DEC 3 1914 

 EXECUTION OF 



THE spirit of the twentieth century, by popular consent, is 

 one of progress. Progress strides forward only by measures 

 of law and order. This is inevitable, else she would defeat 

 herself by her own struggles. There was a time when cities grew 

 up as they would, but now they are being planned. Progress has set 

 the irrevocable stamp of her disapproval on all haphazard procedure. 

 To be sure, there are still flagrant violations of this new idea and many 

 cities that might easily remodel their plans are wilfully negligent and 

 still more cities are blocking the efforts of their own enthusiasts by 

 stubbornly refusing any co-operation among the members of their 

 own community. 



And this lack of interest arises in most cases from a doubtless sincere 

 conviction that civic beautification is a waste of money. It has been 

 demonstrated and can be demonstrated times without number, if proper 

 methods are followed, that civic improvement is one of the best and 

 biggest factors of community life. First of all there is a large rise in 

 the value of real estate. This, of course, is partly due to the cost of the 

 improvements, but aside from the additional expense, there is a value 

 put upon those intangible things which are expressed in the new atmos- 

 phere of elegance and refinement. And this same atmosphere which is 

 appreciated for its indirect influence upon money matters, has an uplift- 

 ing influence upon the citizens which is rarely appreciated until it is 

 removed. And anything which, in any way is of value in raising human 

 standards and ideals, is surely worthy of unbiased consideration. When 

 these direct and indirect effects of civic improvement are fully adver- 

 tised ; when public opinion has fully realized that they are for the public 

 and that the expense of their production can be reduced to a minimum ; 

 and when these matters shall be intrusted to experts to handle, then we 

 shall have sufficient and valuable legislation, a hearty support from 

 every one and a healthy civic pride which will mean success to any 

 community. 



But to come to the phase of the problem that most directly concerns 

 us here, let us turn to the planting which is done along the streets and 

 highways of our State. With certain exceptions for which due credit 

 must be given, we find a supreme lack of order throughout the planting 

 which has been done already. 



To some minds there is the open question of the desirability of plant- 

 ing of any sort. There are some localities where it is seriously stated 

 that trees are not desired. In one city that comes to mind, it was urged 



