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PARK AND CKME-TERY 
tion and practice this twentieth century sentiment will 
crystallize into permanent effects. 
HARRISBURG, There has recently come to hand 
the Report of the Executive Com- 
mittee appointed by the subscribers to a fund for in- 
vestigating the question of Municipal Improvements 
for the city of Harrisburg, Pa., a pamphlet of some 
130 pages with maps and illustrations, which is worthy 
of particular approbation, as answering in a very 
practical manner the question of “How shall we begin 
the work of Municipal Improvement.” The thinking 
citizens of Harrisburg, Pa., had come to the conclusion, 
that for an important and growing city certain con- 
ditions were not in accord with twentieth century re- 
quirements, and a campaign was inaugtirated to secure 
subscriptions to a fund. An amount of over $5,000 
was obtained and at a meeting of the subscribers the 
matter was discussed and an executive committee ap- 
pointed to employ the services of experts and disburse 
the money to advantage for the object sought. The 
executive committee decided that there were three 
classes of subjects demanding attention; the Improve- 
ment of the Water System and Sewerage; the Im- 
provement and Extension of Public Parks, and the 
Improvement of Streets. The experts engaged to re- 
port upon these matters were respectively: James H. 
Fuertes, C. E., New York; Warren H. Manning, 
Landscape architect, Boston, and M. R. Sherrerd, 
Newark, N. J. The results of the committee’s work 
are three elaborate and practical reports, based upon 
expert investigation and study, and presented in such 
detail that the scope of the discussions and the plans 
of improvement recommended will be understood by 
any one giving the subject attention. Furthermore, 
these reports reduce the questions to practical possi- 
bilities, and ready for the next steps of the progressive 
community. Such methods may be pursued to advan- 
tage by any community, great or small. 
PROGRESS OF THE BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN, 
The efforts of the reformers of that most atrocious 
blot upon our civic and landscape development — the 
advertising billboard — are happily becoming apparent 
in many sections of the country. Wherever due ap- 
preciation of the billboard nuisance has obtained and 
an earnest determination has arisen, based upon such 
appreciation, to abate the evil, success has attended 
persistent effort. The arguments against the misuse 
of our streets and boulevards in the interests of trade 
are so forcible and irrefutable, from the standpoint 
of twentieth century civilization, that whenever the 
question comes to a test, in spite of corporate and 
financial bias, the decision is in favor of the reformer. 
On this very important question the following will be 
of interest: 
Drafts of ordinances have been prepared for the 
common council of Hartford, Conn., permitting the 
use of electrically-lighted business signs to project into 
the street, but limiting the dimensions and placing the 
control and discretion concerning such signs in the 
hands of the street commissioners. 
The Philadelphia Item, in a very suggestively illus- 
trated article, draws attention to the repeated violation 
of new and progressive laws. It says that billboards 
are a menace to life, health and property value, and 
that from every point of view billboards are object- 
ionable. Mrs. John Harrison, an exclusive society 
leader, has come out boldly and demands that the city 
be saved from such disfigurement. 
The Detroit, Mich., Tribune, blames the prosecuting 
attorney and the police for failing to enforce an ade- 
quate law against the indecent theatrical and other 
posters of questionable character. It might go much 
further and aid in the good cause with more editorial 
vehemence we think. 
The Borough of Edgewood, Pa., has enacted an or- 
dinance prohibiting any advertising whatever upon 
the highways of the borough, imposing penalties and 
repealing previous ordinances. 
The Buffalo News is spurring the new corporation 
counsel, formerly attorney for the billboard company, 
to prosecute as vigorous a campaign against the bill- 
hoard as the public attorney, as he did in favor of the 
billboard, while attorney for the corporation. Verily 
a legal education has wonderful power in creating two 
consciences in man. 
The Seattle, Wash., Times, has taken up the crusade 
and in a graphically illustrated article shows up the 
billboard in all its hideous disfigurement of the streets 
of that city. The council has, however, already taken 
some action towards abating the nuisance by raising 
the license fee, and is being ardently urged to take 
further and more prohibitory measures. 
Niagara Falls, N. Y., is moving to abolish the bill- 
board. The billboard in such a locality is little short 
of criminal. 
The Portland, Me., Telegram, says the unsightly 
billboards about town are an eyesore and reflect no 
credit upon the city. 
The Chief of Police of Chicago has ordered patrol- 
men to report the erection of all new billboards, and 
the Building Commissioner is determined to issue per- 
mits as sparingly as possible and strictly under the 
terms of the ordinance. 
The C., B. & Q. Railway has issued orders to all 
station agents to tear from the walls of stations all 
orders, circulars, hangers, posters, etc., which here- 
after will be neatly framed. “Post no Bills” will be 
the regulation concerning all advertising matter, and 
rigid rules are to be enforced for cleanliness and sight- 
liness. 
