Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-11
faithfully made and we feel confident
the prizes were justly awarded.
CIVIC COINCIDENCE AN ASSET


the prizes were justly awarded.
CIVIC CONSCIENCE AN ASSET.
THE meeting today was planned
with the view OF arousing local pride
and encouraging community conscious
ness by the exchange Of helpful ideas
and discussion of civic problems.
William P. Capes in a recent arti-
Gle states: Community consciousness
is as important an asset in any com
munity as the banking credit. That
campaigns of knocking and criticisms
will not develop it but will antagonize
and hinder progress. The most effec-
tive way is not to condemn home con-
ditions but to explain the bad and good
together, to suggest constructive rem
edies for the bad, to commend the
good Without cooperation there can
not be true progress. Without clear
understanding of community needs
there cannot be cooperation
"Ail the large as well as small cities
are striving to reach a standard of
| beauty. The surest way of doing this
at the present time is through civic
club activity. Many erroneous ideas
exist regarding women's civic work.
/ The civic club is not a political club,
neither does 1t intend to undertake
work being well done, or change good
conditions. Women organize to main.
| tain them, to lend their support and
cooperate with any effort for city bet
| terment Neither is civic work a call
for a new kind of work, but a wide
/ spread call for women TO assume re-
sponsibilities long neglec-e ed.
Children and young people general
" should be encouraged to take an
interest In civic conditions. It should
be at an early age part of their home
training; should be taught in the low
er grades of school, put into the sim.
plest language that beauty and clean
illness is the standard to be reached.
"In many cities the rlan has been
adopted of alloting children a certain
space of vacant ground, giving them
plenty of garden and flower seeds and
awarding gifts as prizes for best re
suits. In large cities this plan has de
yeIoped into an extensive educational
agriculture pursuit
ALLEYS NEED ATTENTION.
ALLEYS, the chief feature of unlove
Illness in our cities, and the everlast
, ing garbage pail claim their share Of
attention. Garbage collection has beer
more prompt than heretofore. Tht
general cleanup day ordered by tbs
| au horities is effective for the time
. being; neither system gives perfec
satisfaction, showing lack of coopera
ton. We need a steady effort ant
better supervision to improve thei
, present unsightly condition Zon;
: Gale, author, member executive boar
: / American Civic association writes tina
' alleys should be declared the propert,
: Of owners of abutting property Of
' condition they be paved. or grass see
E planted, the back fence replaced b,
shrubbery or hedge, and most impol
I tant, be better lighted. Is there an
!. reason why the streets be well Hun
4 ined and the alleys be kept In tbei
/ present dark unsafe condition? Roc
I Island is becoming too big and in
e portant a city TO longer permit IN
y alleys to retain their present 'couI
? try town appearance A better syi
n TEN OF garbage collection and ale
conditions should be inaugHrated an
II with the cooperation OF the public an
s city authorities be given special col
f. sideration By the civic department
o. "No single form Of effort II appl