Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-12-10
TOWN IMPROVEMENT
A Paper Read Before "a Meeting of the
Federation of III Clubs
Full of Good Ideas.

Federation of Women's clubs, held in
this city this fall, Mrs. r. s. Kelly, of
this city. read "a paper upon SVillage
Improvement which was so favorably
spoken of that we have obtained it and
publish most of it, as follows:
''The connection between the grow
ing needs of a village and the material
environment repays careful study.
The relation of and effect is east
ly traced. The elements of beauty in
"a village do not depend entirely upon
the fine houses, paved roadways or
costly ornaments; at least it is more
desirable that IL village have for it's
aim simplicity and harmony; that it's
people foster town pride and civic pa
triotism; that in every respect the viii
lage be wholesome, tidy, modest. Cost
ly ratings. statuary and elaborate
fountains are not required, that each
individual and child have IA genuine
respect for the log-dug-out horse
trough through which the water is
bcia'tti1SlS LoNAiSs vi IAC olLlPle SuOIc
bowl which is much to be preferred to
the most elaborate cast-iron fountain.
which advertises "a great firm in our
midst. \ state of culture, which pro-
hibits the small boy from breaking the
glass i'll the old neglected school house
or the abuse of the untenanted house
whose owner has gone to another part
of the world. These cardinal virtues
are the first requisites of an ideal vii
lage. The real in art and texture is
nevertheless desirable, if it can be af-
forded. In the matter of expense men
who are ut the head of affairs are most
qualified to judge, providing those men
are not such as make politics a means
of livelihood. The real druggery of
village government should be vested
in mcn most favorably situated as re-
gar's opportunities of education and
property. Carrying the heaviest bur-
den of taxation they ara best able to
show AN enlightened public spirit and
seif-sacritiref i'm the affairs of the vii
l,ge. Wealthy and philosophical
men have given generously toward
public libraries and school buildings
but village improvements are econ
plished mor satisfactorily through
the influence of an organization in
which all are interested than by any
individual effort. The mayor of q
town. if public spirited. with "a keen
sense of duty. might. by patience and
self-sacritice. do an infinite amount OF
good by wisely planning and rightly
undertaking the establishment of al
Improvement society. to which every
member of the community should be
invited to join, no matter of what
, church. clique or class. \. constitution
should be drafted. providing fol
monthly meetings. The mayororsomt
. other person of local distinction, gifted
j, with readiness of speech, should b.
chosen president. There might also
be a vice-president. secretary and treas
urer. These officers might appoint
, several committees on trees, sidewalks
sewerage, finance. entertainment ant
t membership. Subscription cards for
membership should be prepared 70,
those who wish to join, and each mem
. Der should give either in money o.
labor, according to his or her means
Small beginnings quite often bear I'M
expected harvests. In many of thes'
societies an initial movement is made
by appointing a labor day. in which
village might be transformed becaus,
of the thorough cleaning it receives
each n working as if to prove tn
power of example, doing his or he
U whole duty. The Laurel Hill Associa
y ton, of ~Stockbridge, Massachusetts,
was the first incorporated village i'm
provement society. In fact Massachu
sets leads in the number of organized
5 Improvement societies. The New Mil
} ford Association. of Connecticut, ha
completely changed the appearance G
u that village. The wide streets TO,
u merly made unsightly by i%rregularitie
and wagon ruts, have been TRANSFORMS
into parks. Their long parallelograt
. now being the finest park of the kin
q in Connecticut. Their improvement
u have attracted wealth andculture fror
Ii abroad and enhanced the value of prof.
erty. 1t is in the western states thu
; the greatest progress has been madei
the last ten years. The WhyomingVi
IL lage Improvement Society is the for,
most society of it's kind in Ohio.
l. was founded in 1880 at Il public NEE
> ing AT which several spirited address,
U. were made. Though the populatio
&c was only 900 they began work wit
y thoroughness andenthusiasm. Nearl
every mar and woman in the Villa.
u joined the association. Their first col
81 spicious Improvement was the enlarg
ment and adjournment of the unsightl
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