Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1895-05-02


Tho following from Tho Forum for
March strikes the keynote of progress
in the towns of our country and shows
what earnest and united effort may ac-
complish toward Identifying and max
ing them more healthful and desirable
as places of residence, not to mention
the increase Of wealth:
The American people arc showing u
rapidly growing interest in the improve
ment of their towns, and of the many
causes Of this progress tho numerous viii
lago Improvement societies are not tho
least. As Jack Falstaff was mot only
witty i'll himself, but tho cause that Wit
was in other men," SO tho influence of
these societies is by no means limited to
the towns or counties where they are
organized, for their example benefits
many towns where no improvement So
cieties have yet been formed. Far more
has been accomplished than ever en-
pected to see when l enlisted in this
work 30 years ago. But compared with
the public needs and tho rich opportuni-
ties i'll every state the work seems Just be.
gun. These societies foster that town
pride andpublic spirit which suggest lib
e:al plans and prompt to generous gifts
imprcssively putting to every citizen the
question, What is it my duty or privi-
lego to do for my town?
A sketch of the Laurel Hill associa-
ton of Stockbridsc, Mass, the first ill.,
corporated village Improvement society
i'll the United States, is suggestive. 1t
was originated by Miss Mary Hopkins,
now Mrs. J. 2. Goodrich. Her untiring
efforts to rouse the people resulted i'll a
public meeting where the subject was
discussed and society was organized.
As result the Stockbridge of today
stands cut III marked contrast with the
Stockbridse of my boyhood. The main
street, irregularly laid out and uneven
ly graded, With deep pools of standing
water, with few trees and fewer side
walks, the green" without trees or any
semblance of ornament loaded wagons
making deep ruts almost to the church
door, the cemetery with a broken down
wooden fence and full of branbles and
weeds-these all appear in my recollcc-
ton of Stoclsbridge as it was i'll 1853
Today streets are graded and lined with
shade trees. At the first annual meeting
tho treasurer reported that the amount
paid i'll i'll labor or cash was 81, 1896.
The number of trees planted the first
year was 423. AT this meeting Cyrus
w. Field and L. w. Pomeroy together
gave $3.50 to be used for prizes. Fifty
cents was given for every thrifty tree
planted of kinds specified; $40, or a sill.
yer cup of equal value, to the planter of
tho best 10 trees; to tho second best, Sc;
to the third best, 81. All the trees were
to be planted within certain Specified
limits. Another prize of $40 was offered
for the largest number and the best trees
planted along any public roads of the
town. A prize of $40 was given to the
person who made the longest ana best
sidewalk, and other $40 to the person
who made tho greatest Improvement in
the grounds around his dwelling any
where in the town. A reward of $40
was offered for evidence which should
lead to the conviction of any one injur-
ing the trees and footbridges under the
care of the association.
About 1000 trees have now been
planted, and the association has tho in
come derived from about S4, 600 of ill.,
vested funds, supplemented by individ-
c,,Gc ,fin c. -
given for a free town library by a single
benefactor this amount was nearly dou-
bled by individual contributions. The
library building, q fine stone editice,
with reading room and lecture hall, cost
ing S25, 900, was the gift of the late j.
2. Goodrich. Mr.. Cyrus w. Field gave
$4,000 for u park, and Mr.. David Dud-
ley Field, in the last year of his life,
gave to Stockbridge 58 acres of land,
including the romantic Ice Glen, for
mountain park, together with SIS, 900
for its Improvement. The Laurel Hill
association, with al offer to pay one
half the expense, induced tho railroad
company to add an acre and a half to
the grounds about its station and to
erect an elegant building. This associa-
ton has beautifully adorned these
grounds. Its anniversary, fifty observed
on the fourth Wednesday of every Au-
gust, commemorated last summer 40
years of successful work. Every acre of
land and every homestead in Stockbridge
have appreciated in value by reason of
this society.
The appearance today of New Mil
ford, Conn.,, presents striking contrast
to its appearance in 1872. Tho New
Milford Village Improvement associa-
ton has completely transformed its wide
main street. Its spacious green. I" for
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS