The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-06-29
MUNICIPAL PROGRESS
IS APPLED DREAMING
Construction of Every New Utility Merely the Fruition
of TIE Ideas of Men Who Could See Through the
Clothing of Unattractiveness

the recent Water and Light COuyen
ton at Asheville1
Human progress is usually consid-
cred Invisible into two general classes.
individual and collective. And under
the latter head we properly classify
municipal progress. What is meant
by municipal progress? | really won
der how many could clearly define
what IS meant When a municipality |
IS said to be progressive? I will tell
YOU what 1t is in its last analysis: ii
IS but the intelligent and efficient CO.
operation OF individuals. each Of whom
is progressive. To say that a munich
pallty IS progressive, is the highest
possible compliment you can pay to
its citizenry.
You can not dissociate municipal
nrogress from individual progress.
The former is but an expression of
the wills of the progressive individ-
Hats. and reflects their cooperative
thought in a moral. spiritual and com
mercial sense. If a city bears i'll re-
pute it is not merely an dispersion
upon the integrity Of some intangible,
corporate body. but indirectly upon
every citizen, and each is responsible
tor his proportionate share of the
blame. IT is unescap pa BILE or it isn't
| democratic.
Since We have defined municipal
progress. it would be we'll to next in
auire. How are municipalities to be
made progressive?
The I4ifeIess Town.
AS we travel over the country visit
ing the municipalities OF any section.
it is nOthing unusual in the expert
ence of each of us to find a town in
apparently a ~lifeleSS condition. The
general scene is one Of inactivity and
Illumination. The streets need work
and attention.. the city hall a new
Goa of ain and the mayor of the
town a clean shirt and a new collar
, The atmosphere is depressing you
/ are glad when YOU leaNe-aU because
civic pride has long since c~onvulsively
gaSped and passed up the town to its
own ignorance and self satisfaction.
The regrettable thing is that thu
0 spirit Of depression is as contagiou;
as the spirit Of enthusiasm, and n,
e new conner can stand the strain O
unattra~ctiveness and gloom that boil
people and the conditions throy
: around him.
II The Live Town. ID.
: A few miles farther On you vii
find a town that is growing by leap
? and bounds children laugh and rom
in the public parks: the streets ar
= thronged with busy people and NOV
- ing vehicles, all presenting scenes O
enjoyment, busting activity. Tn
first town was a dormant municipality
the latter town a progressive munici
pality.
70 The blame for the condition Of tn
former town or the praise for hos
it Of the latter must inevitably be place
8 upon h personnel Of each citizen. A
at hat IAN save the dead town is a
h infusion Of new blood and a thoroug
ut awakening OF the pride and desire
ty the people for better living cond
r tons han those enjoyed by their fail
ers before them.
In order to secure Municipal Pro
IN gress'' or the full enjoyment Of thos
81 rights to which the Declaration Of II
dependence entities every America
is acknowledgements the puI
" suit of Happiness, there must
q dreamers. city planners with the abb
ity to see through the clothing Of III
attractiveness. These must be nun
~ cipal engineers with the experien'
and ability to Point out the way
he provide pure water, sewerage and sal
To itation and convenient lighting f
the home. There must be waite
es works to protect property from fl
and to induce the manufacturers
at locate, affording profitable emplo
ng ment to those III need work.
tn Civic Pride Essential.
tie Inculcate civic pride in the youn
,ef ef people, and as the Ola ole OUT Il
IS, forward march to civic prosperity w
he commence. Public spirit, civic pri'
to and patriotism are not more abstra
u terms, but Unbeatable qualities. O
he cannot think Of municipal progre
i~ndenendent of co~-Operation It is Il
rs, kev-note. the underlying basic pri
en- ciple. upon which the doctrine
Use local self-government and municir
-" progress is dependent.
It needs to be pointed out. that
81 every city some things are done
the benefit Of all the inhabitants
~ the city. things which concern o
ms peIsoi JuS u !"
,es water and light plants built and Sc
nit erage and drainage systems constru'
.te. ed. Money raised for these purpos
TO which are supposed to concern all t