The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-09-18
BENNINGTON COUNTY
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ASSOCIATION NEWS

who are taxpayers in the village OF
Manchester attended the regular
meeting of the village trus-
tees, Wednesday night. At this meet
ing there was discussion of such
problems as roads, lights, the water
system, sewerage, policing, fire pro-
lection. The differences Of opinion
were considered in a spirit of fairness
and goodwill There was harmony
of spirit between the trustees and
those who attended the meeting and
some difficult points we're cleared up
The meeting resulted in cordial CO.
operation. The summer taxpayers
present volunteered certain contribu-
tons toward requirements that were
made necessary because of the sum
mer property.
The meeting has significance that
is much greater than the actual bust
ness of the evening. 1t is step in
the right direction and along the lines
suggested in our last article in the
Banner. If the permanent residents
and the local officers and the sum-
mer residents could occasionally get
together to discuss the needs and
conditions of the locality it would
generate a feeling of goodwill and CO.
operation all around. In addition to
this it would be inducive to an ac-
quaintance that would be we'll worth
while.
Road and School.
According to Supt. Varney the con-
dition of the West road toward Troy
at Bennington very materially affects
attendance at school. This is found
| to be the case everywhere mud roads
exist. Geo. H. Weeks points out that
| the United States statistics show that
attendance at the country school
| where there are good roads is n per
cent while in bad road regions ii is
only 33 per cent. With good roads
boys and girls will not only attend
school more regularly but will be
more apt to stick to the farms as
we'll Ii is of the greatest Importance
not simply to develop the trunk roads
but also to develop and improve the
roads that lead to the farms that lie
back in among the hills and country
districts.
The Bennington County Vermont
Improvement Association hopes that
much may be done not only by way Of
developing farms that are now desert
ed and stimulating larger produc-
ton and increasing the returns for
all the farms in the strictly rural dis
tricts but also to encourage and help
secure the best roads possible for all
these districts.
II is not enough simply to increase
the economic return in country dis
tricts no matter how much this
might be increased. there should go
with the increased economic return
better advantages along educational,
social. civic and religious lines.
II is said that when Liberty Bailey.
who is the dean of the agricultural
department in Cornell and also chair
man of the Country Life Commission,
was out in Iowa in behalf of the
Country Life movement, that people
there told him that conditions were
all right in Iowa. That the farmers
were making lots of money and we're
able to retire to the villages and
cities when they had reached the age
OF from forty to fifty years and have
an independent income.
When Dean Bailey heard this argu-
ment he is said TO have turned to one
retired farmer and asked him why
did you so to the village?" The far
mer replied, Because | wanted better
educational facilities for my chill
dren." Then he turned to another re-
tired farmer and asked "Why did you
take up your residence in the ethyl"
The reply was Because my wife
found the isolation of the farm intol-
cradle and wanted to enjoy the Soc
ial life of large community" There
upon Liberty Bailey is said to have
turned to his audience and said "Why
not establish adequate educational ia
cilities in country districts and estab-
fish a satisfactory social life in
country neighborhoods? This open
ed the eyes of the people in Iowa
and converted them to the country
life movement.
The Bennington County Vermont
Improvement Association will do any
thing and everything within its power
to establish better educational ia
cilities and a more satisfying social,
moral and religious life in the rural
districts. People some times ask
why do you place so much emphasis
upon roads?' The Association be-
lieves that good roads are absolutely
fundamental for the higher develop
ment and for the creation of salts
flying life in rural districts.
Cooperation Between Village and
Country.
There is the greatest need to de-
velop more cordial. cooperative
spirit between the villages and the
rural districts in Bennington County.
Our town system makes this abso-
lutely essential for the good OF all
especially where the villages are not
Incorporated. IL happens now and
then that a village wants to build
sidewalks and put in sewerage and
other Improvements that are abso-
lutely necessary for the general well
fare as well as for the sanitation of
the places where people live so close
ly together as in a village. Very Of
ten these endeavors are blocked by
the farmers who are compelled to
share in the expense of such improve
ments.
On the other hand many of the
farmers and especially those who live
in what might be called the out of the
way places, would like TO have i'm
provements made upon their roads
and in their schools. but do not re-
ceiye the consideration that they are
entitled to by the voters in the more
densely populated places.
m nannfnofor ro-,t.- 4 - -