Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1902-08-09
TOWN BOOMING IDEAS
SOME GOOD SUGGESTIONS BY A ST.
LOUIS WOMAN

League For civic Improvement
wouId Benutify Towns-GoOd Sys-
tenn For Cleaning Sidewalks.
Mrs. Louis y. Mccall, one of the pro
! meters and prospective vice presidents
/ of the ST. Louis branch of the Amcri-
can League For Civic improvements,
suggests three original ideas for the
development of towns and cities. says
the St Louis Post Dispatch.
They are the ornamcntation of va
cant lots, the identifying of back
yarls and the adoption of a block sys-
tenn of sidewalk cleaning.
There are blocks and b!0'ks of un-
improved property throughout towns
and cities" says Mrs. Mccall. "Por-
tions of it nre scattered through the
best residence sections. All of this va
cant property is unsightly not because
it is vacant, but because it is in nearly
every case filled with rank weeds and
covered with signboards. Weeds and
signboards do not beautify vacant
property. Instead of them, at little cost
to the property owner they could be
beautified.
Trees, shrubbery or even some kinds
of flowers could be planted where the
weeds and signboards now flourish.
Then this vacant property would be
inviting. Benches could be placed on
these vacant lots, and persons could
stop there and rest.
Now look across the street" And
Mrs. Mccall pointed through her parlor
window to the unimproved property
running eastwardly from Vandeventer
avenue along the north side of Meier
son avenue. "All you see there now is
a large signbOard. At other times Of
the year the lot is covered with Il
heavy growth of rank weeds. How
much more attractive would the neigh
bOrhOod look if the lot We're covered
with shrubbery or trees, with a few
benches scattered here and there. Mr..
Lindell Gordon owns that property.
I'm sure he would be willing to aid in
improving its appearance if other prop
erty owners showed a similar willing
ness TO beautify their property. Such
a system could be placed in operation
in towns and cities If citizens would
act in concert to make their neighbOr-
hoods more beautiful
IL think block system of sidewalk
cleaning in cities and towns would be
of immense advantage in improving
their looks. My idea is this: In neigh
borhoods where it can be afforded, for
instance, let every resident contribute,
say. 50 IL month to q common fund and
appoint one man to take charge of it.
Let him hire men to clean the side
walks Of the entire block.
"1'hc men he hired might also clean
the front yard and the cutters. They
could preserve generally clean condi-
ton throughout the block. Right now,
no matter how clean one keeps her own
sidewalk or front yard, if her neigh
bors is not similarly well kept the
general effect is lost.
81 think 1t would add to the appear
ance of towns and cities generally if
people would pay more attention to
their back yards. My neighbor has
beautifully kept back yard. There is Il
finely kept driveway leading to the
stable, and in summer it Is overhung
by the thick foliage Of interlacing
trees. The Hirschbcrgs carry out the
English idea in this respect, l think,
further than anybody in st. Louis.
a nicely kept lawn is as pretty an
ornamentation for Il back yard as any
thing else"
Mrs. Mccall has other ideas for the
development of towns and cities but
these are q few of her more original
thoughts on the subject.
How can a town or city ever be
made beautiful" she exclaimed, "if
people continue to throw stuff into the
streets and alleys? That is one of the
first abuses to be corrected. The citi-
zens must all get together and each de-
eide to do what is possible to keep the
public highways clean"
Mrs. Mccall is also an enthusiastic
advocate Of public Fairgrounds and
free baths. She thinks the municipal
assembly should take up the bath ques-
ton.
81 went to one Of the free lighthouses
last summer established by private
subscription. There was only about an
inch of water on an asphalt floor but Il
number of little fellows were actually
swimming in that inch of water in the
most blissfu fashion imaginable. 1t
was really pathetic"