The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-07-26
TOWN IMPROVEMENT.
WHAT COMBINATION AND ZEAL CAN
ACCOMPLISH.
some Western Villages That illustrate the
Value of Town Pride and Civic Patriot
ism-How tn Raise Funds bishop whip
pies Influence In Faribault.

whole community is anxious to continue
the good work. Mr.. b. G.. Northrop in
Forum mentions several western towns
that have profited by organized as well
AZ individual effort in this direction.
The following sketches, limited to
personal observations, relate chiefly to
the west, where SO many good examples
are found that selection is difficult. 1t is
in the western states 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 organization
of its kind in Ohio. Ii was formed in
1880 at public meeting where several
spirited addresses were made. The may
or Of the village was made president,
and directory of four women and four
men was appointed These were divided
into committees on trees, on sidewalks,
on sewerage, on finance and on enter
tainments, 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 under
took one conspicuous improvement-the
enlargement and adornment of the IN
slightly grounds Of the railroad station.
They collected 81, 200 by subscription
the railroad company added $400 and
hauled the needed gravel and soil with
out charge. The result is the most at
tractive station park ON this line of rail
way.
In 1881 there were planted in this
park l95 trees and SO shrubs of flower
ing varieties and flower beds, all ar
ranged by competent landscape gar
dener In 1882 no trees were planted
along the streets. The aggregate number
of trees planted by this association is
about 1000. During its first three years
the society raised through membership
dues, private subscriptions, entertain
ments and the like nearly 1000 The
membership fee was So for the first year.
and annually thereafter 81, for persons
not Of age 81 or the planting Of one tree
under the direction of the tree commit
street sprinkling service. The property
holders have laid miles of artificial stone
sidewalks, and public spirited citizens
have given to the village a commodious
and elegant hall, i'll which are a fine Ii
brary and reading room.
The Village Improvement society has
been the leader III these and many other
improvements. 1t has shown the value
of town pride and civic patriotism. The
plans and recommendations Of this soci-
ETY. for street lights, water supply and
sewerage have won general favor. Wyo-
ming demonstrates the wisdom of exclud
ing national politics from local elections,
and the same mayor has been reelected
for eight years.
Village improvement Is often carried
on by individual as we'll as by organ
lied efforts when a citizen of wealth
and liberality or Of wise foresight starts
forces that lift up whole community.
Faribault, the model town of Minnesota,
is a suggestive instance of the value of
a wise and patriotic leader. Bishop
Whipple's residence and influence here
for more than 30 years explain the
growth and attractions of this prosper
Gus town.
Faribault is celebrated for its educa-
tional institutions. The Shattuck school,
with a campus of $50 acres st. Mary's
school and the Seabury Divinity school
have long shared his supervision. The
three state schools for the deaf, the blind
and for imbeciles, tell Of his influence.
These six great institutions are beau
tifully situated ON a bluff, embracing
several hundred acres and overlooking
the city and surrounding country. The
grounds and this group of elegant build
ings are SO arranged as to make one
unique and continuous park nearly two
miles in length. They are all open to
the public, with their fine groves, lawns,
statuary, winding drives and charming
walks. Nature and art have here COM
bined in presenting most attractive fea
lures unlike anything / have elsewhere
seen. Bishop Whipple is justly held in
honor throughout the country for his
other services, but by the citizens Of
Faribault he is revered also as their bene
factor, though he is without fortune.
Northfield, MINI. is another illustra-
tion. When 80 years ago it was decided
to found a college in this state, it was
established at Mortified because of
generous offer of land and money, which
has proved to be good investment. The
college has helped the town in many
ways Professor Margaret Evans was the
first president of the Town Improve
ment society, which did an important
work in giving a decisive and permanent
direction 20 public taste and in making
neatness and attractiveness essential to
the premises of every self respecting citi
zen. The front fences have disappeared,
the work Of the lawn mower is seen on
every side, and such lawns as grow ON
this Minnesota loan, so dense and vel
vety, we seldom see the like of in the
eastern states. The improvements in
private residences, in sanitary condi-
tions, in the grading of the streets, in
the waterworks, and in many other re-
spects, are ascribed to the influence of
the improvement association.