The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1910-04-07
FOR AN IDEAL TOWN.

Movement Suggested In Which
Everybody May Assist.
SANITATION A BIG FEATURE.
Public Baths, Clean Streets and Yard.
Are Necessities and Will Greatly HELD
Towns Prosress-Good Schools and
Playground For the Children.
What is the secret Of that wave of
town and city improvements effort which
is so conspicuously sweeping over the
country? Civic improvement has al
ways been need-not less great at
the beginning than now, though only
in recent years has it led to energetic
action. At the present time the move
ment is continent wide and has en-
listed all sorts and conditions of neo-
pie
Has one business or Industrial inter
ests? Civic improvement facilitates
the transportation of merchandise nv
street and rail and water: it lessons
wear and tear by the improvement of
payements; it broadens markets by
. the attraction of residents, transient
and permanent; it increases the eff
cheney of labor by the provision of a
more wholesome environment and the
opportunities for healthful but mex
pensive recreation
Has one interest in sanitation? Pure
air, pure food and pure water are
among its objects, and better housing
is one Of it's first desires. Public
baths, clean streets, clean yards are
included in it's propaganda, and it is
one OF the best things for the better
ment of towns.
Has one love for little children? The
child is the special ward of the civic
improvement effort For him the
playground is equipped, for him the
school is made healthful. efficient,
beautiful without and within; for him
are the swimming holes in the parks
the skating ponds and toboggan slides,
the ball grounds, the playground
meets, and for the little mother are
story telling, sewing and singing, the
swing. the flowers and for her charges
the sand box. Civic improvement
paints out the sign of keep Or the
Grass"
Does one look back instead of for
ward? The worthy landmarks of the
past are preserved, the historic sites
are marked and the beauty OF earlier
architecture is reverenced.
Is ones interest in sociology? The
playground, the park. the better hous-
ing make their appeal. The social CEN
ter, the recreation house with it's even
ing entertainments, the better factory
surroundings; the folk dance, the many
and various activities which are in
cluded in the growing social service
OF the parks, even the civic club itself
in its essential democracy-all this is
effort that will not be denied and will
tend to attract settlers to the towns.
Is ones interest in landscape art?
There are the parks, the ornamental
squares and open spaces, the improve
ment Of grounds surrounding public
and private buildings and the preser-
walton Of viewpoints and natural
beauty.
Is one rich? To him appeal the
drives, the increased splendor Of envi-
ronment, the great avenues. Is one
poor? For him are the public gardens,
the vacant lot cultivation and all that
beauty and comfort and pleasure
which is proffered to the citizens as a
common possession.
Does one love animals? The drink
ing fountains on the streets, the sheep
on park meadows, the birds and wa
terfowl, even the zoo and aviary make
him recruit.
Is one a craftsman? There are the
street furnishings to interest him
name signs, light standards, trolley
poles, all the fixtures Of the common
way.
Does one, without pretending to art,
yet loving beauty and grace and fit
ness, feel affection for the town and
city where men congregate and desire
to surround with pleasantness the lives
Of the people? He may enter the bill
board fight, join the anti-smoke leagues,
encourage the preventive work Of the
juvenile street cleaning organizations,
join the tree planting societies and
work to secure municipal control OF
the street trees and expert care for
theme. NJ. Robinson in Craftsman.