Semi-weekly herald. [volume] (Durango, Colo.) 1907-1917, 1911-02-13
CIVIC IMPROVEMENT.

II there is any subject which Is al
ways in season it is the subject OF
civic improvement, no matter how
much OF a "Spotless Town" city is
there is always room for little more
Improvement.
One OF the sweetest things about the
process of civic improvement Is that
the work never need stop simply be-
cause the available funds have become
exhausted for there Is work which can
be done at all times which will tend
to make the city cleaner and prettier
and which does not cost In dollars and
cents.
OF course the main improvements,
either on public or private property,
are matters of considerable expense,
such as sidewalks and crossings. or
pavement work, are OF this class and
a city must have more or less of these
improvements to be comfortable
abiding place.
1t is not always the question Of
cost which should be chiefly considered
for the question of dividend, or profit
upon the investment, must be weighed
against the question OF cost and a
balance struck and from this balance
the decision made. 1t Is sometimes
economy to buy bigh-priccd improve
ments and again 1t might be the act
of spendthrift to buy others at any
price.
The question as to how badly an I'M
provement is needed is also another
factor which must be taken into con.
sideration in order to strike true
balance, an arcLed gateway across
Main street down by the depot would
be beautiful sight and would please
the eye of the stranger arriving here
but to set u crossing across that street
which will enable the stranger to get
across the street without wading mud
ankle deep is much more useful
proposition.
That some improvement is needed
on the principal thoroughfare OF the
city Is admitted by all, the only ques-
ton at issue is the question as to just
what improvement to make and the
question of cost is bound to be one OF
the things potent in the matter of the
decision.
The cost of matchmaking Main
street can be easily learned, the cost
I.f tpta he
of macadam, would have to be taken
into consideration and then the advan.
tages of macadam, per dollar of money
cost, are ready to be weighed up
| against the advantages offered by
other paving methods.
The subject of civic Improvement
also takes in other matters as well as
the subject OF paving and matters oil
less expense but which are no less
important. The placing and keeping
the city under good sanitary and n.y.
genie conditions are in this class.
The identifying of the city by the
planting OF trees and flowers, the SOW
ing of lawns and painting of build
ings, are all matters which tend to
improve a city and the effects OF such
improvement are good for all.
There are improvements which,
while Of another and distinct class
from the ones mentioned, are just as
vital and these are the improvements
necessary to protect property against
destruction by fire. the rebuilding OF
dilapidated chimneys and the removal
OF trash piles In localities where there
Is danger of fire are instances OF this
| class OF improvement.
The question OF civic improvement
Is a question which will be always
with us and the season for improve
ment is always at hand, II you are
not able to paint your residence you
can perhaps rake up the trash from
your yard and II you are not able to
raise beautiful bluegrass lawn on
your premises you may, perhaps, plant
a tree or a few flowers and when the
time comes that we shall all do what
we can to make our town clean and
pretty we will be rewarded by hearing
our little city spoken of as Durango
the Beautiful"