Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1914-04-03
THINGS THAT MAKE A TOWN
NO. a
(By REV. G. S. WATSoN.)
ITS PUBLIC SPIRIT

ITS PUBLIC SPIRIT
There are few things that cheer
and inspire new conner to a town
as much as ''Its Public Spirit. y
We have seen some leaders of in
dustries grow rich in sleepy and
unprogressive towns and after
their money has been made, they
have moved away into more pro-
gressive and public spirited
CenterS. We have seen otker
cities, whose ambition has beeu
not only to promote business, but
to afford attractive and health.
full homes and educational and re-
creational facilities, and when in.
dustrial leaders and other bu 81
ness men lave secured for them
selves independent incomes they
have counted it an honor as we'll
as pleasure to settle down and
spend the remainder of their lives
in the towns where they have
made their money. "Good bust
ness facilities will draw people,
but only public spirit and attract
i've surroundings will hold them
after they have secured a bust.
ness that produces an income
sufficient for them to live else.
were if they so desire.
The South may truly boast OF
its unrivalled hospitality, and its
home loving instructive wish
that we might truly say that the
South were as free from prejudice
and as public spirited as the
West. We have previously made
editoial mention of Los Angeles.
and wish here only to note that a
few years ago when the city
voted upon bond issue of
three and one half million dollars
for the purpose of constructing
compile system Of macadamized
roads, the bond issue was not
only carried but was carried by a
vote Of six to one.
Too frequently in the smaller
towns our votes are influenced by
prejudice and selfish interest.
For instance, there is time in
the life of all growing towns.
when, in the interest of future
growth and prosperity, certain
municipal or town ordinances,
(such as a stock law requiring
people to keep their live stock off
the street,) must be passed. AT
such times there are often those
who not only oppose ordinances
made in the interest of the future
of the town, and for the good of
the greatest number of citizens
but who even show an antagonis
tic and reseutful spirit toward the
members of the town board max
ing the ordinance.
When Rockcastle County voted
on the good roads question more
than year ago, in our Judgment
the bond issue was defeated not
because there were not SUI.
hcient number in Rockcastle
who believed in good roads, but
because many voters were so lack
ing in public spirit that they al
lowed prejudicea and petty jealous
les of one kind and another to
determine their way of voting
We do not think that such thing
would occur again.
Of late we have been in cores
pondence with a number of cities
through their various Cham bers
of Commerce or Commercial Clubs
and regret that lack of space for
bids detailed discussion of the
public spirited enterprises Of all
these cities.
Some months ago, We were
passing thru the city of Hamilton,
Ohio, and, as the trainepulled into
the station, our attention was
drawn to a large, and attractively
painted sign board, bearing the
words: HAMILTON, OHIO
LEADSIN MANUFACTURING.
FREE FACTORY SITES
WRITE THE CHAMBERS OF
COMMERCE. GROWTH 47H|
PERCENT. POPULATION
1919. We followed the direc-
tons on the sign board, wrote the
Chamber of Commerce, and re.
ceived interesting literature,
which convinced us that Hamil.
ton was what it claimed to be, "a