Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-01
CITY IMPROVEMENT SOCIETIES
How Some Communities Have Bene.
fted-An Idea From the Country.
From Garden and Forest

From Garden and Forest
Only few years have passed since the first
village Improvement society was organized,
but scores Of these associations are now doing
good work in every part of the country in Sc
curing FOR rural communities more favorable
sanitary conditions. improving roads and path
ways, identifying public squares and the
grounds about public buildings, educating the
public taste, and In many other ways making
country life more attractive and satisfying.
There would seem to DO little need for similar
associations in cities, where the government is
more directly charged with the duties which
these societies have assumed. There is board
OF public health to look after the citys drain
age and general cleanliness. There are park
commissioners charged with the supervision of
Its public grounds. There il a board Of works
to look after the highways and in many cases
the planting OF tsees, and yet there is little
question that an active association in every
city, which should charge itself in a general
way with functions similar to those performed
by the rural Improvement societies, would help
to supplement official action by directing it in
proper channels and making it more effective.
Organization is always effective by uniting the
desultory efforts Of individuals. and that much
good can be achieved in the special direction
indicated is proved by the effective work of the
Metropolitan Gardens Association of London,
the City Parks Association of Philadelphia aud
the Tree Planting and Fountain Society Of
BROOKLYN
A report of this iast-named organization has
just been received and from it we learn that
OF the 10000 trees now standing in the streets
OF Brooklyn considerable portion have been
planted under the auspices and at the sugges-
ton OF this society. After it was formed, some
eight years ago. many public meetings were
held. circulars were issued, and articles calling
the attention of citizens to the value of trees in
city streets were published in the daily papers.
But the work was carried on in still more prac-
teal ways. Various nurserymen were asked to
furnish information as to the number of trees
they had in stock Of different varieties and
the prices at which they could be obtained.
As the time for planting approached the
society secured a store house, in which samples
OF trees from various nurseries were kept on
exhibition and suitable persons were always in
attendance to give information as to the
proper methods of planting, the varieties most
useful and the places where they could be OBJ
tanned at the most reasonable prices. When
it was desired the society not only furnished
trees at cost price. but sent skilled mer to
plant them and charged for the special service
only the amout that they had paid for the
labor. After the trees were planted instruc-
tions were given as to their care, devices for
protecting them from horses and other dangers
were explained, and efforts were made to create
a feeling that the city trees were COM
mon property and that every city had
personal interest in preserving them
In order to properly educate the young this
society urged the legislature to pass an act
for the encouragement OF arboricuiture, and
this resulted in the appointment of an
arbor day for the state, and in its celebration
public exercises are conducted by the various
school officers throughout the state and partici-
pated in by all the children of the public
schools. OF course, this general work is but q
small portion Of what the society is constantly
doing. As an example OF its special watchfui-
ness 1t may be stated that when some of the
trees, notably the naples, i'll the city were suf-
ferlng from the ravages OF an insect, a compe-
tent entomologist was called in to make a study
of the cause and to report upon the best means
for overcoming this evil.
Altogether there is no good reason why asso-
cations OF this sort could not be made as help
fui III the city as in the country. Without
naming all the directions in which their in
fuence could be exercised for good. it may be
worth while to indicate one in particular and
that ID In protecting public parks. 1t is not
always. perhaps 1t ID not generally. true that
commissioners OF city parks have any adequate
appreciation OF their true function They can
not be trusted to repel the attacks constantly
made on the parks they often side with the
assailants and organize attacks of their own.
In this city, for example, it is constantly hap
penlng that the city officials who would hardly
assume to make plans for a monumental public
building consider themselves perfectly COM
petent to design an urban park or change the
dawned upon them that one of these works is
or ought to be truly work of art as the
other. Only a few days ago the mayor Of this
city suggested in an off-hand way and yet in his
official capacity that the entire system of walks
and drives in Central Park should be re-
modelled. He was troubled by no doubt that
his plan would be infinitely superior to the
original one or that he was perfectly qualified
to direct such an undertaking. Similar attacks
upon the integrity of our parks. efforts to per-
vert them from their highest use and even
attempts to obliterate them or to contiscate
them to some alien use, are happening every
year. Central Park has been saved as by fire.
simply because there has been intelligent op-
position to its destruction made i'm "a few news
papers. These assaults will probably grow
more frequent and more urgent as population
presses about it more densely and the time may
come when we'll organized defense will be
needed to keep its woods and meadows from
being utterly trampled out or covered with
brick and stone. A voluntary association
which would, in addition to other duties.
devote intelligent attention to the preservation
and proper management OF parks could find
an ample field for labor in every considerable
city OF the Union.
A Mystery of the Sea-