The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-09-29

gines would have trouble in prevent
ing the fire from spreading.
Is a water supply needed for domes-
tic purposes? Would many people
put in pipes and take the water? If
there was a system of water works
would fires be less frequent or less
costly? These are questions to be
considered.
There is no doubt that Oakland's
streets are not what they should be-
1t is unfortunate that so many trees
were cut down years ago. Good
streets are easily made and maintain
ed in this town, because the natural
drainage is perfect Most of the
traffic is confined to the district ex-
tending from Oak and Third streets,
to Alder, to Second, to Liberty, to
Wilson, and extending also south
west to the railroad track. Vehicles
not only use the centre of these
streets but line the sidewalks in front
OF stores, 1t seems proper that so
much of Oakland streets should be
macadamized the full width. Road
ways fifteen feet wide would accom-
modate all the traffic on every other
street. If these roadways were ma
cadamized and the spaces between
them and the sidewalks put in grass.
the streets could be kept in repair
cheaply, the area for mud and dust
would be materially lessened, and the
whole town beautified. Oakland can
be suitably paved for one hundred
and fifty dollars per square or block,
on an average, the cost of crossings
being extra. This price would in
clude both stone and labor. The con
ditiOn of the streets now gives Oak
land shabby appearance in places.
The town authorities might set Il
better example of neatness. Witness
the piles of boards, stones, etc, al
lowed to litter the streets where re-
pairs have been made.
In New England and New York
towns possessing similar advantages
to Oakland as summer resorts. the
inhabitants have found it profitable
to make their towns attractive so as
to induce strangers to settle in them,
either temporarily or permanently
The average family of summer people
will spend in three months for house
rent, supplies, amusements, labor,
etc, an average of 5000 Twenty
such families would mean to Oakland
So, 900, or an average of ZOO a
month the year round. If they could
be induced to build houses they would
add materially to their expenditures,
would increase the value of surround
ing property and make the tax re
turns larger. Their presence also
would mean an increase in the num-
Der of families and individuals who
would patrOnize the hotels and board
ing houses. Forty such families could
be added to the population easily. 1t
has been found also that men of
means-sometimes men who have re-
turned to their boyhoOd homes to
spend the rest of their lives-have
been SO impressed with the attrac-
tiveness, neatness and order of these
towns that they have erected town
halls Ii hrn ,inS n of hnr fn1
building for the public.
In many of these towns are what
are known as Village Improvement
Societies. These usually are man
aged by the ladies. The members
keep their own premises neat by way
of example. They offer prizes for the
best kept lawn, the finest display Of
garden flowers, the best trimmed row
of shade trees, the cleanest sidewalks,
etc. They organize the children, not
only to pick up paper and other rub
bish, but also to not throw such
things into the streets, by making
presents to the children on the best
kept street or square. These prizes
are usually inexpensive as the honor
of winning them is sufficient in itself
A club for men would be helpful.
A house in which they could meet
and discuss the affairs of the town,
if comfortably furnished and supplied
with means of entertainment, infor-
nation and amusement, would not
cost much to maintain and would be
the means of much benefit to Oak
land. These associations of bust
ness and professional men in other
towns carry on the work that does
not properly belong to any office.
They discuss all questions looking to
the improvement of the town. They
arrange to secure conventions and
reunions of various bodies. They
try to secure the location of schools
and institutions. They represent the
best sentiment of the community so
strongly, that they are powerful.
The town of Oakland has grown
fast in the past eight years. More
than fifty new houses have been
erected within that time, many OF