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was formed - new efforts were made to run electric line
poles along the road. When Mr. Thad Beal took charge of the
Lighting Company, the whole situation was carefully studied
and Mr. Beal readily and wholeheartedly agreed that poles
on this historic road would be an eyesore. As a result,the
property owners - in most cases without compensation -
arranged with the Lighting Company for the use of a strip of
land for a line to be run back in the woods, and later on
the
main line was run west of Violet Avenue on a right-of-way
around Poughkeepsie to back of the village of Hyde Park.
This
line has since then been in complete operation.
 
                  In other words, at that time the whole
question was discussed and the present lines were run with
the full understanding and approval of the Central Hudson
Gas and Electric, and of Mr. Beal.
 
                 At that time the question of telephone
poles was also raised and the Telephone Company fully
concurred in the belief that telephone poles on the Post
Road would be as unsightly as electric line poles. The
Telephone Company, therefore,ran the present line and
poles, which have given satisfactory service ever since.
They are, as you know, back in the woods and cannot be seen
from the Post Road.
 
                 As further evidence of the generally
accepted desire to keep from the Post Road any unsightly
objects, you will note that between the Amusement Park just
north of the Poughkeepsie city line there are practically
no advertising signs for a distance of six miles. In other
words, until Hyde Park village is reached.
 
                 The land is owned by a comparatively small
number of people and I think that there are advertising
signs on only one small plot of a couple of acres on the
east
side of Teller's Hill. The rest of the road on both sides is
clear of signs the whole distance.
 
                  To place poles and cable along the road
would destroy its historic beauty, and I am confident that
the great majority of other property owners will agree with
this statement. Such poles would greatly decrease going
values.
 
                   I am certain that the New York Telephone
Company, in the light of this historic road, will not seek
to
press the matter.
 
                                     Very sincerely yours,
                                        
           Henry T. Hackett, Esq.
           226 Union Street,
           Poughkeepsie, N. Y.