The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-09-10

fresh air, sunshine, and a touch OF
Nature. With few exceptions, our cit
les are lacking in almost all the es-
sentials of comfort, orderliness, and
beauty that characterize
the cities of other nations.
European cities lead us in whole
some opportunities for recreation, for
the promotion of health, for enjoy
ment of art. They lead in the develop
ed individuality of their cities. In
what do we lead? Mainly, in larger
death rate and large tax rate.
We need to make many improve
ments which are for the benefit and
enjoyment of everybody, for the COM
mon good. In this respect how strik-
ing the contrast is between Europe
and America! The poorest working
man in Europe has some advantages
and opportunities which here the
wealthiest can seldom command. For
ty years ago Germany planned to pro-
vide in it's cities, and for all the peo-
pie in them, facilities for wholesome
physical exercise, large and conven-
lent opportunity to enjoy the beauty
and wonder of the nature world, and
more intimate knowledge of noble
kinds of human life and beautiful
products of human work. Fine city.
streets, orderly railroad approaches
and surroundings, truly beautiful
public buildings, open green squares
and plazas, refreshing water-fronts,
ennobling statuary, convenient and
ample Fairgrounds, numerous parks,
parkways, and boulevards, art mus
Gums, theaters, opera houses, and
concert halls-all these in Europe
are free, or SO nearly free that they
are easily available for all the people.
These are not only worthy pleasures
in themselves, to relieve from the
grind and fatigue of yesterdays and
today's toll, but they make definite
and indispensable contribution toward
tomorrow's efficiency
Happily, we are beginning to look
upon this matter of city making in a
new light. With popular realization
of the large and growing Importance
Of city life in the life of the nation,
has come better understanding of
the necessity for care and foresight
in making our cities worthy of our
civilization and fit habitations for
human beings. Education is the only
means of bringing this about. And
we are fast learning. In almost
every city are found individuals, pub
lie officials and associations of citi-
zens spreading the agitation for city
improvement and carrying out in
practical ways the new doctrine of
making cities better places to live in
giving them over to health, utility
and beauty.-La Follette's.
/. 4. 4.
A FOOT OR TWO OF BOOKS
Are you interested in making your
city better place to live in? Do
you want to know how it may be
made more healthful, more comfort
able, and more beautiful. Then you
would doubtless like to know what
the people of other cities have done.
In the following list of books will be
found many suggestions of practical
nature. Something of the contents
may be gathered from the titles. You
will probably be able to find all or
most OF them in your public library.
Public Parks, Frederick Law Olmsted
Cities and Ports, Robert Swain Pea
body.
Principles of City Land Values. Rich
ard M. Hurd.
Improvement of Towns and Cities.
Charles milford Robinson.
Modern Civic Art. Charles milford
Robinson.
American Municipal Progress.
Charles Zueblin.
Charles Eliot: Landscape Architect.
c. w. Eliot. u
Der Staedte Bau. Camille Site.
Municipal Engineering and Santa.
ton. M. N. Baker
Constructive and Preventive Philan-
,throphy. Joseph Lee.
American Park System. Report of the
Philadelphia Allied Organizations
The Awakening Of Harrisburg. J.
Horace Mcfarland.
Maltbie.
Civic Art in Northern Europe. M.
Neglected Neighbors in the National
Capital. Charles f,rWeller
Improvement of DwellingAsntbe Er-
ample Of Germany. T. C4korsfau
Special Numbers of "Charft IN
Parks" and "City Plannin
LA Follds,