New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-26
MAKING LIFE WORfH LYING.

Practical evidence Of the popular interest,"
taken in the subject Of village improvement Is
offered by the large circulation of one OF lHE
TRIBUNE's leaflets. The Hon. Is. G. Northrop
wrote for the Weekly edition bright ana III
teresting article on the practicabllly OF Deau'i-
fying and enriching American villages by or
canized effort in improvement societies. Ihere
was at once an urgent demand for its repub-
lication in popular form. One edition alter an
other has been exhausted, and every mail brings
inquiries for it from all quarters of the Union.
What the writer of this attractive pamphlet
has done is to show that villages where care Is
taken to make the most of every advantage are
prospering, whereas other communities whlch
suffer from neglect and indifference are either
standing still or declining in fortunes. Inc
practical method of considering this subject Is
most effective. Village Improvements are the
hest possible local investment Property valua-
tons invariably fall off in neglected nelghbor-
hood. A village in which pride is taken in
trim, we-kept common, in the condition OF
the walks and roads, in tree-planting and In
public Libraries is one where prices of land rise
and taxes are reduced.
Improvement societies are primarily useful
in bringing neighbors together for the promo
ton OF mutual interests and in creating and
intelHgently directing public interest in the
aesthetics Of rural life. When one man mends
his fences relays his sidewalk, beauties his
lawn, and sets out handsome trees, his zeal is
not attributed to public motives. Surly neigh
bors who are unwilling to improve their own
homes and grounds will say thdt he is trying to
make a big show or that he does not know
what to do with his money, or that he spends
all his time in fussing over his place." Let
there be a village improvement society, and
then his motives will not be questioned He
will be looked upon as man who Is dong
something for the town and rendering life
pleasanter for his neighbors when he makes his
own grounds and the approaches to them more
slightly. Organized effort for the general well
fare establishes new standards of action and
raises the tone Of the community. 1t brings
neighbors into closer and more harmonious re-
lations. Not only are the eyes trained in the
appreciaton of natural beauty and artistic land
scape effects, but hearts are softened and social
sympathes are excited. Such villages are
places where contented men like to live Pros
perity follows as the direct result of painstGking
effort on the part of sensible neighbOrs to in
crease the natural attractions of their home
life.
Suburban towns, as well as rural villages,
ought to have these Improvement societies in
active operation. When these agencies are
lacking there is no defence against the barbar-
ism of political jobbery. For example, on the
outskirts of Brooklyn, adjoining Prospect Park,
there is beautiful old village which during
the last twenty years has been converted into
populOus suburb. Legislative authority has
been conferred for introducing a sewerage sys-
tenn and for &" improving the main rOad-the
| historic turnpike along which Washington re-
treated after the Battle of Long Island. A po-
| litical gang is now in full control of the work.
| What is the result? The sewers are badly
laid: the curving road is to be Strengthened and
converted into city avenue, and many of tho
noblest trees in the town are to be ruthlesSly
slaughtered. If there had been town i'm
provement society in Flatbush these evils would
| have been averted The drain-pipes would
have gone down economically and in work
manke way, and the main road would have
been properly paved and left in its original
beauty Of winding curve and varied foliage.
As it is, the ravages of an ignorant political
gang threaten to deprive an attractive suburb
of much of its lOyeliness.