Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-05-17
CIVIC IMPROVEMENT
ITS POSSIBILITIES OUTLINED By AN
INDIANAPOLIS ARCHITECT.
For Lawns and Trees Estab-
lishment of Parks - BetterMent Of
Bnck Misunderstanding Streets-Sub-
%stituting Hedges For Alley Fences.

OI ihFkS retirement OF
Bnck Misunderstanding Streets-sub-
stituting Hedge For Alley Fences.
Betterment of towns Is greatly adj
vanced by the work Of civic improve
ment associations which have been es-
taDliShed In many towns and villages
Of the middle west. Their purpose is to
so influence the people of Il town that
they will insist upon good ~pavements,
clean streets, beautifully planted lawns,
care of back yards, the planting Of
shade trees, flowers and parks, i'm
provement of streams, bridges, water
supply and, in fact, everything which
will make an ugly town beautiful or
tend to further improve Il fine town,
thus adding to the comfort and happi-
less of its people.
Louis II. Gibson, an architect of
Indianapolis, who has not only an eye
for architectural beauty, but has made
Il study of this movement and has
done Il good deal Of work in connection
with it, makes the following practical
suggestions for Identifying Owls:
Civic improvement is utilitarian first
and artistic afterward. There is little
Of art for arts sake in city building.
Our first step after mere utility is
cleanliness, then more utility and then
art.
Under our form Of government we
cannot make 4 city OF town beautiful
by legislation. No one can issue an
edict and proclaim that We shall have
elevated tracks. The will of an indi-
vidual OF of a legislative body cannot
rid us Of the smoke nuisance, even if it
be such a simple engineering problem.
The personality of a mayor Of Il city
or town counts for little without active
public support and sympathy. We can
not act within the rigid confines Of the
law, but will be forced to follow the
influence of the most strongly express
ed public sentiment.
Active public interest in municipal
affairs means the expression of a high
public conscience. A public sentiment
in favor of a more beautiful city or
town means a more beautiful city or
town. The moral assertiveness of a
community must be back of all legisla-
ton in order to make it effective
through any executive.
Public interest born of public knowl-
edge of the healthful and normal be-
ginnings is all that is necessary for the
proper development Of a successful
park system. Inherently there is no
work less encouraging than that of a
department of public parks. Necessa-
rily their work is slow, it is never fin
ished. No park ever was finished. At
the same time it is absolutely depend
ent upon the encouragement and sup
port which comes directly from the
people.
Many of us have lost a great oppor-
l tunity in the neglect of our yards and
t particularly our back yards, in which
: we might have beautiful gardens. Who
> is it that may not buy seeds? Who is it
that may not grow marigolds, nastur-
/ tiums, verbenas, mignonette, moon
J flowers, bachelor buttons and many
| others that it is a delight to think Of?
The cost of these flowers counts for
nothing. The price Of theater tickets, a
= beefsteak or a few street car rides and
2 one may have the JOY Of flowers from
the seed or from slips for Il whole year.
Who will estimate the material or
commercial value of civic art? Who
will estimate definitely the value which
l comes to surrounding property from a
we'll kept park? A property owner in
vests 4 few dollars in trees to go in
g front Of his house and in his yard. Lay
ing aside the question Of comfort and
beauty that has resulted from this eX-
penditure, who can estimate the mate
rial, the money value which he has
, added to his property? 1t is reasonable
: to say that no other legitimate invest
: ment will produce the Same return in
dollars and cents. to say nothing of the
aesthetic value. Beautiful bridges, well
t kept streets, general cleanliness, all
have material as well as artistic value,
[ The alley fence must go. 1t is utter
5 ly without excuse. 1t is ugly, it serves
no good purpose, and there is Il better
r and cheaper substitute. | speak Of the
h~edge-the hedge for rear division and
alley fences. At our home we have a
:. hedge fence three years old The rear
t part, Which is Usage, is avoided by
t boys, dogs and horses. Even the cats
go around. 1t is infinitely more pro.
t tective than the old tight board fence
Too much cannot be said for the hedge
l for all back yard fences.
t There is nc excuse for uglincss. The
beautiful house, the beautiful surround
ingS, need cost no more than the ugly
ones. In no community with which
l am familiar is the most expensive
t house the most artistic. Beauty comes
! out Of the beautiful mind, the fine spir'
e it, and is not definitely related to the
D pocketbook. Nearly all of us fail tc
finish our homes by neglecting tho
grounds. That which would yield the
most for the least expense is omitted.
Ten righteous men may save us. moi
8 by personal activity, but through thell
psychological influence on others. Tel
8 righteous mel do not save Il city OF
] town by keeping quiet about it. They
t do not save Il city or town sitting by
their hresidcs or on their porcheS con
tomplntinr tha deficiencies of man