The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1907-05-16
For the ITrnItIEH
Civic Improvement.

Civic Improvement.
1t the present time, when more
than ever before. a great degree d
interest and attention Is being given
to the subject Il civic Improvement
all over our country. II must b. graf
flying 70 the thoughtful observer %
note the stronger haid TIM subject
seems 10 have gained upon The pee
pie Of our town. both II the increased
order and cleanliness IF our streets
and highway, the effort thai i being
made by our town Officials - keep
them in good condition. and also il
the care and attention that is being
given TO such an extent 10 the beauti=
tying Of home grounds and the rur-
roundings Of the homes Of - many
Of our towns people.
Nature has done much tor Us Iu ne
situation and environments II our
village, and much can Also be done
10 supplement these advantages and
in some instances to improve. Tn
external appearance OF community
HOW a days is almost invariably an
iufallible index TO it, moral standing.
for the principle that like viii attract
like is cXemplified as thoroughly il
this as in other directions; and Il maN
be that The comparative freedom en-
Ioyed bV the residents Of Our town
from the presence of tramps, crooks,
and even worse, within our borders
is due to the fact that We tolerate no
place that would attract them. Dirty
minds and a low life III general can
not feel at home in clean and vel
kept community indeed it has been
said by students of civic conditions.
that if no suitable hiding place were
found anywhere for such life, il would
be forced out of existence and dis
appear within generations; and il Is
equally true that high -mindedness
and a spirit of order and cleanliness
can never feel at home in filthy and
uncared for surroundings; raise the
standard of civic life in any town.
and a better and higher class Of peo-
pie will be drawn TO ii with all the
certainty of the operations of the law
of gravitation.
IN regard TO the appearance Of a
town it would seem that no real-es
tate owner would wish to lower the
standard of the community in this
respect. The time has gone by when
whoever holds the titie-deed to a
piece of property may be considered
its exclusive owner; whatever this
title may signify he certainly is not
the exclusive owner of its appear
ance. for we ali have a share in that
and are unconsciously influenced by
it whether for good or Ill.
Ii has recently been said that the
organization of Improvement sOcie-
ties in many of the cities and villages
of New England is one of the prom
Using signs of the present time, for
in the matter of civic Improvement
New England has for many years al
lowed the middle west TO out dis
lance her. The object of these So
cieties wherever found is identical;
to make living conditions clean,
healthful and attractive; to work for
the creation of public parks and rec
reation grounds; to abate public nui-
sances-including Objectionable signs
and bill boards; to encourage and
take part in the planting and protec-
ton of trees, of shrubbery and flow
ers i'll unsightly places; and To work
first. last, and all the time for clean
streets and a citizenship that shall
become so thoughtful in this respect
that no rubbish of whatever sort shall
be thrown or allowed to drift into any
public thoroughfare.
We have in our own toWn-and have
had for many years-a Town In
provement Society that is honestly
working for just what its name i'm
plies; and while no great or startling
effects may have yet been attained,
il yet takes some pride in the thought
that some small things have been not
unWorthily done, and it is striving
through its membership of nearly one
hundred women, and with the limited
means derived from its small mem
bership fee, to remedy some defects
in our midst and to make our town a
little better, brighter, and more
beautiful place in which TO live.
While this setting forth of our pur-
pose is not to be considered in any
sense an appeal for aid, it has been
suggested that if any of the gentle
men of the town interested in its
welfare, and who have confidence in
the executive ability of the society,
should feel inclined to become asso-
ciate members, by the payment TO
the president or treasurer of one half
the regular dues, the regular yearly
dues are one dollar such member
ship would be received with grateful
appreciation, and each additional
half dollar thus gained would be
made to do its very best work. Lad
les of the town are also included in
this invitation, yet these are consid-
ered eligible TO full membership, and
will gladly be welcomed in such ca
paeity.
The primary aim of the society is
for the betterment of the town. and
to use all the influence under its con
troll towards making a community of
improved homes, trusting that in
good time. by united effort, a nation
of such communities shall bless our
beautiful America.
Pu1e m be Commended.