph, electric
light and trolley poles. These modern
necessities are never ornamental, and
when carelessly placed often become OBJ
jectionable or even dangerous. Middle
bury seems to have been much less I'M
fortunate in this matter than many
other places. Nevertheless the matter
should be carefully looked after. I'M
derstand that your society already has a
committee appointed to act in this mat