The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-06-08
|ELFAST, MAINE, THURSDAY, JUNE s, 1905.

wound. All wounds made should be Gov
cred with coal tar or white lead to exclude
| the air from the raw surface This acts as
a preservative and at the same time pre-.
vents the inrOads Of fungi and insects. It
is misery to see how our fairest trees are
defaced and mangled at times by unskillful
w0rkmen who do chopping and hacking by
which trees are made full of knots, stabs,
cankers and deformed branches, often to
their utter destruction"
Another effort of the past year has been
10 secure an appropriation from the city for
the building of tomb-chapel at the ceme-
terry. The present disgraceful conditions
are too well known to take time to repeat,
and to those who have taken pains to in
vestigate the matter the absolute necessity
of this is plain. Two public meetings were
held for the purpose of arousing interest in
the plan and petition signed by a large
number of the heavy tax payers of the city
was secured, but the petition was ''turned
down. by the city council. The wisdom of
this is not apparent, for the time is certain
ly at hand when a building of sufficient size
and mortuary room must be had and a
modern convenient structure of handsome
architecture would be source of genuine
satisfaction to our citizens and all interested
in our city. Plans of work for the near
| future for us must include this and the i'm
provement of our park.
f, Realizing that no better medium of ad-
! vertising exists than the local newspaper,
we have kept our plans and successes be-
fore the public in this way and our thanks
are due The Republican Journal for free
space in its columns at any and all times.
| We have l20 names on our roll. One has
removed from the city, four have with
I drawn, 81 have paid annual dues to June
1905. We are greatly indebted to our col
lector Mrs. Harry W. Clark for faithful SER
vice. would here suggest that some
change in the method and time of collecting
dues be decided upon at this meeting.
We have held IS regular business meet
ings, less number than any previous year.
During the midwinter months January and
February, all meetings were suspended.
This was an innovation and following the
custom of some like organizations. Per-
sonally we do not approve the plan. We
believe members of rightly conducted and
enthusiastic improvement associ ion
should keep constantly in touch in ideas
and plans even if the season is not suitable
for the carrying out of some of them
To raise the standard of municipal taste
and tidiness to perfection is not an easy
matter, but is it not well worth trying for?
Work, yes of course it means work, but
.there is no secret of success but work"
We have not conquered all obstacles, still
ours has been creditabe work and we
have no reason to be discouraged. Many
improvements not stated have had their
origin in this society. We are forcibly re-
LuluuCu, LO"CfSI, tlldG we are ldI lTOUl LQ6
goal of our ambition when as we sit at our
desk, we can look out upon plot of ground,
that should be an ideal back yard, used as a
play ground for a half dozen or more boys
OF from ten to fourteen years, and the un-
kempt condition must be an eyesore to all
behOlders. They are evidently at the pres
ent time initiating Bohemian life and the
ground is dotted with holes dug for ovens,
the outlet of which consists of numerous
lengths OF old rusty stove pipes. Number
less old tin pans, in which baking is done,
are lying about with a mixture of cart
tent made from a cast off awning stands in
vltingly p open. We are amused and ad-
mire the genius of these bright lads. We
believe in the development of children by
play, but We would have well equipped
play grounds in proper places, and not
offend all lovers of well kept lawns and
gardens. We might quote other facts in
the way of miniature farm yards in the
heart of the city, woefully neglected cor
ners, shabby i'll kept fences, weeds, surface
drains that are a menace to life and health,
and other abominations with which we
are, alas, all too familiar, but civic pride is
to be awakened by just such organizations
as ours and perseverance has been and will
be rewarded
We would not be understood that such
conditions named are the rule but rather
the exception. Belfast has for the most
part pretty homes and many fine residences
with attractive surroundings that are de-
light to the eye, but the fact that there are
exceptions must be an incentive to labor to
make ours a model city. We say none of
this in d spirit of unkin criticism but for
love of our native city and We wish to quote
here from an article that appeals to US by
Miss MorreIl in the Gardiner Reporter
journal:
Every city needs one thing above all others for
its growth and support and that is the devotion
and affection OF its citizens. all that is understood
when We talk of civic pride. Give Gardiner this.
let her children bring TO her all that they can of
appreciation and moral ana financial strength
and she viii have no empty stores. no depreca-
tion. In union is strength for city as for our
country. and he who does not care, enough for his
home town to help il in all ways that he can will
never do his duty by his country. If all the pe0-
pie of Gardner will serve il as they should it
viii flourish and be credit to the State. | never
heard of another place of IFS size with the talent
this has, but il does to to lack unity and
enthusiasm am here SO small part of my life
that maybe | have no right to say much of its
needs and possibilities but Gardner was my
birthplace ana it is TO me what no other place
ever can be, and should like to see it come to
the fullneSs Of a small city's development in all
prosperitles, moral, Intellectual and financial. If
we each do our our best for it that is what it will
attain. 1t IS We who make Ii what 1t is and will
be.
To be of greatest value such a work must
extend uninterruptedly over a series of
years and the general principles can only
be established after repeated efforts. Let
us hold to the high purpose of our society.
Happily the day has passed when woman is
not to have voice in the municipal and
educational affairs of her city The en-
lightened trend of civilization of our day
has given her right position, and although
some are slow to recognize this it is con-
tagious, and woman with her certain in
tuition, unerring instinct, great love Of
order and beauty, is TO be a helper, if not
always a leader. in all lines of civic better
ment. To scoff at such proposed conditions
is to show ignorance of the great stride be-
ing made all over the country toward ideal
living.
The Belfast Improvement Society stands
well to the front in its special work and has
for its motto, "We believein the present and
it's opportunities, in the future and its
promises Women of the B. l. S. we
salute you!
We regret that the progressive character
of some of our people is not more pro-
nounced. We should have 800 enrolled as
members of our society, instead of little
above one hundred. and all working united
ly; then shortly our city with its many
natural advantages would be one of the
most attractive and fourishing in the State
and we should not be defrauded of our
rights. The sound of the electric gong and
the whistle of many locomotives would
come to our ears as sweet as the music of
harps.
In closing we desire to say that the
lp,i Str inp hos baa III -al