Holbrook argus., 1912-08-20
Community Building

lined as an attempt to control social forces. It is an effort on the part of citizens to improve various phases of the social environment-industr economic, political, material and spiri- tual. It is, in short, an effort to make life better and more prosperous The thing can be done; iJ has been done and is being done by the scores of towns throughout the United States; and it should be done by all. No object could be more worth while.
 But, needless to say, the thing is not easy; the result does not follow on the mere expression of desire. A great deal of fcooperative effort is required, and great deal of deter imitation, patl- ence and foresight. The social environ m ent of a town is great and mighty thing; it is by all odds the greatest and mightiest thing in the town, and is not easily moved or altered To set about altering it is a task compaI able to l building an Egyptian pyramid, and similar principles of management must prevail.
 The first essential is plan, knowl edge of what is desirable for the com munity to set out after and bring about. Does it want to invite new industries? Does it want to establish building and loan association? Does it want to en- courage home buying and oppose the mail-order evil? Does it want to im- prove the municipal facilities. such as electric lights, water works, sewage, car lines, pavements etc? Does it want to improve the municipal government and clean up politics? Does it want to secure a new railroad station or a branch line? Does it want to beautify the town and improve it's public spiritS [ Does it want to start commercial
 club or an organization of "boosters?"
 Out of the mulifarious variety of things
 which can be done to develop com
 munity, just which and how many does
 it desire to undertake? This matter
 should be decided quite defnitly, be-
 cause there can be no efficient, self-de- termined developments unless the par . ticipants know what they are wor king
 for. Otherwise there will be much
 well-intentioned effort in conflicting directions and the result will be little better than nothing One plan that falls ? somewhat short of perfection is better , than half dozen faultless ones, provided
 there is agreement on the one and con
 flict among the others.
 Having decided on plan, the next step is to choose body of active work l CTS and put some one in authority. It f will not be difficult to find number of community developers in any town
 when he prospective benefits, as meas
 urd by the experience of other progress sive towns, are submitted to their con. t sideration. The commercial and mer. ( camille interests are always willing to enter, ain a proposition looking toward :, greater prosperity, and will be enthu'
 slaetic recruits 0 the cause. The bank. : CTS and professional men will also be
 inclined to lend willing ear. The for. l nation of body of tboosters" will in,
 deed be the easiest feature of the un
 dertaking. With regard to placing some
 one in authority, the best man should
 of course be chosen, if possible; bu
 whether he be the best man or not, i
 is of prime import ance that he have
 full authority. Here again, one moder
 ately capable and conscientious maI is more serviceable than several dis , putatious geniuses. Too many fine anC $ worthy plans come to nought becaus " there is lack ol central authority
 and each subordinate factor begins |, - do things hls own way, with consequen friction and disruption.
 l. It was assumed in the beginning tha IT the development idea had taken hol' = of but comparatively few members o ! the community-the thinkers and lead
 CTS. the enlightened few with whor ie most reforms and progressive movement -e generally start. They communicate IS the project to a larger circle as out1ine h above. The next step is to inform tn d whole community. man, woman an , child, of what is about to be undertah u en. Tell them about it again and agai It until they know it as well as the mutt IS plication table and the alphabet Tn v foundation and buttress and keyston l., of the whole scheme is popularity. N :! great community reform can be brough l. about without the knowledge and cooI y eration of all.
 ID Right here the most important fac Il or of the whole problem enters in-th creation of spirit of popular enthus ~ asm and cooperation. Without it, notl at ;no 1or1 irnnortant or extensivo can F