30 LANDSCAPE GARDEN SERIES 



at least one other home. So, in fact, we reached and influenced not 

 one home in every five but two homes in every five, or better 1 than one- 

 third of all the homes in Davenport. 



Even the corporations caught the spirit. At least twenty of these 

 improved the property surrounding their plants. One institution whose 

 plant covers approximately four city blocks plowed up all the vacant 

 space around its entire plant and planted it in trees, flowers and shrubs. 



Our Commercial Club, inspired by the results in our contests, in- 

 augurated a so-called "Window-Box" campaign and as a result seven 

 thousand, two hundred and sixty feet of window boxes were installed 

 in one week throughout our business district this year. 



A CLEAN CITY. 



Our contest has been of very material assistance to our city officials 

 in the maintenance of clean alleys. Our ordinances with relation to 

 garbage, ashes and refuse are more nearly lived up to. Certain of our 

 state officials insist that Davenport is beyond question the cleanest city 

 in Iowa. 



There are four substantial reasons why a City Beautiful Contest 

 is worth while, all of them being reasons that should appeal to every 

 business man: 



First A City Beautiful Contest pays in dollars and cents. Our 

 contest has demonstrated beyond question that every dollar invested in 

 shrubbery within reasonable limits, where care is exercised in the selec- 

 tion, planting and maintenance, will add three dollars to the value of 

 the property within three years. Three dollars in value for one is with- 

 out question a good investment. And this is leaving out of considera- 

 tion the pleasure and the satisfaction in an attractive yard that money 

 cannot measure. 



Second A City Beautiful Contest is a potent factor in the mak- 

 ing of a clean city cleanliness and health are twins. A clean city 

 means a healthy city, and health and happiness also akin. 



Third A City Beautiful Contest stimulates interest in home own- 

 ership. It emphasizes one of the many advantages of the ownership of 

 a home. Beyond any question a city where the majority of homes are 

 owned is the superior of one where the majority of homes are rented. 



Fourth A City Beautiful Contest is a potent factor in the devel- 

 opment of a civic pride, one of the important factors in the development 

 of a civic consciousness. And a civic consciousness is a very decided 

 factor in the success of some cities. A spirit of co-operation, an ability 

 and a willingness to pull together, has contributed much to the develop- 

 ment of some cities over their less fortunate rivals. 



