The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-24
COMMUNITIES MUST POSSESS
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
lust AS INDIVIDUALS DO
andicp Along Efficient Line
Men at Community Character

tersection OF the two principal busi-
ness streets that evening and counted
half a dozen dimly burning ncandes-
cent lamps. which furnished the sole
lighting facilities In the business dis
trict, AS stated above. the main
streets were eight TO ten inches deep
In black mud. Although the town
has a population Of some 1000. there
We're apparently no recreation fea-
lures and no entertainment to which
these people could have access. The
town cannot excuse itself on a basis
of lack of funds, because / have every
reason to believe that Its business men
are fairly prosperous; its banks have
made good showing, and the only
excuse ] can see is that it's people
do not realize their deficiency. Tween
ty-flye thousand dollars spent in the
macadsmizing OF some Sour or Eve
olochg of business streets. in the in
sta,lauon of twenty or thirty modern
light standards with cluster lights and
the laying OF q few thousand feet
or cement sidewalks would make this
town most attractive. up-to date
I community. After this casual sur
vey Of the little town. / could only
say to the gentleman | had come To
meet that ! would not want to live
! thfNif ALP DtlA uAibNI piFSS foiiaika~' IN
/ and could not consistently recon
mend that he do so.
( Il believe. however that dozens of
cities in the South would be willing
/ TO do something along the line of
/ civic Improvement if their delinQuen-
cies could be properly brought TO their
! attention, and with this idea IN view
] am going to make this proposition
} 10 he towns tributary to our line:
y. & W. Makes Offer.
That we will send down two or
three competent men. upon applica-
ton from them, To go over their town
In detail and advise with them rela-
tive to needed improvements and the
Approximate cost Of same II you,
gentlemen. here assembled. will give
publicity TO this proposition. believe
We can accomplish some effective re-
suits along lines OF mere hearty CO.
operation and the installation of bet =
/ ter civic facilities Until we do thia
/ we are going To he able to locate
the newcomer w'lo comes from sec
I ton where these facilities are univor-
sally provided. Get your town bet
ter paved. with good sidewalks and
the installation Of attractive lightin-
facilities: provide some entertainments
and amusement for your people, and
you Will not only retain them and in
spire them with desire for better
things. bat you will impress new
corners ard Induce them to locate
with you. Let me give you an tn
stance Of what can he accomplished
along these lines.
"One Of my former employees. on
my recommendation, secured a posi-
ton in Gadseeu County. Fla. as see
Rotary OF t'ae Gadsden County Board
OF Trade. with headquarters In ouin
cy. This little Town OF less than 4 600
population employed this young man
at a salary NJ $500 year. and some
other perquisites. to help them Inject
a spirit of progressiveness into the
community lie has only been with
them year, and in that time has orr
ganizcd the people of the town and
the county into an association for ma
1teftat development. he has improved
the marketing facilities at least 100
per cent has aroused the people To
the point of spending some $4,000
this year In extended street improve
ments and up-to-date lighting factli-
ties This little town also recently
established a clubhouse for the bene-
Gadsden County. The clubhouse is
! charmlngiy located in beautiful
grove adjoining the town, and Will
compare favorably with any up-fo-
date country club In the South; The
building itself Is provided with
snug general assembly room, wide
porctes sxtPudiug cictrf- around tn g
building some three hundred feet OF
same). billiard tables, bowling ALLEYS
shower baths and an attractive cafe
where excellent lunches are served
day and night az extremely reason
able prices They have their tennis
courts and golf ground, and they be-
lieye. as they should. that proper rec
reatIonai facilities are Just as neces-
sarv to a community as facilities for
effective work The business part OF
the town surrounds a large square.
lin the Center of which has been
erected an artistic. up-to date. county
courthouse at an expense OF SSo,eoo,
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