The morning journal-courier., 1908-04-09
AN IMPROVED NEW HAVEN.


AN IMPROVED NEW HAVEN.
Cass Gilbert, the noted architect,
who, with Mr.. Olmstead has under
consideration the development of the |
city of New Haven from the physical
point of view suggests that Instead of
the phrase The City Beautiful"
which has in a way attached itself to
the intelligent and we'll organized
movement TO make this city more at
tractive to the eye, this phrase be
used: CITY Improvement" It Is
good suggestion. Like the word re
FORM the word beautiful" has come
under the suspicion of representing
something effeminate In origin and
impracticable in purpose. The word
Improvement" has sturdy qualities,
which the other two words appear to
lack in popular estimation, and on
hiitit ittVuht tVhilAc III inpit III a us
cusson Of the character now being
carried on.
The adoption of the word improve
ment' has this merit too. that IT adds
to the creditable work being under
taken by the committee appointed by
the mayor that being arranged for
under the enthusiastic direction of the
Associated Civic societies The latter
organization has many irons in the
fire and they are all worthy irons.
but for the moment that which Is to
aid In the cleaning of the city is up
permost in the minds of men. 1t does
not seek to do everything in min
ute, but it does seek to materially im-
prove the outward appearance of the
city and reinforce its health In this
connection one or two things should
been said or so clearly said as to re-
move an entirely erroneous impress
sion in some quarters. II Is not
charged that New Haven Is such n
dirty city that spectacular cleaning
up is necessary to make It safe to live
in 1t is of course fact that like all
other cities of It's size. and larger,
there are places where the dirt and
refuse and debris are allowed to col
lect and accumulate because there is
no organized scheme devised for their
periodical removal. 1t is, of course,
also true that as a community New
Haven has not been educated up to
the Importance of adding as little as
possible to the refuse both In the
streets and In back yards.
1t is to keep New Haven constantly
and sanitary condition that the pro-
posed street and yard cleaning move
ment is being arranged for more than
It is to tackle a condition of munich
pal degeneracy which no we'll in
formed man charges. It would be an
unwarranted reflection upon the
health department to bring such a
charge, which is not so financially
al h, ha rtt ,p hn olkaI h,,
the charter itself that 1t can do more
than keep the condition complained
of at its minimum power to do mis-
chief. The idea should not be gener-
ally accepted, that because portions
of the city can and do show neglect Of
back yards and side streets New Ha-
ven as a community of self-respecting
souls is Indifferent to its physical and
sanitary situation Most cities are
careless in these regards, and It would
be remarkable If New Haven should
overlook Its responsibility now that
attention has been called to It. That
It is ready, led by the officers of the
Associated Civic societies, to tackle
the job of house cleaning to the eX-
tent of its ability, suddenly called up
on, argues we'll for the future cleanli-
ness Of its area. The people of New
Haven should rejoice not that they
are suddenly to be lifted out of an UNI
sanitary condition in which they have
never been placed, but that they have
been brought to Il realization that
they have not been as careful and
painstaking as they should be in pre-
serving the principles of control
which make for better public health
! and Outward improvement There is
no foundation, in other words, for the
belief that New Haven is an alarming
ly dirty city. There Is a foundation
for the belief that 1t is not sufficiently
educated in the science Of uniform
cleanliness, and 1t is to provide that
education that cleaning up week is
to be instituted.
IT, moreover, nothing more comes