The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-04-29
WHAT 1T CAN DO
Some of The Things The Civic
Betterment Club Stands For.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENTS
Communicated.

The question is asked what the new
addition to the organized activities Of
the town NAV do and il is best answered
by an account Of what similar clubs
have done and are doing in other towns.
for there is no town with any ambition
in the country which is not using the
sense and time Of its women in its Civic
Societies Just as there are none without
its Chamber of Commerce or Business
Mems Association.
The club does not intend to arrOgate
to itself any superciious supervision Of
the Council with its certain crop of an
efforts, but there are great many
things outside Of the functions Of the
Council which can be done.
A similar organization in Rochester,
N. Y, suggested the Identification of
the river shore there, which eventuated
in a great park. Fredericksburg may
not accomplish this, but the bank of the
Rappahannock opposite CHI t h m
Heights, next the hospital and above,
could be made more slightly. 1t is now
used either for pasturage or not at all.
II it were cleaned up and the grass al
lowed to grow where old stumps and
piles of stones are, it would offer a
pleasing harmony with the east bank.
The club might engineer this plan with
out calling on the city treasury at all.
Other work done by such clubs are as
follows. The establishment Of cleaning
up days, on which all the householders
in town clean up the yards on one or
two certain days and the city carts
make one job instead of a dozen of TAX
ing the trash away. IL only those hUuse-
keepers who are members of the club
join in the plan a great difference would
be made in the city's appearance.
The planting Of vines on all unsightly
buildings, manufacturing establish
ments. warehouses and the like this
with the consent of the owners of
course. How about the rear Of stores
on Commerce street where wagon
yard shows them up so well?
The general encouragement Of the
planting of trees and care in the selec
ton Of the same. What a fine chance
for starting a beautiful avenue will be
offered when the Council shall have
built the street from Washington Ave.
to the foot Of Marye's Heights
The offering Of prizes for best kept
yards, for flowers raised by children,
for the best trimmed lawn, &c. Also
for best kept back yards.
Securing from the owners Of buildings
the right to paint signs or paste adver-
tisements thereon, with the view to
keeping away unsightly pictures, &c.
Property owners usually have no in
terest in such dead walls and the pres
ence of haring advertisements is usual
ly due to their lack of interest.
There are a great many organizations
of the same general nature as this club.
Most of them are affiliated with the
American Civic Association, which will
point the way to all sorts and kinds Of
schemes for the identifying Of city.
give the names Of books and pamphlets
telling what others have done, supply
ing lantern slides Illustrating before
and after" taking this new spirit Of the
times.
Nothing so stimulates the members
of such an organization as lectures on
civic subjects and Fredericksburg Is so
close TO Washington (where the officers
Of the American Civic Association are,
by the wayl that we ought to be able
TO get the best talent available for such
a purpose at the minimum Of expense.
In general the object Of the club is
to work along the lines Of the Business
Mems Association and in cooperation
with it, although the endeavor will be
TO stimulate interest in the looks and
healthfulness and general attractive
ness Of the city, rather than to its
more material advancement.