The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1896-03-14
IMPROVE THE TOWN.
ONE OF THE PRIME REQUISITES Is
CLEANLINESS.

Beauty and Neatness Tend to Promote
Good Observation-Disclosures. N. Y, Sets a
Good Example Beueits of Organized
Effort-A Model Village.
One of the most active and benelcent
village improvement associations in
New York, if not in the country, is to
be found at Southampton. The a~ssocia-
ton was formed in 1884, and most of
the prominent b BUSINESS men Of the place
are included in it's membership. The OBJ
iect Of the association is clearly stated
in it's bylaws:
1.-THE Southampton Village Improve
ment association is formed to encourage,
promote and carry Oh projects for the
identifying Of the village of Southamp-
ton.
1.-THE village being now noted for its
salubrity, and for the existence Of con-
ditions in a high degree favorable to
health, it will be a primary object OF
the association to take all necessary
measures to keep it's high sanitary rep
utation. To that end it will make efforts
to exclude any source of disease or con-
tagion, to especially insist that the lake
and waters are kept pure and free from
possible contamination by
plans of sewerage, and to aid in enforc-
ing all regulations of the local or state
board of health.
ut is further the object of the asso-
citation to encourage and promote meas
ures for local improvement in the
building Of laying out Of walks or roads,
the planting and preserving Of trees and
turf, the adoption of other plans for
identifying the village and for increas.
ing its facilities Of access.
1.-The association depends for its funds
upon small annual or other dues from
it's members, and upon donations from
those interested in the maintenance Of
its plans
How we'll the association has succeed
I'D i'll it's work is evidenced in the model
village, which is the result largely Of
it's labors.' Sidewalks in perfect condi
ton, streets sprinkled, roads kept in re-
pair and beautifed with shade trees, pa
vilions and docks built around the Aga
wan lake shore, signboards erected at
street crossings, are among some OF the
results of the society's work. Points Of
interest in the village and vicinity are
designated by signs, bearing a brief in
scription of historic facts. For instance,
the original settlement of the village
called Old Town, where the first settlers
of the town erected houses in 164O, is
marked with a sign telling of that fact.
The first cemetery in the town is thus
designated: Old Southampton Burying
Ground. Opened 1910" The site OF the
first church, which was erected in 1912,
is also described to visitors in h same
manner, and the old fort used during
the Revolutionary wal also bears a table,
marking it's location. The wood drive!
north of the village are also provided
with g~uideboards.
Besides these, several of the society
employees We're kept busy during thu
summer months patrolling the principa
streets in the village for the purpose o
removing waste paper, stones and othe
Objectionable matter, and neatly painted
l barrels are placed at convenient point
: about tie village bearing the inscrip
ton, 'Ior the sake Of neatness, deposl
waste paper h~erein.'
The average annual amount paid II
bv members Of the society during tn
past ten Years is about 800, bat durin
the pass season the funds We're materlal
ly increased by an equestrian exhibition
given by the c~Ottagors, the sum nette
Il being nearly 5000, and further by a b
cycle meet, which added $3.50 to til
treasury. With these additions to 1t
funds, the executive committee has bee
@ enabled to add largely to its field Of III
:. provemcnts. Street s%priDkling carts WEI
purchased, and the sprinkling Of til
streets added greatly to the public con
fort, and the sidewalks, docks, pavilion
I and other property Of the associatlo
b were put in perfect order. After payin
all indebtedness, the treasurer reports
e balance on hand Of $685. SO with whic
"a to commence the work of improvement
n mex season.
D Old Glory.