The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1906-06-07
BELFAST IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Belfast I'M
movement Society was held in Room o.
Memorial Building, Monday, June 4th, ana
was called to order at 5 p. NJ by Mrs. Z. a.
Pilsbury, President
The bright skies and sweet breath from
the southland brought cheer to the hehl-
hers as good omen for the new year
work.
The routine and unfinished business
were readily despatched. Then came the
reports of the secretary and treasurer
which were adopted and by unanimous vote
ordered printed, as follows
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY
To the President and Members OF the BEL
fast improvement Society:
Following the custom OF previous years
present Won herewith my sixth annual re-
polt. The past year has oeeh notable per-
haps more than any other, ior continued
labor and struggle with little result. anu
vel We propos. to count each Bit OF good
that comes from our work as gam ana
speedily forget any seeming >et-bachs.
u G certainly have the wisdom OF Ilpened
experience in dealing with many alihcuitles
which will be invaluable to us III future
MANS We have learned, too. that III the
must be ever possessed with spirit o. OPP
timism and the ability to see over present
trouble to the end IN View
No one can deny that Belfast has become
pleasanter to the eye than tefore the ol,
ganzation of our society six Years ago, ana
some OF the improvements lnauSu!ate" ny
US are OF lasting benefit.
The major part of our time and strength
has been spent during the past t"elve
months in trying to forward the Id! lns o 1u
and ornamentating of the city PARK, ana the
result has been what might well discourage
a less heroic band of workers. we nave,
however. been endowed with great falth,and
realizing how far reaching is our ann, nave
moved steadily forward, determined TO over
come all hindranceS. We have not oeen
able to obtain the city counclis cohseht "
what might have been done al this liihe
was made in the purchase OF Inc lahd, any
the appointment after two years OF PARK
commission who promise to cooperate Win
us in a helpful, generous way IS ehcuulas
ing, 1t was at first thought best tor f.le So
ciety to assume the expense OF co,ipIetlHs
be enioyed by the generation now ON the
stage. but a constitutional clause against
any indebtedness beyond available means
prevented this. \ small appropriation mas
been voted for suitable trees ana otner I'M
proyemepts will speedily follow. 1t Is
ed this season. The south side Will De en-
closed as per vote of the city council;
If the advantages of park, properly ana
tastefuly laid out, could be realized by all
those citizens having at heart the growth OF
our city we are certain that we should not
lack for aid TO push on the work.
When one reads of the results accomplish
ed by Improvement societies in other COM
munities with not one-tenth the natural
beauty of our own fair city, it would seem
a comparatively easy task to further such
projects as are presented by us. But VIZ
have always the apathetic to deal with, and
again, those who object to everything they
do not originate and are ready Oh all oc-
caSions to critcSe those who undertake.
any public work, Some one has SAID that
sit is moral laZireSs, nay, downright COW
ardice to sit with folded hands " hen "a real
move in the right direction means success
to the city in which you live We do not
believe, however, that any OF our citizens
are actually blind to the tremendous pubic
good involved in these many improvements,
OF that it all brings US INTO CLOSER ana
more intimate relation with the larger
things of life, bat of course our CITY mas
MANY and continuous needs and all cllllnot
be filed, vet We can only hope to make our
city beautiful by working together and con-
tributilg DIS best We can toward Its aGorll-
ment.
'Parks." SAYS a prominent writer, care
those who caunut get away particular y.
They make one know IA little ot the Iesttui-
ness Of the country and give peace OF nlind.
They are for helithiuineSS, not only through
the repOSe they tugtldtr, but by btin5 d
source OF pa, jticatlun Ut the an NJ one
can enter a pdlk without noticing a differ
encp III the ar from that Of the street. he
movement to Increase the number o1 parks
is one 10 receive the approval o1 all think
ing people and any thing thai might tend 10
lessen these should be discouraged so thor
oughly that il will never have ID chance 10
appear again.
Last Year our society tbored to secure
All appIup idtion from tie city tor what
Was acknowledged to be a necessity, the
building of tomb chapel at the cemetery
Public meeting we're he'd to arouse an in
t-rest in this and A large petition u! the
heavy taxpayers secured, but without avail
Il was turned down. We note with -;ratlti-
cation that the present city council has IN
ciIided III this years appropriations SUN
for the above purpose that they are looking
sharp to other needs ANA that tnrle Is pr olh-
ise OF the clty's money being put iuto pei
nanent Improvements, better sanitation,
new school buildings and good streets; i'll
fact, that Mayo Dunton, 50 Tar as possible,
viii do things and do them right
During the Summer aud autumn the
refuse barrtlS We're maintained as formerly
and they have done away toa great extent
with the litter which - greatly d-tract>
ITsm the tlGN appearance uf our streets. A
sam Wa also appropriated f"r the ctrttrlug
the walks OF weeds. 1t would be VEL II
s.p1l.4 of ou. pe-upp could be often remind
It, oil Ihe 3eilldtIUu -lvrM 10y some one that
''a'it is na'tel uut ii place and that payer
tAlv " Ii tl 'ht streets and lawns becomes
d..t a..d 3: n. Nrlt ed men and WOMEN do
ilut >edttrl ,i'rt about.
\ p!pmln-lt clergy man in ttldlHrr re-
eelt y i.l g~Ied Il line sermon upuU VIC
lt,.r,...v-.t..41,t IA mi q Nt4lI