The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-07-11
The Meddler
~ the coat fits you, PIT it an

The filthy condition of MILESTONE
brook-a regular summer occurrence
brings to mind the persistent efforts
that have been made by DR.. Henry
Tucker to bring about a publication Of
that stream. A glance through the re-
ports which DR.. Tucker as health officer
has made to the town voters during the
past IA years shows no less than eight
references to the need of improvement
in this particular direction. As long
ago as 1907 he said: ''To complete our
sewerage system joint action by the
town and village is needed because any
complete system must take in West
Brattleboro and relieve Milestone
brook. - Again in 1912 is found this ref
erence to the subject: .More sewers
are needed to remove from Milestone
brook the fast increasing amount of
sewage that is poured into it. During
the low water and the heat of summer
the lower portions of the brook are a
positive nuisance. As true today as
1T was seven years ago. In 1913 DR..
Tucker made the observation that . he
question of sewage disposal is of more
Importance than the construction of
sidewalks and every one of his re-
ports for the past five years contains
some reference to the same subject.
While The Meddler is fully in sym
pathy with the efforts of DIR. Tucker. as
reference to the files of The Reformer
would show, he believes that the most
noticeable Improvement in the appear
ance of Milestone brook could be
brought about by the practice of neat
ness on the part of the abutters. The
sewage which the stream carries is
doubtless a menace but it doesn 4 show
like the accumulation of refuse that
lines the banks above and below Main
street bridge. No great effort would
be required to eliminate this condition,
and nothing more than the exercise of
ordinary care would be necessary to
prevent its repetition
DR.. Tucker S retirement as health Of.
/ ficer, by the way, warrants a word of
commentator for the excellent service
he has rendered the town in this thank
less capacity. The Meddler has nothing
! but good wishes for the success of the
new district health officer and the new
law under which he is to work. but so
far as Brattleboro itself is concerned
there is doubt whether it can eXpect any
more efficient service than that given
by DR.. Tucker. However, in view of
the provisions of the new law the Sc
lectmen have taken what seems to be
/ the wise course in deciding to turn the
work over to the district health officer
even though towns of this size have a
right to employ local man if they wish
The fact that the Twin State Gas &
/ Electric Co., has been putting in new
/ poles on Main street this week would
indicate no immediate intention on the
part OF the corporation to remove its
wires from that thoroughfare. AS The
| Meddler remembers it, however. the
company stated severaI years ago, in o
published letter, that it would not keer
It's wires permanently, in front of ths
Barber building, and it is to be hoped
/ that this prospective Improvement will
lead to the elimination of all overhead
wiring on Main street. Sooner or later
TINS Improvement will have to come, and
with the present trend of prices The
company would much better do it soone,
than later
/ The Association of CoIleoiata Ab,mno.