The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1909-10-15
LOCAL IMPROVEMENT
Value n 0rvaaiesd ENsst III
oeauthyiNe . IouA.
SIMPLE PaoeeAu AovssAsu

eirsa-Gxessssat oAjsses Fss WtSes
. Massachusetts osOsaisseisa oGsats
There IN = world ef commos s~ss.
ssd wisdom In the following reuaark
which was made coacseuing . Ona.
dian town: TIE isek oe ualtaA e0or,
retardea the bsasttfyinG q tAe piece
~ a whole" IAAividuah weskins
alone have accomplished much. but
they inevitably oeed help. A eomnu
nifty should have an Organised effort
and when this conclusion has been
reached by the conference steps
should be taken to effect Que.
The organization completed. wha:
next?
A very simple program should, be
ditions. Here are some OF the FIRST
things" undertaken BY orga nixati
that have had successful careers:
Eniisting the chiIdreo in keeping the
streets clear of papers and other rub
biSh.
for the litter of the streets.
The caring for the space bet tween
the sidewalks and the curb and for
the cutters themselves. that they may
be kept clean and free from rubbish
The elimination Of weeds.
CO-operatinn with the tree warden
II there is one. or whoever may have
.k,,,u 81
one in charge there is no more impor.
tant first step than TO have some one
official charged with this duty
Preventing telephone and electrr
companies from backing OF and mnii
lating the branches and tops of trees
The enforcement of ordinances reI,f
ing to eNpe' toraiion. The throwing ~
papers and circulars on the streets
Eeeping the individual meuiscs in
COED order, including the hac, v,nl
The erection Of window boxes and
their proper maintenance summer and
winter
Having the city keep the. streets ho-
tween the curhS clean. If its ofticias
don't know how. show them I.ots oi
organizations have. and it has meant a
new era for the community II ron
can only begin with n small block. d.
so. hut make tho beginning. That IL
the important thing.
Framincmm. Mass. has an improve.
ment association that will renav care
ful study. Here are some of The Oh.
jec,s for which IT stands:
To encourage the hran'ifyiur Of pri-
vaie rlaces however limited in extent.
The hettermpnt of parks and other
public grounds.
The proper naming of streets AMI
roadways.
Streets and roadside planting
Improving. street signs. poles and
lights.
The removal of unsichtly fences and
lnillin;rs rr concealing them hv vines
md shrulIpry
The regulating or removing of often
sive billhonrds
Regulating or limiting public dump
ing places.
natural features.
To provide opportunity for the public
discussion Of all important questions
thr solution of which may affect the
vital interests of our community.
Finally not only to create "A more
beautiful Eramngham.' but to pro-
mote "all the higher interests of our
town"
This program could be adopted In its
entirety and he new society wotld
not go far aStray Many successful
orga aniZations have created widespread
interest through the maintenance Of
departments in The local papers which
almost withontShxception have been
willing to cooperate in civic improve
ment. Such publicity has both m ed
ucational and II corrective value. Th,,
Framingham Tribune has been Il great
force. not only locally. but throughout
the country. so effectively has tue.
work there been done.
Another way 10 promote interest is
to foster competition. Many commu-
mites now offer prizes for the best
kept front or back yard for the hest
garden, for the hest kent lawn. for tll,.
most effective single bit of local i'm
provement. Such contests stimulate
interest not only among those who
take part. but likewise among onIm,k-
ers. wh" are very apt soon to become
contestants themselves. Moreover. such
methods create additional .publicity,
which is always helpful.
Another effective way of increasing
public interest is through lantern
slides. These can he had SO arranged
as to show what has been accomplish
ed in progressive communities, and
then pictures can be secured to show
what Is allowed to remain unchanged
or unimproved at home. The Munic1-
pal league OF Los Angeles and the Sc
attic Post-lntelligencer stirred up the
people of their respective communi-
ties by showing up the worst side
"f the cities and thus making them
asha hamed.-Designer