Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-07
AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

, as being 'sthe cultivation of higher ideals
of civic life and beauty in America. the
promotion of city, town and neighbor-
| hood improvement, the preservation and
| development of landscapes and the adj
vancement of outdoor art
The general offices of the American
civic Association were established in
| WASHINGTON in January, 1910. and from
that city there has been conducted a
vigorous propaganda by correspondence
ana distribution of printed literature ex-
tending to all parts of the United States
and Canada. The association maintains
a department for the rental of lantern
slides. which may be used by local speak
ers. and which are descriptive of the
changes that may be effected in towns
and cities.
These are particularly valuable because
they illustrate in picture form conditions
before and after in scores of commune
ties where definite work has been done
Under the patronage of the association
sectional meetings have been held in vari-
Gus sections and during the year to come
1t is proposed to arrange several impor-
tant territorial meetings where represen-
tatives from a group of states may be
brought together to hear the practical
talks given by experienced men on many
phases of the work of the association.
The American Civic Association is sup
ported by membership of individuals
and affiliated societies. the annual fee
being So, with special classes of sustain
ing members at $40. life members at $50
and contributing members at larger sums.
The principal officers OF the association
are J. Horace Mcfarland of Harrisburg,
Pa, president; Gin
Principal Officers ton Rogers Wood
of Association. run run. Oh III rn''aoe.pn'a'
dent: William B. Rowland Of New York,
treasurer. and Richard B. Watrous OF
Washington. secretary. These are assist
ed by five vice presidents, George B.
Dealey of Dallas, Tex: DR.. John Wesley
Hill of New York, Mrs Edward w Biddle
Of Carlisle, Pa, George w. MarstOn of
San Diego. Cal, and J. Locke Wilson of
Toronto, Canada. In addition there is a
general executive board made up Of eight
cen prominent men and women from
various cities all over the country.
The scope of the association is not linn
tied. 1t stands for better living condi-
tons, and that takes in almost every
thing. 1t stands for clean streets and So
licits the aid of every citizen: it advocates
germ-free drinking water. and is doing
what it can to educate the public to see
that economy and health are both on the
SIDE OIL good water, IL eSpOuSeS under-
ground wires for electric lines, and is
striving to impress the public with the
Importance of such program: it believes
in Fairgrounds for children and parks for
grown-ups, and is lending aid to every
agency that would bring them about; it
believes water fronts free from filth are
essential to public health, and therefore
advocates adequate systems of sewerage.
Public comfort stations, garden schools
for children. grouping of public buildings,
care of the trees and planting of new
ones-these are some of the planks in the
platform of the association. And it has
more effective means Of campaigning for
the public good than are usually at the
disposal of uplift workers. It's members
are enthusiastic believers in the promo
ton of the public welfare. and are moved
by humanitarian instincts; it has nun
dreds of affiliated organizations which
work to further its purposes; it has an
efficient publicity system for command
ing the public attention, and a system of
distributing it's literature where 1t will
count. Thus equipped, it expects to do
it's part toward making the ensuing year
notable for the promotion Of the welfare
of all classes and conditions of society.