The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-07-10
n I'M =. = 40 z "a 7Tfl4 -ia7g ~ ~
Growth of Civic Beauty.

The desire and the accomplishing of
civic beauty has been one OF the most
marked and encouraging facts of our pub
lie life In recent years. The people OF
America have begun to find out that a
beautiful city does not cost any moro
than mn ugly one; that 1t is heal thicr,
happier and pays better revenues. The
test has been made In factories. and It
mas been demonstrated conclusively that
n working man will respond to his SUR
roundings. be they uplifting or d epress1ng.
Just as readily as any other human being,
and the sensitive purse Of capital is ac-
cordingly trying to create the surround
ings that will enab BILE labor to produce the
most wealth.
So, too, in cities, 1t was first attempted
by philanthropy and then proved BY ex-
perience to be more profitable, wiser and
more efhcacious to give the boys and girls
a chance to amuse themselves in a ration
al way than to try to correctithe tenden-.
cies toward nisd emeanor and crime Which
inevitably and invariably follow upon the
life OF the average child whose playground
and associations are in the streets. 1t has
been but short step from the discovery
that children " ere benefited by having
to say nothing OF the unostentatlous but
satisfying sand pile, to the discovery Of
the benefit which the grown up people
derive from just such simple and natural
things. II any on doubts the enormous
difference in happiness which can be
made by few trees judicously planted
let him drive out the Brook Turnpike or
along any of the roads that sintersect the
Ginter estate as they are today shaded
and beautified by long, symmetrical rows OF
spreading trees. and compare Its beauty
with the arid waste OF dusty road which
has been transformed by the foresight and
broad-minded ideas of that great and
philosophical citizen, Major Lewis Gin
ter.
It is impossible to measure the impulse
towards desire for civic improvement
which Major Ginter's Improvements in
the suburbs OF Richmond have given,
The object lesson of what has been
done is a continual stimulus to those who
want 10 continue the good work, and is an
transferable argument to the ''let well
enough alone" obstructionlsts. Richmond
Is growing very rapidly. but Its growth
Is by no means on satisfactory lines.
Despite the building Of the West End and
the rapid Increase OF population In that
section. the houses are as a whole neither
beautiful nor inspiring, They are flat
topped, narrow fronted. and without gar
dens or yards. They offer shelter from
the heat and cold, but they make but
scant use, and in very many cases none
at ALL OF those environments which diff
ferentiate house from a home. Just
think how much mare beautiful the West
End would be. and how much more yalu-
able Ahe property would be. II you wish
TO look at 1t that way, II the houses had
a grass plot In front. porches, with vines
or rambler roses climbing over them, and
yards behind in which the children could
play or cultivate each one their own little
garden. Richmond Is city OF lovable
and delightful people. We have an unsur-
passed climate and will shortly have an
unequaled water supply Let us make 1t
a city Of beautiful homes. We have the
opportunity. 1t only needs the will II
| once the Civic Improvement League can
awaken this spirit It will have given
Richmond an asset both for wealth ana
happiness OF immeasurable value.
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