South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-07-22
REFORMS POINTED
OUT BY SPEAKER
Dixon Says Towns Should be
Outlined and Planned
Before Built.


government. that town or city have
a plan building commission that
town have a woman sanitary inspector
10 protect the health of community
that the town government De kept IIee
from politics. and that the town estaD-
ljsb a community welfare association
--tbese were q few Of the highlights IN
Frank Dixon's talk last evening at the
chautauoua on The Social survey
or Taking stock Of Town.
Mr. Dixon pointed out the reforms
tbsf any town needs, the manner IN
which a city can be bettered, SO .lldO
Il will receive the greatest posSlDie
GOOD for the smallest possible eNpen-
Sf.,,ro 81 money. He would also pre-
scribe "a compulsory military seTNLce
unOn all school children, he told the
1arge audience in the chautauqua tent
"wednesday night. His lecture
heightened rs many interesting stor-
les. was we'll received.
Preceding the lecture, the SaVran-
offs entertained with a short concert
rendering songs in their native tongue
while playing on their own lnstru-
ments The Russians were something
decidedly new from the average run
of musicians and their selections re-
ceived a warm reception.
Mr.. Dixon's lecture Is given mere
quite in full:
Building of Town.
THE building of the town or city IN
which YOU live Is the biggest enter
prise in which any man Of you VIII
ever have a hand. Your private Dusl-
ness. however important. IS Dut
fragment OF the communal interest.
Your welfare is bound up with the
happiness and prosperity OF your
neighbOrs The citizen VINO seeks the
nrrrrN u H.
telligently for his own private gam
In the field Of community interests
the great law Of the spiritual world
il likewise dominant, He that seek
eth to save his life shall lose II.
That man is greatest among you VINO
serves.
Most towns grow up by chance not
knowing from one year to the next
what the outcome is going to be.
Everything that is done is apt to be
wrongly done, aimlessly and extraVa-
rlantIv done. Yet the opportunity for
replanning, and correcting the errors
OF the past is always ours.
THE energies Of community are
largely wasted because of a lack of
knowledge of the local needs, and a
coordination OF the constructive forces
which everywhere exist If a general
is TO fight a battle, he must have be-
fore him in advance a man of the
territory in which the action Is 10
occur. that he may familiarize himself
with every square foot Of the ground
If possible If a people are TO build
"a town or city. they must map out
the lines OF growth years in advance
that heir resources may be conserved
and their activities wisely directed.
Experts Are Needed.
Business firms today Will spend
thousands of dollars for the services
OF experts from outside who come In
and examine their methods and pro-
cesses and tell them where improve
ments are possible. town ought
to DO the same thing. This is So
cial survey. 1t means a searching in
vestigation into cOnditiOns-physic
Industrial, commercial sanitary edu-
Cational reCreatiOnal, relglOuS-al
the conditions affecting the welfare OF
the people in the community. Such
an investigation must be the result OF
an intelligent demand upon the part
of all the people, and must be backed
by a permanent local organization
whose aim is the welfare of the COM
munity-
Il cannot make such survey from
the PLATFORM can only reveal the
need OF il. mark out the lines alone
which / think it ought To proceed
and emphasize the benefits which
ought - follow. The people who
live IN the town. to whom it belongs
who are presenting IL TO the world
as their contribution to civilization
as the revelation OF their character
the incarnation of their ideals. they
alone can make an effective survey.
There are certain kinds of assets
which constitute the wealth of this
community, the resources out of which
YOU are building your town. Examine
some OF them:
plans should BE Laid.
~. The plan you are pursuing in
buiIdiug a town. Most towns hav,
not dreamed that they could have d
plan. They have simply added house
10 house. block to block. street tC
street. No man builds a private home
without plan. He knows his individ
uaI needs and directs his forces TO
wards their satisfaction Why shoulC
not a people build a town Just as in
diligently as an individual citizeI
builds a hOme2 Certain Interests ar'
vital TO all the citizens and they CaI
only be conserved by community ac
ton.
Economy, beauty, permanency
dignity - these are obligations which
rest upon all the people who contrib
ute towards the growth OF the toWI
IN which they live. They can only b'
secured through cooperative action
sAE AAENN0NA va tue AAAAAh ANAttAA mus
be subordinated 10 the welfare of tn
group. a town. planning commission
is everywhere an imperative need
This commission must command tn,
confidence of the people. and must b,
clothed by them with authority e
protect the communal interests.
Watch Public Health.
go. The health of the community
Property values in your town art
maintained only as YOU hold diSeas'
in check. The sickness of one mar
is menace TO all men. Clean streets
clean alleys. clean backwards clear
kitchens. clean grocery stores. clear
meat shops. clean water - these ar,
community assets of incalcula bI
value.
Science is concerning itself NOR
and more with the prevention OF dis
ease rather than with its cure Tn
best doctor Il not one who cures bu
one who keeps You well. Sanitation
HbohShcs medicine.
Every town ought TO have a womaI
sanitary Inspector. and back her M
with It's moral support, and with plen
nry legal power. She viii clean il M