The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-09-02
INTEREST NATION WIDE.
Improvement Sentiment Growing in Al
 Parfa of the limited Sfafea

Improvement Sentiment Growing In All
 Parts of the United States. tery," Chicago. contained the following group of significant items:
 The North Chatham (Mass.) Civic Improvement Association, a village of 100 inhabitants, has been instrumental in securing the lighting of the town by electricity. The Association has raised funds to pay for two years lighting. which is q good record for an organization not yet one year old.
 n is reported that the Burnham plan for rebuilding San Francisco has been adopted. Mir. D. H. Burnham, who re- city. reports that in six months the new San Francisco, with It's wide driyeways and handsome buildings, win be well advanced.
 The Natick (Mass.) Village Improve meut Association reports that It's plant and shrub exchange was greater suc- cess this year than the year beforc. Were distribated and the demand r Tor them was much greater than the Asso- ciation could supply All parts of the town are showing visible signs of the improvement that has resulted.
 The Readviile (Mass.) Improvement Association, recently celebrated it's fourth anniversary with appropriate
  ly influenced the demands of the neigh borhood spirit and done much to im- prove the appearance Of the town. It's records show that 101 different matters taken. Of these fifty-eight have been carried through to successful con- clusion.
 At meeting of the Ingram Civic League at Pittsburg, Pa, recently, 1t was decided to give at least six awards this year for the best kept lawns in the borough, for the best collection of greatest improvement in home sur roundings Similar awards were made last year by the League. and were the means of great improvement and it was noticed that the competition had stimulating effect on the whole town tifying it.
 The lawn heautifuP' is to be made the subject of prize contest among members of the Douglas Improvement Association of Chicago. Residents of the district between Thirty-iirst and and the lake, are to receive S2i5 in cash prizes and twenty-fve bronze medals for the best kept lawns. The prizes are to be based on the appear ance of all grass space, including parkway on boulevards, which counts 50 per cent; decorative features, which count 20 points, and condition Of gar bage cans, which counts 20 points.
 At the annual meeting of the Ports mouth (N H.) City Improvement So- ciety, reports of the officers showed a busy seasons work. A triangle at the junction has been laid out and planted with hedge of barberry and groups of hardy shrubs. In the spring 5000 circular letters were sent out to tree owners urging upon them the necessity of destroying the nests of the brown tall moth, and many property owners both in town and country took great pains to heed this advice.
 The Playground Association of Bal timore, which is conducting twenty four public playgrounds In the parks and public school yards of tha8 city. expects to add number of new fea- lures to it's work this year. Local neighborhood boards composed of in- terested citizens living near the play grounds will be formed and the Chair men will be members of the Associa- tion's committee. The work has grown to such proportions that a paid secre- tary is to be appointed, and it Is hoped that circulating libraries can be ex- tended to all of the play grounds.