Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-04-04
IMPROVING A TOWN.
PROGRESS MADE IN THIS BEST OF
WAYS TO BOOM A PLACE.


New Engiand-The Objects and Methods
of an Improvements Society.
At meeting of the Massachusetts, Hor-
ticultural society. B. G. Northrup, LII. D.,
of Clinton, Conn, read a paper on Village
Improvement" Dr.. Northrupspoke as fol-
lows
Massachusetts has long taken a promi-
nent part in village improvement. The first
incorporated improvement society was the
Laurel Hill association Of Stockbridge,
formed in 1853 by Mary Hopkins, kins-
woman of DR.. Mark Hopkins. who ever
showed deep interest in its plans for the
benefit of his native town. It's anniversary,
happily observed for 40 years with social
reunions. orations, poems or post prandial
speeches, has proven an attractive and use
full festival to Stock bridge and Berkshire
county. Its influence has extended widely
over Massachusetts, and the country.
The Public Green association, formed by
James Hillhouse about 100 years ago in
New Haven, when it was a rural town, is
good illustration of an improvement society
short lived and yet surviving in an infiu-
ence steadily increasing and greater now
than ever. Though Mr.. Hillhouse was the
benefactor Of New Haven and of Yale col
lege in other ways, his richest legacy was
the lessons Of civic pride and local patriot
ism which have SO long inspired its citizens,
making it a city of beautiful homes, favor
ing liberal appropriations and inviting large
gifts for parks and public improvements
The village Improvement movement mi
tiated in Massachusetts has spread across
the continent, so that no state is now show
ing greater interest in it than California.
Even to a stranger visiting that state it
seems to be in the air a wholesome cpl
demic. Proofs of it's prevalence meet you
on every hand. Borough organizations
spontaneously glide into improvement So
cieties. The practical and economic value
OF sanitary and aesthetic betterments there
goes without saying. Climate, soil, salu-
brity. irrigation, town pride, ambition to
make ones place residential town or win
ter resort, combine to intensity this senti-
ment in many portions of the Golden State.
The chief object of these societies is to
make the environments of the home and
the village attractive. Grand as are the
palaces Of the nobility in Europe, the homes
Of Americans in comfort and taste surpass
those Of the people Of any other land. OF
the many causes Of the recent progress in
this line, the improvement OF societies now
doing their benign work widely over our
country Is not the least. Their influence
has by no means been limited to the towns
or counties where they have been organ
lied, for the discussions they have prompt
ed. the plans and ideas thus advocated by
the press Of tho country, have benefited and
frightened myriads Of isolated homes, even
where no improvement societies have yet
been formed
But there still remain desolate dwellings
innumerable, where flowers, vines or trees,
with a lawn, would make the wilderness
blossom as the rose Slatternliness in and
around the house repels from their country
homes many youth who might otherwise
be bound in strongest ties to the fireside
Clearing up and busting are little matters
in housekeeping, but how soon would the
house become forbidding if these trifles
were neglected. Just so in a village. Let
minor matters be sighted, and the CON-
fort, content, reputation and property Of
the whole community suffers. But, worst
of all, home life suffers, and character de-
teriorates. Modern civilization relates to
the homes and social life of the people-to
their health, thrift and intellectual and
moral advancement
In earlier ages men were counted in the
aggregate and valued as they helped to
swell the revenues or retinucs of the kings.
The government was the unit, and each in
dividual only added one to the roll of sol
ders or serfs. Happily for us the family is
the unit of the state, and government is for
the people as well as by the people This
gives to the concrete all the characteristics
that make the home beautiful. Thus love
of home is primary patriotism.
Tree planting, however important, is by
no means the leading aim of these improve
ment societies. There are towns in which
the axman is needed as well as the tee
planter There are streets parks and home
yards too densely shaded Large trees In
little yards close to the house, especially
the beautiful hemlock or denser Norway
spruce, are unwholesome There is need of
iterating the old motto, when the sun
light can't come, the doctor must"
Though far more has been accomplished
in this line than / ever expected to see when
enlisting in the service % years ago; yet,
compared with the public needs and the
rich opportunities for results now opening
widely all over the land, the work seems
Just begun. Instead of one person making
it his vocation, there is room for scores of
workers in this rich field. This cause has
indeed enlisted the hearty sympathy and
cooperation of many of the ablest and best
men of the land, and especially of clergy
men, irrespective of sect, for they early
realized that it's social educational, moral
and religious bearings are even more i'm
portant than the financial gain. They have
been the foremost advocates of the cardinal
idea that in the home is the lever which is
to lift up humanity.
The aims of these associations vary in
different towns with local needs, and in
cIude public health, especially the sanitary
condition in homes and their surroundings,
roads, roadsides, sidewalks, school and
church yards, cemeteries parks and other
public lands, as well as privt te estates, the
grounds around railway stations, lighting
and parking streets, providing drinking
troughs, tanks or fountains, organizing
free town libraries, removing nuisances and
front fences and doing whatever else the ex-
igencies of the town may suggest for its
growth and betterment. They often serve
the purpose of boards of trade in cities, and
in all they help form good fellowship and
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