The diamond drill., 1919-04-19
Community BETTERMENTS
DEPEND ON COOPERATION

OF the people. They are over 3O,O00,-
900 strong and we cannot overlook
them. But someone says all these
things cost money what will our
taxes be?
Did II ever occur TO YOU that that
class OF good citizens where citizen
ship consists in voting once a year
and paying taxes in the smallest pos
sible assessed valuation. is responsi-
BILE for most OF our ills.
| have heard, and so have you. men
right here in our community, that have
children, we are educating In our
schools knock, and not paying one dol
lar in taxes. These things do not inn
prove the town and we are all res
ponsible for that spirit living i'm our
midst and thriving. This thing is
easy enough TO overcome if we ioin
hands and all show our citizenship
by lifting and bettering the cammun-
! ity
l am ashamed. for one, that / am
in class two and three generations
removed from the place of our fore
fathers birth that Will let people
come In, and just removed from their
birthplaces and only few years back
have adopted America as their home
place, and give us lessons In commun- |
ity work. The work they are doing
among themselves is wonderful. Each |
one does his part for the betterment
OF all They have their gatherings
where they talk over The things that
viii better them as a community.
They have community ownership OF
tools such as corn binder, grain bind
er. corn planter, drill, saw mill hay
press, threshing machines, etc. AMI
these things tend TO bring them clos
er together. We do not need this form
OF community work. Community cen
ters are not new by any means. Would
we not all enjoy ii II we had place
where we could all meet for a good
lime now and then a place where
we could hear lecture. A place ]
where we could 90 and read; a place
where we would feel at home to 20
'na get a good book to read?
There is none of us but what can =
alk with the greatest men OF the )
and by our own freside, through
ood books Wouldn't we all be glad
one night week the men could
acct at the gymnasium and one night Is
week the women could meet for the e
anne purpose? Would II not be nice
, go 10 a good basket ball game play 81
4 by our own boys and girls against in
lme OF the boys and girls in neigh
oring towns? Wouldn't il be a treat
} see and hear an illustrated lecture
ow and then and wouldn't you be
'oud II we were doing our bit by m
olding up our end? am sure YOU 81
ould, everyone would. be prouder
the place he lives in.
Well, IL Is not as hard a task as :,
u think If we 20 az the thing as "
ough we intended doing Il and
ckling one thing az a time. III,
We are very fortunate in being able wa
pay for nine-tenths OF all these his
ngs by outside help. that leaves us in
{ one-tenth to meet ourselves. Some an
may say, but is It right?" Look Ella
'und and see what Is left of the
tural resources that are open 10 the
Iividual and ! think you will agree 80
is perfectly all right and that we
justified and only foolish II we i
~ make use OF our opportunities peo
ne as they did. IL Is business. Tn,
Veil, what will we tackle first hon
school? why? wo,
because 1t Is the most vital Of all ver
lgs and the stepping stone to all fre'
rest We have good school que
have good equipment, good qui'
rhers. and children that are as A 8
,ht as any. The rooms are al who
- clean, yes. the inspector told n
We were up TO the standard n ,,
these things. But our school
dings are laughing stock; they I,
not properly ventilated. Our tot
systems are abominable. ~
e are crowded Our Fairgrounds dar,
have none, but the box cars. the
shed roof; the church ground I'll
swamps and the street. our Satu
'ol playground II II was fenced In =.
Id not be large enough to keep -
In. lie would have 10 wag his
up and down, for there would not Me
Dom for him TO wag II crossways drov,
d you ever stop to think how EN- ~,