Semi-weekly herald., 1913-03-13
make life better and more prosperous

towns throughout the United States
and it should be done by all. No OBJ
ject could be more worth while.
But, needless to say, the thing is
J not easy; the result does not follow
on the mere expression of desire.
A great deal of cooperative effort is
required, and a great deal of deter
mination, patience and foresight. The
social environment of town is a
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 task comparable to building an
Egyptian pyramid, and similar prin-
ciples of management must prevail.
The first essential is plan, a
knowledge of what is desirable for the
community to set out after and bring
about. Does it want to invite new in
dustries? Does it want to establish a
building and loan association? Does
it want to encourage home buying
and oppose the mail order evil? Does
it desire improved 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 branch line? Does it
want to beautify the town and i'm
prove its public spirit? Does it want
to start commercial club or an or
ganization of boosters" Out of the
multifarious variety of things which
can be done to develop a community,
Just which and how many does it de
sire to undertake? This matter should
be decided quite definitely, because
there can be no efficient, self-deter-
mined development unless the par
ticipants know what they are work
ing 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 conflict among the others.
Having decided on plan, the next
step is to choose a body of active
workers and put some one in author
ity. 1t will not be difficult to find a
number of community developers in
any town when the prospective bene-
fits, as measured by the experience of
other progressive towns, are submit
ted to their consideration. The COM
mercial and mercantile interests are
always willing to entertain propo-
sition looking toward greater prosper
ity, and will be enthusiastic recruits
to the cause. The bankers and pro-
fessional men will also be inclined to
lend willing ear. The formation of
body Of boosters" will indeed be
the easiest feature of the undertaking.
With regard to placing someone in
authority, the best man should of
course be chosen, if possible; but
whether he be the best man or no,
it is of prime Importance that he have
full authority. Here again, one mod
erately capable and conscientious man
is more serviceable than several dispu-
tatious geniuses. Too many fine and
worthy plans come to nought because
there is lack of central authority,
and each subordinate factor begins to
do things his own way, with conse-
quent friction and disruption.
1t was assumed in the beginning
that the development idea had taken
hold of but comparatively few mem
bers of the communicable thinkers
and leaders, the enlightened few with
whom most reforms and progressive
movements generally start. They com
municated the project to a larger cir
Gle as outlined above. The next step
is to inform the whole community,
man, woman and child, Of what is
about to be undertaken. Tell them
about it again and again until they
know it as well as the multiplication
table and the alphabet. The founda
ton and buttress and keystone of the
whole scheme is popularity. No great
community reform can be brought
about without the knowledge and co
operation of all.
Right here the most important fac
tor of the whole problem enters in
the creation of a spirit of popular
enthusiasm and cooperation. Withou
it, nothing very important or exten
sive can be effected. AS stated at the
outset, community development is an
effort to improve the social environ
ment. The social environment is Gre
ated by the whole people, and no eff
fort to improve it can achieve its pur-
pose unless the whole people, or at
least majority of them, are concern
ed in the project. If the people ere
ate the social environment, only they
can alter it.
The main problem, then, becomes
one of developing cooperative get
together" spirit among the body of