Concord as a Resort in June

Editor

A recent number of The Concord Evening Monitor contains the following editorial upon the subject of "Concord as a Resort in June." The editor's suggestions as to the advisability of establishing driveways in and around the beautiful capital of New Hampshire are certainly worthy of serious consideration and prompt action on the part of all who are interested in that state and its capital:—

Visitors at Concord are frequently remarking upon the improved street leading to the home of Mrs. Eddy, to whom the city is so greatly indebted for this excellent driveway. It has not been without its object lesson in stimulating our citizens to demand better roads. The beauty of Concord at this season of the year is something upon which every stranger comments. It would require but small effort on the part of our people to popularize Concord as a resort for the month of June and make it equal to some of the suburban towns about Boston. June is too early for people to go to the mountains or the seashore, yet there are thousands of people in the large cities who begin their sojourning for the summer in this month, and some as early as May, making first for some place which has the convenience of railroads and the beauties of rural surroundings.

A fact not always appreciated by the people of Concord, and perhaps not known to all, is the beauty and variety of the drives leading out of the city. They are a source of constant delight to visitors who have been entertained that way, or who, while whiling away an idle hour, have driven to the country round about. There is no locality in New Hampshire which has greater natural advantages for an early summer resort than Concord. The train service to Boston gives ample opportunity for one to go and come, spending the business day in Boston and the evenings at Concord. One thing that attracts summer visitors is the drives about a locality, and to have good driving there must be good highways.

What Mrs. Eddy has so generously done for the road leading to her home should be continued. The policy of the highway department should be to do work of a permanent character each year. The present highway commissioner adopted a policy of this kind some three years or more ago, and a part of the highway appropriation was set aside for this purpose. We may not be able to build so extensively each year as was done on Pleasant Street through Mrs. Eddy's efforts, but something can be done. To stimulate the gifts of public-spirited citizens there should be manifested a desire for improvement on the part of the city in this work. Good roads would mean business for Concord. Thousands of people come here every year, being drawn here by reason of the city being the home of Mrs. Eddy and by reason of the location of St. Paul's school within our limits. They are all, or nearly all of them, people of means. Why may not some of them be induced to spend the month of June in Concord as well as to spend it in other localities prior to summering at the mountains or the seashore? Coming to Concord for June, they are likely to remain in New Hampshire for the entire season.

What will add most to the natural beauties of Concord? Good highways leading out of the city. In one of the towns of Merrimack County a prominent citizen was made highway surveyor of his district a few years ago as a joke. He accepted the office and began building an excellent highway running in opposite directions from the centre of his own premises. When complaint was made at his partiality to himself, his reply was, "Let the people elect some one else next year, and let my successor follow my example. Eventually we shall have good roads." It was an object lesson which was not without its good effects. Perhaps it was not a wise course to pursue, but it serves a purpose. There must always be a beginning. We have had that beginning on the Pleasant Street road. If we would stimulate individual enterprise and liberality, we should show an appreciation by doing for ourselves and by welcoming all efforts to improve our highways. If an individual wishes to improve the highway in front of his premises, hold out to him every encouragement, for what is for his benefit is also for the public good. The public spirit of our citizens has been shown repeatedly, and in no way can it manifest itself to better advantage to promote the interests of Concord than by improving our streets and highways.

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