Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-31
For The Good OF All.

| the States leading business men for
the purpose of discussing ways anu
means for making better use of our
great natural resources, for better
| development OF our educational insti-
buttons and for the general improve
ment of the lives and surroundings of
our people.
A board of trade is concerned pri-
marily with Industrial subjects, but
through the bent given the discussion
of proposal that we celebrate in 1920
| the centennial of this State, Professor
Sprague OF the University of Maine
directed the attention of the gathering
to the general improvement of condi-
lions in this State along aesthetic lines
Ne suggested that, in 1920 we celebrate
the one hundreth anniversary OF the
admission Of Maine 20 the Union as
a state and that we employ the next
decade in d concerted movement for
tie Improvement of the appearance
Of the State III OTdeI tlidt We may
nave more to celebrate.
Professor Spragues paper was heaV-
lily laden with suggestions 10Y I'M
provements which he asked the gath
erins to weigh. discuss and BRING To
the attention of the people in their
homes. He endorsed the policy o1
keeping hydro electric energy deVei-
ored in Maine within the State-a
nolcv 90 which we are committed
through an act of the Legislature.
He suggested more town and village
improvcment societies. the or2dnlza-
ton of 1870 Clubs the cooperation
of the various clubs in d town and the
enlisting of the mems clubs Of the
churches. all to the end that this laud-
able movement for improving condl-
tons in this state may be thoroughly
organized.
Professor Spraguc urged that cities
towns and villages give more attcn-
ton to sidewalks and that the dust
in the streets be eliminated. these
two suggestions being on the ground
that the dust in tic streets anu
that muddy sidewalks and dusty
streets are unhealthful. as we'll as in
convenient and dirty.
He suggested more beautiful homes.
hat nrt, l1nnpV
is required to build aghome that is
architecturally well done ethan is re-
ouired to build house which is ugly
and inconvenient. In this connection
he touched upon summer cottages and
urged that some way he found to mn
prove the general average of cottage
property so that it may be more III
keeping with the beautiful surround
ings provided by nature.
| He advocated radical change Io"
| the better in the architecture and the
surroundings of the railroad stations
in Maine. A great dga9 could be sad
| on this subject. for a stranger gets
| his first impression of town at the
railroad station If its surroundings
| ana the adjacent street are attractive
| he is in better frame of mind to
| consider temporary or even permanent
residence than he would be were he
to alight on a dirty back street where
| his first impression of the town or
| CITY is row of back doors OF stores
and business houses. with d plentiful
| sprinkling OF cheap tenements.
Professor Sprague spoke of better
care and improvement of town parks
and urged the planting of evergreen
trees in order that these parks may
not present the bleak and drca4y pros
pcct they now do Throughout the win
ter months. He would organize to
clean the streets. ref the wood
piles. manure heaps arS6sthe old fences.
He would plant thouaet cedar trees
and thousand spr,aes. lie would
take photographs from ~ Sfso year
to show the Improvement made and
would. in 1920. award medals to the
town making the greatest improve
mcnt. He would provide neighhorhood
houses for social purposes,f for ath-
letics, for debates, for dances, for lee
lures. for reading circles and if neces-
sary. for sabbath schools He would
collect the poetry of Maine and would
issue Maine song book.
j As Maine is first qf, all an agrcul-
tural State it was but natural that he
should touch upon agriculture. He
urged in emphatic sguagc that VIC
have more agricultural high schools
and that more and thorough. intelli-
gent attention be devoted to exploiting
the best that can be produced on
Maine farms. We need an ideal Maine
farm under modern cultivation, ac-
cording to his ideas. and corporation
in selling the products of every. farm
n His views concerning our schools