The Republican journal., 1903-06-04

ACIs MAINE, lHUNl0DA I :,
BELFAST IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.
The annual meeting of the Belfast I'm
provement Society was held IN Memorial
Hall Monday, June l, Mrs. H. ID. johnson
President, in the chair. After the regular
routine work, unfinished business and re-
ports Of special committees, the annual re.
ports Of the Secretary and Treasurer were
submitted, adopted, and by unanimous vote
requested to be printed, as follows:
THE sEcRETARY's REPORT.
| To the Officers and Members Of the Bel.
tlon OF this, my third annual report which
submit to you to-day, was very much in
| cllned to review the whole time since the
new civic spirit first found expression
among us In the form of society, and thus
make plain to some OF the discouraged ones
happily. accomplished and what excellent
| results have followed the labor of the three
years. This is not possible, however, in
the time limit of this meeting. and l must
confine myself to the report OF the past
year. the actual work done. and some Of the
At the beginning of the year the work of
carrying city water to our cemetery, done
through the instrumentality OF this society,
was in process. This was not finished until
late in the season, but the great benefit
therefrOm was at once realized.
The society continued the care OF the sew
eral grass plots about the city, and where
feasible adorned them with plants and
shrubs. The plot at the junction of Church
and upper High streets will hereafter be
attended to by Mrs. VIM. V. Pratt, who has
kindly assumed the care. This will be a
pended about twenty-five dollars upon this
single plot.
We have attended to the cutting of weeds
along the walks in certain parts OF the city,
and maintained the gravel walk on North
port avenue as formerly.
The litter barrels furnished by our society
were placed about the city early in the sum-
mer, and although criticised BY. some people
we are very sure that the untidiness of GER
tain localities where they were utilized was
not so marked. We were, however, in our
anxiety to be economical, unfortunate in
purchasing wooden receptacles. This sea-
son the committee having the matter in
charge have placed an order with local
firm for metal barrels, such as are used in
all large cities, and it is hoped by this that
our citizens may be deferred from throwing
waste of any sort into our streets. This de-
aItWeuC mas also empicycu Hian W ~
about the principal streets in the residential
portion of the city with team and collect
any and all rubbish possible. The City
Marshal, by petition from US, made raid
upon sonfe Of the lands back Of certain
stores, that together with neglected and
untidy appearance have really been men
ace to our city. These things are vital to
every member of our community and should
be generally approved. We cannot afford a
condition of things that diSgusts our own
citizens and repels every visitor.
The ivy planted about the schoolhouses
by the society, had good start, nOtWith-
standing the difficulty in placing the vines,
severe winter weather and only one or two
survived. But we are not disheartened, and
later another trial will be made. One OF the
specific objects we had in view for this
season, was the improvement of the school
grounds, and an appropriation was voted
the Superintendent and teachers it was de.
cided that the area was so limited, that II
plants, trees and shrubs were put about,
there would not be sufficient playground
for the children. The plan was reluctantly
abandoned for the present. One OF the
visions for the future nevertheless, is large
modern schOoihouSe, of handsome architect
ure, and with attractive surroundings, in
place of the ugly buildings and unkempt
grounds now our possession. Pres. Andrew
S. Draper of the University of Illinois says,
f'We are very likely to judge school by the
looks of the schoolhouse, and II the school
house is crude and unhealthful that the
teachers are lazy and the pupils shiftless." ;"
This is not true of our schools, still we
know that pleasant environment is an In
spiration to any pupil, and the ideal school
can be found only when the equipment and
surroundings are perfect
Sometime in the summer, vote was taken
to purchase number of durable lawn seats,
to be placed about the city for the comfort
of pedestrians, but owing to some mlSunder-
standing on the part of the committee this
was not done and is one of the plans carried
over for this year.
We have very bravely wrested this year,
as the two previous, with the vacant lot
question. Our committees have labored
faithfully to bring about a cOnSummatlOn OF
plans, but through the delay of courts and
the intricacies of law and some other lnSur-
mountable obstacles, the unsightly ruins
still stare at US from the main square OF our
city. We believe, however, that had our
annual meeting been called month later,
different report of this might have been
given.
At meeting held Jan. of this year it
was unanimously voted to appropriate the
sum of $50 toward the maintenance of the
Belfast Band for the present season. This
action was taken with due appreciation OF
the great benefit this organization has been
| to our city.
The work now in hand, and in which there
is much interest and enthusiasm, is the lay
ing out of large picnic grounds at the foot
of Condor St. in the southern part of the
city. Through the kindness OF Messrs. Dur
ham and Gilchrest, we have been lie ,sed
free of expense, section OF land on the
nOrtherly side OF said street, one of the most
delightful spots on the shore OF our bay, and
admirably adapted for the purpose. pa
vlion Of good size is already in process OF
construction. This will be furnished with
comfortable seats and tables. convenient
flight of steps will lead to the shore, where
stone ovens for clambakes are now being
built. In addition to this, large, commodi:
Gus bathh0uSe will be erected with all
modern arrangements. We are advised that
this latter will be much appreciated by GER
tain visitors who have been kept away
heretofore from our city by the lack OF con-
venient bathing equipment. The City
Government has generously voted to build
a substantial sidewalk from NOrthport Ave.
to the foot of Condor ST. for our convenience.
All the arrangements for the above are
in charge of an efficien committee consist
ing of Miss Maude Barker, Miss Charlotte
Colburn, Miss lnez Crawford, Mrs. F. j..
Rigby, Mrs. H. II. johnson, Il. f.. McDon-
aid, Rev Harry Lutz and Rev. A. A. Smith.
| 1t is intended that these grounds shall be
an ideal resort for visitors and our own
| citizens, where one can lunch, rest or take
| plunge in our great "salt water swimming
tank" all the while enjoying the magniti-
cent panorama of picturesque bay, with
\ n1 in