Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1915-01-29
PAPER ON CIVIC
IMPROVEMENT
PERTINENT SUGGESTIONS FOR
BEAUTIFYING HOT SPRINGS
READ BY MRS. G. B. CLARK
fine PAPER READ BEFORE TRAVEL.
ERS CLUB AT THEIR LAST
MEETING, FRIDAY

mLEIING, TRIBAL
AZ part OF the Bay View course
the Travellers Club of this city are
studying Robinson's Improvement of
Towns and Cities" At the last meet
ing Mrs. 9. B. Clark read paper on
the above topic which was SO we'll re-
csived that the club voted TO send it to
the Star for publication.
ut is hardly likely that the early
founders Of Hot Springs, many or few,
they claim to be many gave much
thought to the finer points of the civic
beauty of what would follow their be.
ginning. They we're heroic pioneers
who did wonderful thiIgs. l am told
that one of them built Battle Mountain
while another was digging out the
valley of the Cheyenne. However, we
are sure that no company of skilled
civil engineers could have selected q
cite In this region with more natural
advantages or with promise of greater
civic beauty than the one they chose
Indeed, Hot Springs is a unique and
delightful plsce-something like q
Chinese garden, distinct in its many
parts and wonderful on the whole. Its
examinations are foil of surprises and
80 interrupted and hidden that it takes
q long time to discover the entire town
unless you view it from the top of
Battle Mountain.
1t is the work of the present popu-
letion to make the best of what is here
by eliminating what is wrong and add.
ing greater and more artistic improve
ments. That we may do this with in
telligence and economy, a thoughtful
consideration of orr conditions and
needs and union Of good sense and
beauty in our ideals is necessary.
There can be no exclusiveness in this
civic work. 1t must get into the minds
and hearts of all the people, not only
the municipal government and the
few well-to.do, but the many who, by
force of numbers, must stamp their
taste on the appearance of the place
Those living in their own little homes
or even in rented houses In the hooks
and corners of our hills should be in.
spired to give thought, time and work
to more sanitary and artistic surround.
ings. The CITY improvement idea is be.
Ing worked out very successfully in
many small towns and cities. The
striking example of the oash regis.
tor community of Dayton, Ohio, shows
what united sentiment can do to beau
tify q place.
The abstract idea of beauty is lin It.
self subject worthy of consideration
and hes much to do with community
health and happiness. It is a well
known fact that anything ugly or dis
agreeable, causing aversion. disgust o,
like emotions is wssteful of life, while
objects awaking delight are conductive
to health and happiness. Hot Springs
is town where people come to be
healed, and there is no class of people
more keenly sensitive to impressions
and surroundings than those out OF
health. Hospital and sanitarium man
agements show an appreciation of this
fact by the way they plan and beautify
their grounds. So. iE our town, from
neither an altruistic nor oommeroia
standpoint, can We afford to overlook
the grateful restorative power of civi,
beauty. And this beneflcent influenc,
upon our guests will react upon our
selves In Scotland they say that th,
regularity and finish Of the turnpike,
has such an influence upon the peopl,
Is to make them all fond of regularit,
and neatness, which is displayed il
their fields, doorysrds and houses. ant
even In their dress and department
It pays commercially to erect hand.
some buildings and fine bridges, to re-
quirs uniform and attractive stree
furnishings, including pavements
signs, light fixtures and so forth. Tht
artistic conditions of town affect tn
rise and sale of property and touche
commercial interests in many ways.
have thought that to arouse unit
Cd sentiment on civic beauty We cou,.
perhaps have few public meetinet
secure some expert to lecture. Woul
1t not be possible to have a series O
picture shows to educate the ohildre
along the line Of street cleaning an