The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-05-31

{ results are q DSStlUOi1.
Here is wherein the civic bodies of
country are at a great disadVan-
It makes no difference how bad
civic improvements are needed, nor
how imminent the danger OF the
needed improvements, o how much
beauty or usefulness is lost in a fall
Rre to put into effect those improve
Tents that are wisely suggested, the
bower to put these wise Improvements
into effect is lacking. IT u civic
bodies had some official connection
with the municipal authorities, there
would be a greater opportunity for
usefulness, and more probability Of
effectiveness.
For the present in u W town
we are limited in u civic improve
ments to our streets, and possibly to
a park. I venture the criticism that
we have not a single street that is
propeyly shaded, and only one that
runs entirely through the town. I
think each street should be planted
with the same kind Of trees, selected
for their suitableness. How grand
would our main street look if it was
shaded with poplars Of the tulip kind,
or if College street was shaded with
our native sweet gum that has such
beautiful green star shaped leaves:
and whose fall colors are so gorgeous
Once on main street there was a short
row of crab apple trees. Why their
beauty did not induce others to con-
tinue the row is hard to understand.
I think if some of our narrow streets
were shaded by this tree which is so
beautiful when in bloom the narrow
ness of the street would be forgotten
in the admiration of the beauty of the
flowers and. the enjoyment of their
most delightful fragrance.
If this plan of tree planting was
carried out, it would make such an
Improvement, and as it takes such a
long time to grow a tree the sooner
we commence this improvement the
better. I do not mean that the trees
that have been planted by a few tree
loving citizens should be hewn down,
but the streets should be planted with
trees suited to the street, and when
these have attained proper size the
others could be removed.
We have several good Illustrations of
the fine opportunities for beautifying
the spaces left at the conveyance Of
streets not of the checkerboard plan
to be found on Harrington street. Take
the junction of Harrington and CAL
houn streets: Here is a triangular
space that could be beautifully i'm
proved by a Gamma bed surrounded by
petunias or v~iolets, and on Harring-
atop street at the junction of Thomp-
street, northeast of the court
Use, is a very large space that could
fs3d with grand effect by flowers
Seats, and a fountain. I remember
II another Though I am sure there
e many others) at the junction of
Boundary and McKibben streets. All
these triangular spaces could be made
and serve as object lessons
for still more civic improvements.
If the consent of the municipal au-
thorities could be obtained to put
these civic Improvements into effect
Immediately, they would serve d fine
purpose in winning the way to great
er civic improvements; for beautiful
objects, more than quick words, do
move the public mind, and as you have
no power beyond suggestions the
merit of your. cause will have to be
proven and established by the infu-
ences of those improvements you have
by chance the opportunity of making
If civic Improvements were, limited
in their uses to a qualification Of the
sense Of sight, they would indeed be
very limited. There are, however,
greater and better things than flow
ers and trees in civic improvements,
Heven though they did reform five
4oints. / know the cultivation of the
love of the beautiful will bring about
a betterment of mankind, but we must
also remember that the aspirations Of
the young are aroused and its growth
increased by the remembrance Of good
and great deeds. ! do not under-esti-
mate the effects Of identifying the
streets with trees and flowers, but it
is very much to be desired that every
community excite the ambitions and
aspirations of it's youth by statues Of
the noble and great, and triumphant
arches that not only beautify our
streets and parks, but by reminding