HoAV a City May be Made Attractive 



TmC lU'cd for iniprovinj4 the exist- 

 ing conditions in and around 

 cities and large towns was depicted 

 clearly and with force by Mr. J. Horace 

 McFarland of Harrisburg, Pa., who 

 spoke in St. George's Hall, Toronto, 

 on March 20, under the auspices of the 

 Toronto Horticultural Society. That 

 much .can be done in a short time to 

 improve these conditions was proved 

 by the success that has attended the 

 efforts of Mr. McFarland and his co- 

 workers in Harrisburg. Ivxcellent views 

 were thrown on canvas to illustrate 

 unsightly spectacles commonly found 

 as a city is approached. Among these 

 were such public nuisances as the 

 repulsive signboards, the odoriferous 



Before dealing with civic improve- 

 ment proper, Mr. McFarland discussed 

 the Niagara Falls problem, and advised 

 the citizens of Canada to put forth 

 every possible effort to prevent that 

 great scenic wonder from being destroy- 

 ed to fill the pockets of 1,000 stock- 

 holders representing six development 

 companies. Those financially interest- 

 ed claimed that by using this power to 

 develop electricity, a great public benefit 

 would result. It was shown, however, 

 that in Buffalo light was more costly 

 than in Harrisburg, where no such 

 means of developing power is at hand. 

 Views were presented showing the beau- 

 ties of the falls and the rapids at present, 

 and others showing what a hideous sight 



An Unsightly Dump at Harrisburg, Pa., Before Improvement 



dump heaps and the death-dealing 

 sewage systems. 



The executive of the Toronto Society- 

 are to be congratulated on securing the 

 services of such an authority on civic 

 improvement as is Mr. McFarland. 

 Great things are promised by the society 

 in the way of improvements in Toronto's 

 streets, parks, etc., and it can only be 

 expected that Mr. McFarland's address 

 will stimulate that body to still greater 

 work than had been proposed. Presi- 

 dent Frankland introduced the speaker 

 of the evening as the president of the 

 American Civic Improvement Associ- 

 ation. < 



will replace them if these companies 

 are allowed to carry on operations at 

 their own free wills. 



"The people," said Mr. McFarland, 

 'have the power to run the country's 

 affairs, and they should set to work to 

 save the falls. Every year finds an 

 expenditure of $15,000,000 by those 

 who visit this greatest scenic wonder 

 of the world. 



"Citizens of Ontario also benefit from 

 the visits of these sight-seers who 

 spend considerable money. When the 

 waters of Niagara are harnessed, all 

 this is lost. People lose sight of the 

 fact that this is a sight that American 



citizens should be proud of, because 

 they think it may result in a paltry gain. 

 Pressure should be brought to bear on 

 those in authority. Letters should be 

 sent to your premier, and to the mem 

 bers of your parliament urging that 

 steps be taken to prevent these develop- 

 ment companies from destroying such 

 a magnificent production of nature." 



The methods adopted in forwarding 

 civic improvement in Harrisburg were 

 outlined. In 1902, $5,000 were sub- 

 scribed by 60 citizens to be devoted to 

 formulating a scheme for general im- 

 provements. Three men were selected, 

 one of whom was given charge of water 

 and sewage systems, another control of 

 paving, and the third charge of parks, 

 drives, etc. These three men drafted 

 a plan of the various steps that should 

 be taken to make Harrisburg what it 

 should be. The report recommended 

 the expenditure of $1,090,000. 



The people had to be convinced that 

 the benefits that would result warranted 

 the use of so much public money. The 

 $5,000 that had been subscribed were 

 spent in educating the people to the 

 need of this. A copy of the report con- 

 taining the suggested improvements 

 was sent to every citizen ; clergymen 

 and principals of schools co-operated; 

 every organization in the city was ap- 

 proached, and the newspapers gave 

 valuable assistance. Women workers 

 formed committees and sent representa- 

 tives to the schools to talk to the chil- 

 dren and distribute pamphlets. In this 

 way many parents were won through the 

 children. Everything possible was done 

 to have the people vote intelligently. 



It was pointed out to the voters that 

 if this scheme was carried out it would 

 mean an increase in the tax rate of about 

 three and a half mills under the most 

 unfavorable conditions, but if every- 

 thing prospered as they hoped it would, 

 the increase would not be over two mills. 

 In return for this expenditure they 

 offered beautiful parks and streets, and, 

 more important from the standpoint : 

 of economy, a pure water supply and a 

 perfect sewage system. In this con- 

 nection views were used to show the ,\ 

 condition of the streets, the extent of 

 the garbage dumps, and the prevalence 

 of large signboards hiding natural 

 scenery that should be open to the view 

 of wayfarers and travellers. Statistics 

 were given showing the ravages of 

 typhoid fever and other diseases due to 

 using impure water and to an inade 

 quate sewage system. Unfiltered wat 

 from the Susquehanna River was being 

 used throughout the city. This water 

 had received the sewage from cities and 

 towns farther up the river, with a total 

 population of over 522,000. At certain 

 seasons the waters of the river lowered 



