The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-03-07
F. Fl. DILLON R. co.
RIDGE BEATS CENTER
 FOR HELLO EXCHANGE
Little Interest in Bedding Over Conn mittee's Report For Betterment of
 Local Road Conditions.

Local Road Conditions.
 Bedding, March Tour telephone ex- change, which is scheduled to open about the middle of July. will be To- cated on the Ridge instead of at the Center as was originally planned. The change of program is principally due to the fact that the company was un- able to secure, either by purchase or at the Center. Tn looking further the company's representatives came upon the cottage at Milo Osborn's corner and decided that it was well adapted for their purposes. The property was owned by Mrs. J. Arthur Sherwood ot Easton and ooci1ried by w. s: Downs. Negotiations for its purchase were en- tered into with the Sanford real estate agency, and this week the, deal was closed. The price paid was $2.500. The house will be moved short dis tance, a cellar being dug at the new site and an addition built over the present foundation.
 It is already evident that nothing will come of the committees report on the betterment of local road con ditions for the reason that the report falls to command public approval. The document aroused very little dis cussion. being virtually dismissed on sight as unworthy If serious consider ation. When submitted by Secretary Plump to D. s. Sanford one O. the members of the committee. the lat ter read it carefully and then wrote letter to the secretary giving the reasons which prompted him to with hold his signature Another member who did sign has since concluded to withdraw his sanction. While the f1asco gives occasion for regret it does fn1y hot Aff nrfc fr cause which the committee has un- successfully labored with will be aban- doned. Public sentiment on the sub ject is too widely awakened for that and at the annual town meeting next fall the. subject will doubeless again be agitated in an effort to undertake at least the initial steps towards a satisfactory solution of the problem. The suggestion has been made that meanwhile the local Grange might take up the matter with the object of putting forward a plan towards effect ing the object in view. Indeed the subject is important enough and suf- f1c'ently of Statewide interest to re- ceive the earnest attention of the Grange throughout Connecticut as most of the country towns have be fore them the same need of reform and improvement which exist in Red ding. And while they are on the sub- ject 1t might be well to consider an enlargement of the scope of the pres the provisions of the New York law which provide for State aid to local roads. The financial aid given by the New York system is only part of the benefits, an equally important part be- ing the skilled advice and supervision which are supplied for the execution of the work, Highway Commissioner is nf the present Connecticut system and the star part he plays in it, that no change like the one proposed can be expected from his efforts. Conse- quently the improvement must come from other sources if it does come. and the Grange can undertake no more useful work than in carefully weigh ing the matter ands giving their inf1u- ence to measures which in their esti- nation are for the public good.
 The interest taken by Center and west side residents in orchard .conser- vation was shown by the large at- tendance at the spraying and pruning the Mark Twain Library. Having had two power sprayers since last spring the Ridge is several laps ahead of the rest in the town in this branch of or chard culture, although it could profit ably take course of instruction in the art of pruning. Both branches were thoroughly exemplified at Fri days meeting One of the trees which underwent surgery was about 75 years old. It's big limbs were lopA ped off until the dehorning process 1eft only comparatively short stumps. The demonstration explained that new growth of branches would be wholly relied upon for future fruit production, and that the tree should commence to bear again in three years. In the library building lecture was given fully describing the various insect and other enemies of the fruit trees and telling all about the spraying mixtures and the best methods of their applica- tion Those at the meeting generally brought their lunches which were sup plemented with hot coffee provided by the Protective League.
 Albert Williams of Sunset Hill. lost two valuable cows last week from some unknown cause, both animals. which were in good flesh and appar- entity good health, being found dead in the stable. Tn the stomach of one were found a number of small stones and a piece of mire, but these had not caused abrasions or perforations of the lining.
 John c. Read of hometown, has bought a Buick car which he will use to freight his milk to Danbury and
 
 parcel service from the Center.
 Both the Ridge stores are broaden ing out this spring. Muennich is add ing and 10 cent department, and the Klein Brothers further down the street will next week add a fresh meat department and a line of furniture.
 Miss Eleanor Dayton gave a party at her home in the Center, last Thurs day, for her young nephews and nieces.
 It is probable that Bedding Grange will secure the basement of the Gen. ter Methodist Church as their new home.
 George $. Banks has been in Bridge port this week on jury duty.
 There are already 22 subscribers at s2O each to the fund for purchasing hand chemical engines for the Ridge section.
 The list of pupils perfect in attend ance during the past four weeks in the Bedding schools is as follows:
 Ridge School, Jennie Mcdonald. teacher-George Banks, Edward Ferry, Arthur McCollam, Clarence Johnson, Agnes Fagerstrom, Edna Riley, Ches- ter Riley.
 Center School, Room 2, A. Florence Nichols teacher-Julia Banks. Grace