Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-03-16
Civic Improuement.


"'fhe Possibilities for Civic Improve
ment'' was the subject Of the address of
Carl Rust Parker, member of the Ameri-
can Society of Landscape Architects and
chairman of the Maine 1920 Civic Com
mittee. The speaker after discussing at
some length individual and community
work for civic improvement spoke as
follows in regard to State work for civic
Improvement:
New communities are being developed
in our state especially in the northern
part. There is always tendency 20
provide merely for the present without
due regard for the future. If such
thing be possible, there ought to be u
state law supulating that no new village
shall be Incorporated until a carefully
laid out plan has been filed showing the
layout of such "A village, not only suffi-
Gent for present needs, but reaching
well into the future. Such a law would
benefit the community affected aud also
the State al large. But you will ask,
who shall be the judge of such plans?
y little later ] shall refer to a state
commission, whose duties would include
the above. Just at present there Is It
well backed movement on foot in this
state to reclaim some Of the cut opar
ttmhcrlands III Aroostook county, ana
sell them at normal prices 10 settlers. /
hope this movement will receive the sue
cess that il seems TO merit Bat Defare
foot OF that land is sold. some careful
plan ought to be prepared. which 4ilI
insure the proper development Of that
section Of the State. along modern lines
our state institutions. while not out
wardly entirely neglected. can be mate
rally improved. Certainly it can do M
harm to quarter the infirm and criminal
amid pleasant surroundings aud often
tIiBes good viii result thcrcfrom
''fhc Speaker vino follows me. will talk
To YOU about Good Roads, one Of the
most vital questions before You today.
aud hope You will all go home aud
start Il good roads campaign ut once.
Now good roads are the very best kind
OF an advertisement for our State. but
their value IS Increased tenfold IL they
lead to and around our natural attrac-
tons. BY this, do not think that / Be
iieVe In state roads only for the tourist
We need good roads for our own people.
hfSt of all, but Wien we build for our
selves and for the tourist traffic. let US
consider building where the natural at
fractions are greatest \ system of
state controlled roads, could be laid out
which would III time extend up and down
The shores of the kenncbec, and Penob-
scot, along the Coast line, and around tho
large Lakes. each road unit b. itself
but all joined together making one Of
the greatest pleasure tours in the world
such system need not be excessively
expensive. Many roads are existing n
present The first step would be TO plan
out such system and then build it up
piece by piece. year by year While such
work should be under State control the
communities affected would be taxed a
proportionate amount. Think what an
attraction such a system Of parkways
would be. The number of Automobiles
and Tourists would be increased a hun
dred fold, and the additional income
brought into the State would soon ex-
coed the expenditures made necessary
Having created then. certain duties
to be performed by a State commission,
we must organize such a commission.
am firmly convinced that the time has
now arrived when we should have "A
state Park Commission. of say five mem
bers, appointed by the Governor. the
term of such commissioners to be five
years, one commissioner being appoint
ed each year BY providing such long
terms the commission is less subject TO
political change, and the same general
plan of development is carried on from
year to year The chairman and eXecu-
tive officer of such a commission should
he salaried official and devote his en-
tire time 10 the work The other MEM
bers should receive no salaries. The du-
ties of such a commission would include
supervision of the construction and
maintenance of all State parks. park
ways and grounds of State institutions
They would also act as advisors to local
commissioners so that work in adjacent
communities might be eventually joined
together. Furthermore this commission
should have power to accept or decline
general plans for the DEVELOPMENT of any
new community. i think that the Legis-
iatiVe committee of this State Board
can we'll afford to give this matter i'm
mediate attention and endeavor To have
a preliminary unpaid commission APP
pointed at the extra session of the
Legislature, converting here next week,
whose duties shall be to report at the
1915 regular session with recommended
tons for State Park Commission.
i should be neglectful of my duties as
chairman of the Maine 1920 Civic AMI
Social committee if | did not impress
upon you, the Importance of making a
start in this work, at once do it now so
that when our Centennial year Is
reached We shall have In reality ~
Bigger Better, and More Beautiful
Maine
Good Roads.
Hon John Clark Seates of West
brook spoke in part as follows:
III you should ask me which is the