Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-05-05
DEBRIS MUST co
Augusta Cleanup Due
May 10 to Is

Mayor in Proclamation Puts Stamp
Of Approval on Movement-civie
Federation Campaign About to
Bear Fruit-Many Spots Sadly in
Need Of Attention - Cooperation
the Watchword
The Journal calls special attention
to the Proclamation of Mayor Martin
this morning proclaiming May 10 to
May IS as Cleanup and Paintup
Week in Augusta. Everybody in Au-
gusta should plan to take an active
part in this splendid campaign to
make our own city a Better Place
To Live In" During the recent
stressful war years we have neces-
sarily neglected, for the world cause,
conditions in our midst, in our city,
its homes, work places, streets, alleys
and vacant grounds. Not only have
dirt and rubbish accumulated until
they are now grave menaces that
should compel our immediate cooper
alton with the Health and Fire Pre-
vention authorities in their efforts to
clean up and to keep cleaned up
but we also, perforce, have neglected
for several years the proper care of
public and private buildings and
premises; repairing and repainting
(affected by the war ban upon build
ing activities now happily removed)
have been SO generally neglected that
the resulting and continuing damage
and depreciation require stoppage
Seven thousand American commun-
tiles. moved by these conditions and
considerations, are participating in
the National Cleanup and Paintup
campaign. the spirit and plan and
success of which justify our own
prompt and unanimous cooperation.
The work comprises too many
phases Of community effort for a
single group or interest to assume it's
entire conduct. The immediate and
continuous cooperation Of every in
terest, organization, every n man
woman and child in Augusta is need
ed to carry out this crusade of Clean
liness. Thrift. and Civic Pride. to a
successful conclusion.
The Augusta Branch CT the Ma
tional Civic Federation deserves
great credit for starting and financ-
ing this campaign. Their Director.
Mrs. L. E. Summers is qualified in
every way to direct the work. Mrs.
Summers is trained worker in TAX
ing census and city surveys and has
taken active part in Cleanup Cam
paigns elsewhere. In Somerville.
; Mass. city Of 100000 population she
had complete charge taking a census
and sanitary survey. Furthermore
! Mrs. Summers undoubtedly knows
more about the housing and sanitary
conditions in Augusta than any other
! person. Since the first of February
she has been employed by the Ma
tional Civic Federation in the taking
or complete sanitary survey of Au-
| gusta which meant visit to and in
spectfon Of every house and home in
! Augusta.
! The result Of this survey as given
/ in her report to the Federation dis
! closes $50 houses in Augusta that
nave no sewer connection. Although
the law compels property owners to
connect with the sewer providing
! tnere is a sewer within a hundred
feet Of the dwelling yet many viola
lions OF this law were found. In other
cases it was revealed an extension
or the sewer system was needed i'm
mediately. Many houses had neither
running water nor sewer connection,
Many houses were found where the
sink drains were discharging openly
on the ground to the great annoyance
OF neighbors and danger Of typhoid
to the inmates and people of the
community.
On Sand Hill a five family tene-
ment was discovered with outhouses
discharging into an open eullev
| There was no sewer Connection a.