The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-05-20
Manufacturers Record.0

Manufacturers Record.)
Hamlets, towns and even cities of
the South should pay more attention
than they are giving to the subject
which may be broadly termed village
improvement. Having studied the
idea, they should apply its lessons prac-
tically. The necessity for doing SO is
emphasized more positively than ever
by the addition to the usual flight Of
winter visitors of steady stream Of
permanent immigrants. The flight
would have no return for many and
the stream would swell immensely
should the South adopt more generally
the principles that prevail in the sur
roundings of its health resorts, should
every wellsettled community deter
mine to put its best foot forward and
act accordingly.
By village improvement is meant
the process of making neighborhood
attractive, healthy and safe, to prevent
it from running to seed, if not actually
to strengthen its growth. Attractive
ness may be created or enhanced by
organization of residents, whose unity
is also essential in great majority OF
cases to the maintenance Of healthful-
ness and safety, task largely in the
province Of county or municipal au-
thorities. The best results will be
reached throug'. CO operation of citi-
zens and authorities.
Public spirit is the important req
uisi.e, and it will grow as individuals
cast aside slipshod ideas, sink dlsllkes;
founded often upon mere whlm, and
generally more wide embracing and
bitter the smaller the town, and real
ize that common purpose is a per-
sonal gain. Public spirit will thrive
upon the efforts for its full attainment.
AS it must come before slow-moving
officials may be expected to leave their
ruts, the foundation for it may be laid
in the voluntary association of citlzens,
called a lend-a- hand club, public
spirit association or village-improve-
ment society, for the first step the pro-
motion of the attractiveness Of their
surroundings. For town may be both
healthy and safe without being partic-
ularly attractive, but neatness and the
cultivation of beauty, natural or arti-
fetal, will be likely to be accompanied
by the other desired qualities.
The association should be one hav-
ing strong, progressive executive,
who will be able to direct the views OF
his neighbors into the proper channels
rather than one with such a multiple
ity of officers that its meetings will be
occupied with the presentation OF re-
ports and parliamentary wrangles and
rulings.
A village-improyement society is not
intended to be debating club or an
arena for the display Of rhetoric, but
it is to deal promptly with such prac-
teal matters as the use of the hoe and
the hammer, the paint brush or the
whitewash brush. 1t need have no set
meetings after the necessary informa-
ton has been acquired, unless its
power is to be impressed upon the au-
thorities, who ought to be among its
leading members, but it should be in
active operation at all times, directed
by an alert president or secretary.
At the start the association may
take a general example from the policy
of capitalists who lay out new town
or a subdivision of an old one. 1t will
be observed that next to the slghtlness
and convenience enlargement ofthe
dwellings and public buildings are
considered drainage, the water supply,
shade and the proper police regula-
tons, based upon contract instead OF
force or public opinion. This foresight
is not displayed from any altrulstic
motive, but for the purp 'se OF creating
a ready market for the property. But
if an investor believes that he will at
tract purchasers by such methods, will
not a town already established, by
adopting them as far as possible, re-
tain and increase its populatloa9
How is that to be done? 1t is i'm
possible TO have dwellings in an old
town uniform in size or general archl-
tectural effects. That is not especially
desirable. But harmonious action Of
their occupants will make them uni
form in neatness. 4 couple of nails
driven into a clapboard or a loose
chimney brick set at the right time will
not only preserve the good appearance
of house, but will obvia,e expense in
the future. Vines about porch need
not wander at their own sweet will
into a tangle Of brlers or unsightly fol-
iage; window shutters need not swing
one hinge; an old coat or dishcloth
might have better use than serving as
substitute for pane OF glass, even II
the window is in an upstalr back room
a few hours work on half-hOllday by
the head of the house will keep the
garden trim and the palings OF the
fence intact, and nature ought not to
be left 10 color all the dwellings and
fences a monotonous dusky gray. A
liberal use of paint, or, for those who
cannot afford that, plenty ofwhltewast
would increase the at,ractivenesss o.
the average Southern town, or town
anywhere, hundred fold.
1t should no, I've necessary for Law
| to step in to compel man TO keep hi
chickens, his cow or his hogs at home
! Much Of the refuse OF The house tina
cannot be burned NIGH. be used ad
van,ageously in making a pen attrac