The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-10-20
CITY BEAUTIFUL,
CIVIC CLUB WORK
Continued
(By Luther Ellison, Secretary Ian
caster Chamber of Commerce.
CLEANUP DAYS.


CLEANUP DAYS.
For sanitation and health, for the
prevention of destruction of proper
ty by fire. for the beauty of the city
and for the reason tnat cleanliness
is next to godliness," cleanup days
are imperative necessities in all
special seasons when the mayor is
sues proclamation to the citizens
to look to 1t that the premises of
their business establishments, as
we'll as their residences, are thor
oughly cleansed of <eruse and rub
bish of every description are of COM
paratively recent origin and since
their inauguration nave grown In
popularity until now there are few
cities Of even minor Importance but
have one or more such cleaning
campaigns in the course of every
year.
1t is a pity, however. that such
campaigns should be necessary. In
some few cities, they are unneces-
sary because the citizens are so fill
ed with civic pride that they keep
their property in thoroughly clean
condition all of the time. But tho
average American city has not
paused sufficiently long in the
scramble for increased popula
to develop the esthetic side Gas,
regarded by so many business 4
of city building or development
But competition in trade haSbe-
come so sharp in all branches of
business activity, that 1t has forced
the merchant to study his business
carefully for the purpose OF finding
and stopping little leaks, so small in
fact that a few years ago he would
not give them a second thought.
He is realizing today that clean
place OF business Is more attractive
to the average customer than dirty
store with unkept surroundings. He
knows that refuse and rubbish in
crease the fire hazard on his prop
erty and that he has to pay for the
dirt in increased COST of insurance.
Although the average citizen rea-
Lies these statements as facts, still.
concerted action and continuous
action for cleanliness have not yet
been secured and consequently it is
necessary to have the cleanup cam
paigns. The usual method of con-
ducting such a campaign is as fol-
lows: The board of health informs
the mayor OF unsanitary conditions
resulting from foul alleys and prem
ises. The mayor as n rule will issue
a proclamation designating one or
more days to be known as cleanup
days, calling upon all citizens to give
their premises a thorough cleaning.
Tho city makes arrangements for the
disposal OF all rubbish collected
from private property and an
rubbish piled in convenient places
1t will be carried away. Many times
the insurance people will give valu-
able assistance in the campaign in
showing how cleanliness will de-
crease insurance premiums and
other questions of similar character
The Chamber Of Commerce and Civic
, Clubs get behind the movement and
all working generate sufficient en-
thusiasm in the campaign as to
, cause the whole city to bestir itself
to get clean.
/ Many cities have ordinances which
compel the citizens TO keep their
premises clean. Fines are provided
J for violations. Other ordinances
, provide fines for expectorating on
| sidewalks and in public buildings
: fines for tackiing cards and signs
on poles and fences and also makine
, II an offense to scatter bills on the
streets and in tho yards Of resi-
| dences. Other ordinances are pass
ed looking to the question Of sani
tation.
r One Of the most unique campaign.
) ever inaugurated was that prosecut
, ed by the Boy Scouts in London
= On certain day all of the boys Of
the Scouts were asked to band to-
gether and go out through the entire
city picking up paper strewn around
3 by carelessness. The boys entered
. into the work with surprising zeal
3 making play out Of work, and at tn,
: close of the day the largest city II
the world was cleaner than it haC
= ever been in its entire history.
l Think over the matter seriousl,
, and let's all get together and have
/ genuine cleanup day in Lancaster