The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-12-02
MAKE CITY LOOK BETTER

Alleys and Backyards Two Places in,
Which to Make q Start in that
To the Editor of the Republican:
In a treatise on Civic Improvement
by a well-known authority on the
subject appears the following: ITO
find some of these communities that
are yet in the earlier stages of de-
velopment we may turn with assur-
ance to the Western States. In the
newer towns, congestion, happily will
not be revealed, but Indebtedness
(from the standpoint of civic inn
provement) has not waited for con-
gestion. In fact, such public spirit
as there may be, is so crude and sor-
did that it counts anything-even a
water tank-as growth"
To say that such a picture was an
accurate II of the city of Mitchell
today would be in a very high degree
unfair, but there is, it would seem
enough truth in it at least to make
us stop and think a bit. Indeed this
bitter arraignment of Western cities
hurts. We have it is quite true a
splendid business city, prosperous
banks, good shops, busy wholesale
houses, and the best type of business
men. 1t is not in any real sense a
|"City Beautiful"
Now if we were to think that our
city existed merely for business, there
would be little object in our stirring
ourselves up in any great degree
about making for ourselves a "City
Beautiful" Or if u city was to
consist wholly of a community of
wealthy men this would not be a ne
cessary object to pursue, the rich
could make their own beauty, or seek
it elsewhere. But our city consists
in great part of those who, although
having to work are something bet
ter than machines. Men and women
who have high ideals, little children
whose lives ought to hold for a long
time the sweetness and wonder of
childhood, young men and maidens
touched with the love that glorifes
and enobles. They, who would plead
for a "City Beautiful" plead for al
very important thing, the environ
ment.of the worlds workers.. AS this
environment is uplifting, or mean
and depressing, as it feeds or starvesi
the precious aspirations in the lives
ofsthe workers of the world, just SOL
much 1t helps or hinders the onward
movement of the race, just so much
it helps or binders the real prosper
ity and growth of our towns. 1t is
such an attitude that gives dignity
and moral quality to any efforts to-
ward as"City Beautiful"
The question arises at once as to
what would be a suitable first step
in an undertaking of such Importance
us all.
Mr.. Editor and friends of the pub
lie, ought not the first step to be one
Of physical cleanliness? Ought we
not, every n of us, to make a real
effort, not only to have sidewalks and
streets of our city physically Clean,
but the backwards and alleys?
1t may e a far cry from the
city Beautiful" to garbage cans"
but 1t is not. The garbage can is the
first step. We can not of course ex-
pect a city of complete cleanliness at
once, but If we all start in and do
our part this winter. by caring for our
ashes and garbage in a suitable way,
boxes or barrels, ash cans or garbage
cans, or whatever way seems best,
if we all make an earnest effort to
clean up our own alleys and back
we can then go, in the spring
with some real backbone and ask our
city council to make arrangements to
have such refuse regularly removed.
They can do 1t. The situation for
a time would require but a small out
Of money and time. No plant
be needed for disposal Of ref
use. With every modern improve,
ment and no possible expense spared,
It cost the people Of New York in
1895 for their whole department Of
physical cleanliness, just three cents
per week.
And our city can do It. If we can
how them q real live interest in
making Mitchell in every way an at