University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1912-01-16


and occasional profanity where tn
slush was deepest. A pedestrian
picked his way along South Fift
, street. His boots had a sof,
soaked-through look, and meltin
snow clung to the creaseless bot
toms of his trousers. He turne,
and walked along Stewart Road un
til he came to the west end of th
bridge which spans the Katy" rail
road tracks. He paused. The rag
ged. uneven walk of snow, with tn,
abruptness of a scissors cut. droppe(
down through its four inches o.
melting misery to cleanly brushed
concrete ribbon which stretched III
a slope and was lost to his view in
the valley beyond.
"Ill be ding-busted. Columbia
10000 people; Westmount, 125 OF
80. Excelsior.
He stamped his feet on the well
shOveled walk and went on.
WestmOunt has civic improve
ment association that attends to lit
tie as well as big things; consequent
ly, its snow shoveling is not left to
providence and good weather or until
everything else is done WestmOunt
has had civic improvement assO-
citation almost since Westmount has
been WestmOunt. which is to say
since certain Oatfield on the Off
side of Columbia as you go south de-
termined six years ago to go out of
the breakfast food business and
start an addition to Columbia. The
addition was started with homes,
beauty and cooperation as basic
principles
WestmOunt started to build with
the deeds to it's property If it were
to be a place of homes something
had to be done to insure it's being
such. Clauses were inserted in the
deeds to the effect that all buildings
should be at least 60 feet back from
the streets on which they frOnted
fifteen feet from the side lines and
six feet from the back of the lots.
Thus the first necessities of the
home. air and sunshine, were in
sured. Moreover. it was required
that only one dwelling house be
erected on lot, that it should not
be less than two stories in height
and cost less than $4,000 when COM
guaranteed houses that. at least as
far as expenditure is concerned, are
homes. These clauses of the deeds !
may be modified or abrogated with |
the written consent of the owners of |
of the lots in the block |
in which change is proposed.
The question of restrictions set
led. WestmOunt began to build. The
WestmOunt Civic Improvement As
'ociatiOn had doctors, lawyers. engi-
leers. landscape gardeners among
is members. Committees were ap-
The doctors looked after
and drainage as regards
health. The lawyers took charge of
egal affairs. The engineers worked
With the doctors, and they checked
Up surveying. The landscape gard
'ners had the task of making West
Mount beautiful.
And what are some of the things ,
IOne? We have seen how the law ,
ers prepared the way. The engi-
leers and gardeners got together
nd decided that telephone and light
1ireS on the streets were, to say the
east. not beautiful. Six feet at the
ack of each lot made strip twelve ,
eet wide up the middle of the L.
locks. There was the place for the
elephOne and light wires. There
hey were put, and there also were l.
ut the water and sewer pipes Every
on water and sewer pipes
'as checked and accurately located.
VestmOunt is one of the few places
there water and sewer connections
an be put in general contract. The
OntractOr knows exactly how much
arth he must move to make connec-
ions. In most towns it may be ten
r twenty or thirty or forty feet;
rue. somebody knew all this, but
e has forgotten or died. WestmOunt
as its information on paper.
Then came the landscape garden
RS problem. Lawns were to be
lid out. The town had to be con-
idered as unit if the result was
D be pleasing. In most towns, pro-
ably from no malice whatever on
he part of the designers, all lawns
ght heartedneSS reiQnod cunromo I