The Penn's Grove record., 1895-06-21

Nthl AAoR AAoy was N"0 hA0hOA Va
the society; Cyrus W. Field gave $10,.
900 for a park, and David Dudley Field
gave ffty-eight acres Of land for q
mountain park, together with 5000 for
its Improvement. The association with
an offer to pay half the expenses In
duced the railroad company to add an
acre and q half to the grounds about
the station and to erect an elegant
building. These grounds have been
beautifully adorned by the association.
The improvements wrought in New
Milford. Conn.,, by the Village Improve
ment Society Of that place r almost
as great. At first membership in the
society cost s.. but the fee was subsc.
quently reduced to 81. The women held q
fair and raised s70O, and in four years
by appealing to civic pride and patriot.
ism the society raised $1,000. Beside
this, residents expended $4,000 for side
walks and other improvements. As
q result New Milford Is now a model
town and property has beensgreatly en-
HANGED.
oul IL 10 Ill llC w C6t-Ah oItAC6f cuy ,
Afr. Northrop, that the greatest progress
in rural improvement has been made
during the last ten years. Here one
finds illustrations of cooperation and
enterprise surprising the more staid
East. The Wyoming Village Improve.
ment Society is the foremost organiza
ton of its kind in Ohio. It was formed
in 1880 at a public meeting where sew.
eral spirited addresses were made. The
Mayor of the village vas made presi.
dent, and a directory Of four women
and four men was appointed. These
were divided into committees on trees,
on sidewalks, on sewerage, on finance,
and on entertainments, concerts and
lectures. Though the population Of the
village was only 700, they began work
with thoroughness and enthusiasm.
Nearly every man and woman in the
village Joined the association. They
first undertook one conspicuous i'm.
provement-the enlargementand adorn.
ment of the unsightly grounds Of the
railway station. They collected $1,000
by subscriptions, the railroad company
added $500 and hauled the needed gray.
ell and soil without charge. The result
is the most attractive station-park on
this line of railway. In 1881 there were
planted in this park 1876 trees and six.
ty-three shrubs Of Towering varieties
and iower-beds all arranged by a com.
petent landscape gardener. In 1882
TO trees were planted along the streets.
The aggregate number Of trees planted
by this association is about 1900. Dur.
ing its first three years the society rails.
ed through membership dues, private
subscriptions entertainments and the
like nearly $1,000. The membership
zee was So for the first, and annually
thereafter So; for persons not of age 81,
or the planting Of one tree under the
direction Of the tree committee. The
society has secured an efficient street
sprinkling service. The property hold.
ers have laid miles of artificial stone
sidewalks, and public-spirited citizens
have given to the village a commodioua
and elegant hall in which is a fine II,
brary and reading-room. The Village
Improvement Society has been the lead.
er In these and many other improve
ments. 1t has shown the value Of town
pride and civic patriotism.
Mr.. Northrop then speaks Of the re-
suit of the work Of village improvement
societies In many. towns both East and
West and then goes on to discuss how
Ito organize improvement societies
when there is little public spirit. The
best way to begin this work, he says,
lis to interest all classes by a free lee
ture explaining the aims and results
of societies elsewhere and then at once
to make an organization. Most com
munities are likely to walt for the I'm
pulse Of a leader. Many efficient asso
| Citations have been formed by women,
and Of nearly all at least a part of the
officers are women. If the Executive
| Committee numbers fifteen, / advise
that eight should be women. Women
succeed better In getting money and In
securing the cooperation Of all classes
At the start, the aims Of an association
should be few and explicit. Lead. but
do not too far outstrtp public opinion
lest you excite stubborn prejudice. Tht
founders of such an association
therefore, knowing the local con
seryatism, should propose to them
selves the accomplishment at mrs
OF only "open, gross and palpa
! BILE" improvements and then wait fol
the community to catch up with them
But the cooperation of all classes once
aroused, there are few things that thest
societies cannot do. Their aims vary
ing Of course with local needs, include
municipal reform, sanitary improve
ments-especially as to water supply
and sewerage and disposal OF waste
the improvement of roads, OF sidewalks
Of parks, of school yards. and othei
public grounds-especially grounds
around railway stations-providini
drinking tanks and fountains organic
ing free town libraries. and removing
~nuisances and front fences
Another practical question Is, "Hov
can we get the necessary money! u,
membership fees, large or small &C
Icording to the means and liberaliU o
the community, by life-membershipI
ranging from $40 to $50 or more, by an
nual subscriptions, by fairs, by lee
lures, by concerts and other entertain
ments. Large gifts are often made b.
wealthy citizens and by natives NJ
longer resident Many whom fortuna
has favored are glad to show a CRATE
full remembrance Of their old homes
Thousands of dolla-s come in such hlia