Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-01-19
Report of President Thomas Of
Middlebury College. .

port of President John M. Thomas.
Attention is called to tie gift @
the late Joseph Battell a Middlebur
alumnus and trustee, to the Tn led
States government of 1880 acres OF
Vermont forest land for the purpose
of a National Park. This land is
situated in Lincoln and Warren on
the main ridge of the Green Noun
talns. The Long Trail of the Green
Mountain Club extends the entire
length of the tract.
President Thomas suggests a much
larger National Park for Vermont.
He says
eff the United States accepts this
device anu establishes a National
Park in Vermont, the project should
be enlarged to embrace a much lar.
ger area of the Green Mountains.
| venture to suggest that an endeav-
or be made to include in the propos-
ed park a strip along the height of
land extending from the tract de-
vised by Mr.. Battell southwards at
least as far as the highways from
Brandon to Rochester. | have in
mind the crest o. the ridge, extend
ing down the mountain on either
side sufficiently to allow the CON
struction of a scenic highway along
its entire length. Such a Green
Mountain National Park would adj
NIT of a magnificent drive through
the highdst and widest land in the
State, commanding views of both
Lake Champlain and the White
Mountains, and through most of it's
length through. grand virgin forests.
1t would speedily become one of the
most popular re%creational features
in the entire country. 1t would lend
distinction to Vermont as a recrea-
ton region and benefit the entire
State. Within easy reach the great
centers of population, it would be of
value to the countless numbers who
cannot visit the National Parks of
the west.
Mr.. Battell's noble purpose should
llOL NC dllOWth " lbll, DuI SllOulu NC
enlarged to meet the improved meth
DDS of transportation which have
been effected since his will was writ
ten. A National Park extending for
twenty-five miles along the summit
of our mountains, a~pprOachable from
three points both from the east and
from the west from three main high
ways over passes of the Green
Mountains, easily accessible there
fore to all travellers by our main
north and south State roads,is some
thing which should appeal to every
patriotic Vermonter, and one might
expect the project would comment
itself to lovers of natural beauty and
of the great outdoors throughout
the entire nation. Middlebury Col
lege would render a notable public
service if it could assist in any way
toward establishing such a park.
That part of the report concerning
the college shows clearly the healthy
growth of the institution. Attend
5 ance, exclusive of the summer ses-
= sion, has increased in the past eight
years from 222 to 372, an increase of
SO percent. The problem now con
fronting the college is not secure at
: tendance but to provide adequate
facilities and endowment.
= In the past eight years ga acres
of land and nine buildings have been
, added to college property with a to-
, tai value of $463, 547. 20, bat the rap
id growth of the college demands
, still greater facilities and endow-
ment. New professorships as well
, as new buildings are needed and a
, million dollar additional endowment
is the ambition of President Thomas.
The administrative offices of the
college are scattered about in a
number of different buildings. For
, convenience of all concerned these
offices should be closely grouped and
. because of its central and command
ing location, the Old Chapel should
be used for this purpose. In order
to do this many classes now reciting
, there would have to be moved else
E where and a new building is neces-
sary.
President Thomas suggests, there
fore, a building known as Vermont
e Hall to be devoted to these studies
Of special importance to the college
as a Vermont institution and to
it symbolic its loyalty to the State to
which it owes Sc much, and to fur
u Their especially those studies by
which young men and women are
= prepared for intelligent and useful
citizenship in the Green Mountain
State. 1t should be built of YER
mont material and in the style of
architecture the forefathers practic.
ed. 1t might enshrine a portrait of
Daniel P. Thompson, of the class of
1920, author of 1.-The Green Noun
tain Boys" the book which created
the fame of the founders of the
commonwealth and made Vermont
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