Year: 1875

How to Beautify the City.


We do not care to trespass on what
EDMUND BURKE calls the "liberty of
will" but we intend to lecture our
citizens little on u subject that must
eventually benefit themselves as well
as beautify the city, and thus add to
the general good. 1t is but few years
since this city was devoid of single
beautiful residence, and only very re-
Gently since Improvements COM
menced on an extensive scale. We
not only want fine buildings, but we
want those buildings adorned with
grounds that will charm the passer-by.
There seems to be an impression
among the people that fine house is
quite enough, without regard to the
grounds. 1t reminds us of man with
u new hat, not having suitable cloth
ing to wear with it; he looks misera-
bly, seedy all over, but prides himself
on his two-stOry- -and-a-half head COW
ering. Such to our mind is the ap-
pearance of fine house and q barren
spot of ground. We have a great
number of wealthy men here-intelli-
gent, liberal and shrewd-but they
have spent most of their lives making
money, leaving all else for their wive
,.,1 oh IN ntt to


their fortunes are made, we


them to build beautiful home


extensive grounds. They do not


directions how to do it. They


employ u landscape gardener or Sc


the most beautifully adorned grou


they can find as criterion. 1t


add materially to the value of Il


own property, assist In beautifying


city, bring us thousands of perman


residents who would otherwise pass
our doors. Property all over the city
would soon double-nay, quadruple-
in value; money by the millions
would. flow into our Golfers, and
the half frozen millionaire and
invalids from the East would come
here to receive the benefits of this glo-
rious climate. The ball once fairly
started, the increase would be so great
as to make it necessary before long to
dispense with vineyards and orange
groves within the limits Of the city.
Every property-owner in this city, as
well as persons doing business here,
have an interest in the growth and
prosperity of the city. The question,
"How are we to keep alive those
kindly feelings of our visitors ?" is
presented to every man in the bounds
of the corporation. The energies of
our City Council have been heavily
taxed in the grading of streets, build
ing sidewalks and extending the sew
erage of the city. Property has in
creased in value by these improve
ments. But while our authorities de-
serve the gratitude Of the whole pop
ulation for what they have done, they
ought to be reminded of most i'm
portant interest of our city, which has
been totally neglected. The public
grounds of our city resemble the di-
lapidated possessions of forlorn
widow whose estate had been mort
gagged while her husband was living
for more than its value. There is
nothing that would add SO much to
the beauty and attractiveness of our
city as the ornamentation of these
grounds. The amount of means re-
quired to put them In order and make
them an ornament to the city is So
trifling, when compared to the in
creased value the improvement would
give to the property of the whole city,
that this neglect is absolutely mex
cusable. In such climate as this,
where nature is SO lavish with its gifts,
we are left without excuse If we don't
make the surroundings of every cot
tage thing of beauty and every pri-
vate garden and public park attractive
and lovely. If our citizens, public
and private, will give little of their
spare time to this work this Spring,
the visitors that will flock here by the
thousand next Fall will be so charmed
with the fragrance and beauty Of our
city that hundreds of them will re-
main and erect buildings and orna-
ment grounds for themselves.