The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-03-29
JUDGE MATHEsoN H44iJlMELY
SUGGESTION TO ON -
MUCH GOOD WOULD RESULT
Recommends Organization Of Improve
ment League and Enumerates
Benefits That Would Follow.
Billings, March %.

Billings, March %.
Ed Gazette: The present condt-
tions and future prospects of this city
make This IN opoprtune time fer the
organization OF "Civic Improvement:
League" During the summer and
fall there will be more than the usual
number of visitors. The meeting OF
the grand aerie of the order OF Eagles
in May and the republican state CON
yention in September will bring large
crowds from different parts of the
state, and thousands of homeseekers
from all over the union will be at
tracted by the reclamation OF the
lands east of the city and the prospec>
tive opening of the Grow reservation.
Apart from all other considerations,
and there are many and weighty ones.
a mutual desire to have our city pre-.
sent a good appearance in the eyes
of these visitors ought to put our citi.
Zens on their mettle. Individual effor.
and example can accomplish much;
but so much greater results can be
accomplished by organized effort, that
such leagues or associations have bey9
come recognized, wherever they have
been operated, as prime factors in
municipal progress.
Are All Good.
| The objects which these leagues
aim to accomplish are too numerous
to mention here in detail, but among
the more obvious ones are the follow
ing:
Keeping the streets, alleys and va
cant lots clear of loose paper, tin cans,
ashes and garbage of all kinds. The
citizens should earnestly cooperate
with the street commissioner in this
repard, and the city should provide
galvanized iron receptacles for waste
paper, ETC., placeu i. i.ssaanpenieat isiaaslglE
along the streets; the same care OF
lawns and backyards. The latter are
apt to be neglected, with the result,
as one writer expresses it, OF Queen
Anne front with a Mary Ann back
yard" An official city scavenger to
carry away all waste matter weekly,
or oftener if required, would be de-
sirable; the proper observance of Ar
bor day, including the encourage
ment of tree planting and Horticulture.
This would include still more rigid
Enforcement of the ordinances against
stock, chickens, ETC., running at large.
Flower seeds can be obtained for free
distribution from the agricultural de-
partment, and prizes might be award
ed to those who make the greatest
their homes; the removal of front
fences, improvement Of boulevards,
eH Some OF the departments OF the
I6ublic schools are teaching the chill
d.en to respect the rights Of property,
AMI in time a fruit tree or flower in
the garden, or street even, may be
as safe from marauding hands aa II
guarded by a bull dog behind mac
cessible walls: some method Of incul-
eating the idea that our nice cement
walks are not cuspidors; the omprOve.
ment Of our parks, and the acquisition !.
Of more land for parks, pla1as, etc.
before the price of land becomes too
high; removal OF bill boards and
other unsightly advertising; proper
patriotic celebrations with the COM
|mercial feature eliminated.
These are few of the most OBJ
vious objects. Those / have mem
toned, if carried out, would make such
an improvement in the appearance Of
the city that it would add to the hap
piness and pleasure Of the citizens and
visitors. would advance the material
interests Of every citizen, would make
better men and women OF the rising
generation. and those who cooperate
with the movement for municipal bet
rerment could feel the consciousness
that they had done something to
make the world better and more beau
tiful for their presence in It.
J. d. MATHESON.
p. S.-There are several books deel-
4nu uiA1, fhic cuhins.f IN 4hn y,aa111s