Connecticut western news., 1921-02-03

The officers of the Community i Association know that I am heartily in sympathy with it's objects and they also know that I am opposed to hav- ing the work of this Association fur thered or controlled in any way by, the town as a political entity.
 It has seemed to me that the success of the Community Associa- tion could only be assured through the continuous individual co-opera- ton of all the citizens who come within its range of influence and usefulness. This means not only in dividual endowment and contribu- tions of money, but also, and I think fully as essential to the permanence of the Association, individual devo- tion of time and thought, and I don't think those essentials of true com munity spirit are likely to be fos- tered through town management or town financial aid. And, further more, it does not seem to me fair to ask the taxpayers of the remote parts of the town to help support an in- stitution from the benefits of which they would be almost wholly barred 4 by distance.
 Perhaps am wandering from my subject and discussing something already settled. but the views above expressed contain, in part at least, the principle which I think should govern in deciding what to do with the money, and that is the greatest good to the greatest number.
 Considering the |, three objects above specified in inverse order, and referring first to the reduction of the town debt, I think Mir Reed has hit the nail pretty squarely on the head when he says the town debt is not burdensome and calls attention to the fact that 1t is being paid off at the rate of $1,oo0.00 year. To pay ones debts is said to be always a safe investment, but I don't think it is always 8 wise one, and think in the present instance the wiser and more profitable course will be to use the money for somthing that will be of greater than mere financial bene- fit to the town. I don't know how much the town owes and the debt may seem large, but I am sure 1t is more than offset by property owned l by the town in the form of town hall, school buildings, bridges and inn proved highways, so that the town is fully solvent.
 II Tn respect to schools, think the most crying need of the town is a new school house at East Canaan and perhaps it would be wise to de- vote a part of the money in hand to that object, but, whether provided in that way or from the general funds of the town, think a new and mod ern building should replace the anti II quated structure which has so long been a Encouragement to the faith full teachers who have been so handi- capped within its uninspiring walls. Intelligently improved educational facilities will be better legacy to leave to the next generation than a bunch of cancelled bonds,--the edi- tor to the contrary notwithstanding.
 Assuming, however, that new school house at East Canaan is to be provided by general taxation, which I am inclined to think would be the better plan, the first of my thms suggested objects is left, and on Ma- ture reflection I believe that the very best use that can be made of the money would be to make it the nucleus of a fund for the building of new town hall.
 A town hall is a necessity for the whole town and no argument is needed to prove that the present structure is inadequate, inconvenient and unsanitary, besides being un- pleasing to the eye.
 The ideal town hall should provide a suitable place for public meetings and entertainments, including social and indoor athletic functions, should contain convenient offices for town officers and judge of probate, with a fireproof vault for records, and I should think that possibly favorable arrangements could be made with the proper authorities to provide a suitable court room for the Common Pleas Court.
 \ Furthermore, I think that a new town hall should provide for housing the Douglas Library which has out grown its present quarters. 1 pre- sume some legal way could be found to authorize the sale of the present library building if the proceeds were to be devoted to a new and better home for the library, and such a move for the betterment of this venerable and most benefcent town institution would have much senti- mental significance if started this year which, I am reminded, is the one hundredth anniversary of it's founding.
 The commanding site of our town hall is ideal and I believe the acquisi- tion of the fund under discussion makes the time propitious for start ing a movement to give us struc- ture ideally commensurate with the l r;E of aoJ n,,r.