70 
PARK AND CEMETERY 
IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS 
CONDUCTED BY 
FRANCES COPLEY SEAVEY, 
"LEAFY LEAMINGTON BESIDE THE LITTLE 
RIVER LEAM," 
Throughout America, almost without exception, 
sewers empty directly into streams, and ashes and 
refuse of all sorts are dumped indiscriminately upon 
their banks to the destruction of all beauty. Even in 
England the redemption of streams from sewage has 
come about within the past twenty-five years. Miss 
Dock, who spent several months abroad in looking 
into such matters during the summer of 1899, savs 
tion, composed of men, was formed which undertook 
the ‘promotion of the prosperity of Leamington.’ 
This it did so successfully, by agitating for improve- 
ment, that instead of large numbers of empty resi- 
dences and a general depreciation, within the past 
five years seven hundred new houses have been built 
in a city that has no manufactures to speak of, no at- 
tractions of antiquity, but is simply a delightful place 
of residence because it is clean, healthful, beautiful 
and well managed, and well deserves its title of 
‘Leafy Leamington.’ ” 
“The residence streets are usually planted with 
trees along curb lines; one of the most attractive has 
a grass bordered path up the middle of the street 
shaded by a single row of noble elms. (See Elm tree 
walk.) 
' “The specific work of the association during the 
SCENE IN RIVER PARK, EEAMINGTON, ENGLAND. 
that : “Leamington and Stratford offer opportunities 
of studying, improved conditions in small towns due 
to scientific methods.” And in her report of investi- 
gations in this direction, made by request of the Sec- 
retary of Agriculture of the Commonwealth of Penn- 
sylvania (see Bulletin No. 62), she says of Leaming- 
ton : “This small inland city, about the size of Wil- 
liamsport, is an instance of the material value of a 
beautifying movement. It is a young, modern city, 
pleasantly located on rolling ground upon both sides 
of the sluggish little river Learn, which runs through 
the heart of the town. About fifty years ago it was 
a fashionable inland watering place but gradually lost 
much of its fame and income. During the earlier 
days of prosperity two small parks had been laid out 
in the centre of the town, which were not open to the 
general public. 
“Some years since when the depreciation of prop- 
erty became very serious, an Improvement Associa- 
twelve years of its existence is shown in its statement 
of purpose.” 
AN ENGLISH IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY. 
The association has for its object the promotion 
of the prosperity of Leamington, and of rational 
amusements for the entertainment of vistors and resi- 
dents, by endeavoring to provide wholesome outdoor 
recreation. — G. Metcalfe Eayerman, Hon. Sec. 
“Summer tournaments of outdoor sports and 
popular games were organized, and a permanent band 
subsidized, which is now largely maintained by the 
city authorities, and a cheap and delightful boat ser- 
vice on the river is also subsidized. Boating is not 
only one of the great features of summer life in Eng- 
land, but the rivers are used only for purposes of 
health and recreation, as under a general law no sew- 
age is permitted to run direct into streams. At 
Leamington the city sewage is pumped several miles 
