The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-07-11
The Spotless Town

Richmond takes pride, and justly so, in her
beauty. Few cities compare with her in the
number of streets lined with beautiful shade trees
and parking strips, parks conveniently located,
we'll kept yards, and beautiful homes. Individual
pride of the citizens in improving the environ
ment is responsible for this condition.
But there is room for improvement in one
particular The city authorities are trying to
remedy the evil The enactment of an ordinance
recently by the city council providing against the
throwing of paper and trash in the streets and
alleys, as we'll as section making it obligatory
on every citizen to remove the paper and trash
from the street and alley adjacent to his resi-
dence and to deposit it in receptacles, seeks to
nance the beauty of the city.
Every public citizen will agree readily that
streets Uttered with paper and pieces of trash
and dirty alleys are reproach to our boast OF
civic beauty. Whole-hearted cooperation of
every man, woman and child will quickly relieve
a condition that does not harmonic fully with
our ideas of the city beautiful.
The campaign which the board of works and
city council has inaugurated is based on the
principle that every citizen believes in the theory
of personal responsibility in maintaining clean
streets and alleys. The police power Of the city
in enforcing the ordinance does not enter into a
discussion of the question. 1t is simply ques-
ton of personal pride. Are citizens of Richmond
willing to keep streets and alleys free of paper
and trash do they want visitors to criticse the
unkempt appearance of the city? That's the
question each must answer for himself.
If individuals believe they run counter to
the expressed desire of a majority of citizens,
who pledged to platform of a city beautiful,
they will learn to their sorrow that the ordinance
carries clause which entails the exercise of
police power to enforce it's provision and fines to
make effective it's purpose.
Trash and paper receptables have been pro-
vided on Main street for the disposal of waste.
Old paper sacks, discarded newspapers, and
countless other articles which the pedestrian does
not want to carry should be thrown into them.
They were put there for that purpose. If you
have been in the habit of throwing empty tobac-
co sacks and chewing gum wrappers sidewalks
end streets, change your habit. 1t is just easy
to throw them in the gaping opening of a trash
receptacle as it is to toss them in the gutter.
Waste paper of all kinds, old rags and the
countless items that are listed under trash and
rubbish should be thrown into boxes and recep-
tacles. 1t will require outlay of money to OBJ
tain an old barrel or box, placed in your alley OF
at the side Of the alley gate, for the reception OF
discarded matter that comes under this cate
cory.
If you invest money to paint your house anc
barn, if you keep your grass cut, your shrubs
trimmed, your flower beds neat, and do not keer
the paper off the street and alley, all your money
has been spent in vain and your effort to beauti
fly your premises is futile.
An appeal to the civic pride Of Richmond
should suffice to end the nuisance. Time anc
again the citizens have rallied to the support Of
meritorous movement. Here is another oppor
tunity to prove that we believe our city is the
most beautiful in Indiana and that we will rectify
Over Their