THE jHAWAIIAN 



rORESTER I AGRICULTUR19T 



Vol III. FEBRUARY, 1906 No. 2 



MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT. 



The concerted action of the many local improvement societies 

 which have lately been organized, is already having a beneficial 

 effect upon the appearance of the city, and during the last few 

 months unsightly neighborhoods have taken on an attractiveness 

 and even beauty hitherto unsuspected. In a municipal move- 

 ment of such widespread interest and importance, and into which 

 so many and varied interests have required to be harmonized, it 

 has been gratifying and encouraging to note the degree of unani- 

 mity and good fellowship which has actuated all those who have 

 been associated in it. This has been significant of the general 

 recognition of all parties and organizations of the necessity 

 of stimulating a civic pride which till now has allowed itself 

 to lie dormant, or at the most, to manifest itself only in a few of 

 our more favored suburbs. 



In a country in which nature has been so lavish in the infinite 

 varietv of her gifts, the tendency in the past has often been to 

 neglect to render her that aid which would have been necessary 

 in a less favored land. It has often been forgotten that the 

 hand of man, whether directed to architecture or agriculture, 

 mars and disfigures rather than embellishes the manifestation of 

 natural beauty. This is the more emphasized in countries 

 abounding in luxuriant and tropical vegetation, among which 

 the efforts of man often stand out in incongruous and un- 

 pleasing contrast. In such countries, it is therefore the more 

 necessary that all buildings and permanent works should, 

 as far as is consistent with utility, be constructed in conformity 

 with their surroundings and in harmony with the natural genius 

 of the place. 



One universal rule may safely be put in force as the initial 

 step for all improvement clubs. It may be formulated thus : 

 "The first method of beautifying a locality is to put it in order 

 and to cleanse it." In this none can go far wrong. However, 



