The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-06-18
STREET IMPROVEMENTS
Contributed.

the improvements made since my las
visit, and especially the cement side
walks just built, and have this to sa
that there is nothing that will d
more to help the growth of tow
than well-considered plan for i'm
proyements. Cement sidewalks an,
curbs are one of the best improve
ment possible to give clean, thrifty
modern, enterprising appearance t,
a town. They raise the value of prop
erty, increase the desire for beauti
full surroundings on the par. OF nome
owners, produce proper feeling o
pride in their home town, and dc
sire on the part of others to becom,
part of such an enterprising town
and thus bring in new capital, NV
businesses, and make better marke
for the produce of the surroun,lin,
country.
Nothing disgusts or disheartens tn.
IA ONE seeker more than to notice tina,
a town has only irregular dirt walk.
or in places no walks at all, or un
even, decaying, dilapidated, wooden
sidewalks, and he gets the impress.
sion that the people are of an un.
progressive class, as otherwise their
town would be better improved.
This is the age of cement, and
western towns that have awakened
to their opportunities, are putting in
cement sidewalks and curbs Just as
fast as possible in pursuance OF q
Well-matured plan looking far into
the future. The spirit of enterprise
IN the matter of civic improvements
VIII also display itself in the more
united desire Of the citizens to seize
upon every means that will build uI
their town and develop the latent pos
sibilities of the tributary country
Putting in cement sidewalks and
curbs give the same results to towns
as when men or women put on new
Well-fitting, beautiful suits of clothes
thus increasing their own self-respecr
and raising their value in tht, eyes OF
others.
Good cement sidewalks of uni
forms width, set at uniform dis
lance from the lot line, on a uniform
grae in accordance with the ma
tured plan for street improvements
for the necessary town drainage, with
q slight slant toward the street SO
that water will always drain from the
sidewalk the street, with curbs of a
uniform size, set at uniform dis
tance from the sidewalks, with uni
form curves at the street crossings,
give a spruce, clean appearance to
a town that nothing else will, and
increases the value of the adjoining
property more than the cost of such
improvements.
As soon as property owners, on
both sides of the street in any block,
have put in their sidewalks and curbs,
the city itself Immediately should
grade the street between the curbs,
in such improved block, cutting down
or filling up as may be necessary and
up the center for proper
drainage. 1t is no more than justice
that after the citizen has done his
part for the city, that the city should
do it's duty toward the citizen, and
this practice will set premium up
on sidewalk improvements, and such
well improved block will be an ever
present object lesson to others, and
an incentive for like improvements on
their part.
As soon as the sidewalk and curb
is in, II the property owner will
grade the parking strip between, SOW
it to some kind Of lawn grass and
white clover, and plant shade trees
in the center he will have place of
which he can be justly proud, and
that will call for commendatory re-
marks upon the part of every passer-
by. Shade trees should always be
put halfway between the edge of the
sidewalk and the curb, thus giving
them plenty of room in which to
grow, giving straight line of sym
metry looking up and down the
street, and saving any heaving Of the
sidewalk caused by roots of trees set
too near.
village improvement society
might be formed, uf not already in
existence) for mutual improvement
and social intercourse, as well as to
watch over all matters pertaining to
the moral, intellectual and physical
Improvement Of the town.
Such society might give prizes for
the best improved or most beautifully
kept block as an incentive to lot i'm
provement The necessary money
could be obtained by a small yearly
membership fee (say $1,000, by sub
scriptions, and by social s,ppers and
sales of various kinds.
There have been many such vii
lage improvement societies formed by
women, throughout the United States
Such society might start the nue.
leus of town library, by gifts and
purchases of books, charging small
fee for their use, until the library had
grown to size that would warrant
the town to assume it's care and man
agement, and grant free use to all
under the usual conditions for libra
ries. Such place would help In the
moral betterment Of a town.
| have In mind rural town in the
east, off the line of any railroad, con-
tanning about 1900 Inhabitants, sur
rounded by an agricultural region
less productive than that around
I,lackfoot, that has maintained a
growing library in a pretty library
building Of its own for the past fifty
years, without the aid of any Carne-
gle or outside influence, starting from
just such humble beginning.