The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-01-06
The MeddLer
"Uhs eoaf fifs you. put IL on

If the local highway department has
been careless in any way this winter n
is in the matter of sanding the sde
walks of the village. Frequent and
sudden changes in temperature lave
brought about conditions duringthe
mast few weeks that demanded pl@M
action on the part of officials in ctra
of the streets, but action when tbs
been taken at all has been delayedin
too long. On the morning before Chia
mas, for example, sidewalks throupMt
the village were so slippery as to nlte
walking positively dangerous, nd
many of them remained so all day lhg
1t was an occasion when local meh.
ants were prepared for big volum9
trade, and they had the right TO expe.
that everything possible would be dond
to facilitate it. There were shoppers
too, who were entitled to consideration
along this particular line, but they
didn I get it. Monday morning was an
other time when the sidewalks were|
like polished glass and were allowed to
remain in that state until the rain putt
them in normal condition. 1t ought
not TO be difficult for the town and vii |
LACE authorities to make arrangementI
for the prompt and thorough sanding OIL
sidewalks whenever they need it, ThisI
has been done in the past.
Living somewhere within the limits
of this town is person who makes al
practice of robbing clotheslines, andl
the fact that he seems to prefer certain
articles of wearing apparel leads The
Meddler to believe that depravity
rather than necessity prompts MIN in
his nefarious occupation. Sooner or
later, if this thievery is kept up, the
perpetrator will come in contact with
the business end of horsewhip that
will make a lasting impression upon
his carcass. Or if the whip is not
brought into action he may receive a
singing rebuke in the form of a charge
of salt from a wellaimed shotgun. And
when the victim of the assault attempts
to collect damages for the injury to his
person he will find public opinion ready
to place its seal of approval on the ac-l
tion of the man behind the gun.
The Medder is glad to be able to
speak word of commentator on thev
work of the fire department at the blaze
in Allen s greenhouse last week. The
alarm was answered with unusual
promptness, and the men worked with
speed and efficiency. Brattleboro 81
fire record for the past year has beenl
one of unusual good fortune, but there
is no telling when this town may be
visited by confagration whose Sc
robustness will depend in large measure
upon the ability of the local depart
ment to act quickly and with sound
Judgment. On that account it be-
hooves the village fremen to keep their
organization always in a state of high
est efficiency. Adequate water-pres.
sure and modern apparatus will avail
little in the hands of incompetent and
undrilled men.
The bailiffs will do well to give con
siderable study to the matter OF securr-
ing ornamental lamp posts for the bust
ness section of Brattleboro. Now that
a change in the present illumination
system has been decided upon the dues-
ton is timely. There is little doubt
in the mind of The Meddler that rea-
sonable sum of money spent for orna-
mental posts would be an excellent in
vestment. although he is not prepared
TO saw lust how much would be neces-
sarv for this purpose. The outlay,
however, should be made with viewI
TO future needs. and should be argeI
enough to provide for the efficient ilu-
miration of Main street from theI
bridge to Wells fountain, and Eth'
street as far west as the Carpen
company's factory. There are
doubt many manufacturing conc
who would be willing to turnls'
village expert advice on this sub