Results of Campaigns
A tour through any city on the first day after Clean-Up Week will convince the most incredulous that in promoting this movement the municipality materially lessens the fire risk and makes a marked improvement in sanitary conditions. Everywhere are heaps of waste materials and discarded articles, such as old bed springs, mattresses, sofas, glass, crockery, stoves, carpets, baby coaches, piled along the curb.
The following are some of the results conceded worth while in most of the cities engaged in the movement:
A continuous campaign accomplishing permanent good.
Stimulation of business. A canvass of the cities having clean-up campaigns resulted in the showing that 71 per cent. of the merchants were positive that their business had been increased.
Improvement of housing conditions.
Distinct educational value for the young.
Prohibition of open garbage cans in some cities.
Sanitation in the handling of food products.
Better laws and methods for the disposal of garbage and rubbish.
Reduction in fire loss; thus reduction in insurance rates.
Elimination of unsightly lots and spots.
Hundreds of school gardens.
Renovation in most of the homes in a way they had never before been renovated.
A great reduction in the number of flies and mosquitoes.
A stimulation of civic pride and cleanliness and safety of the home.
A united effort by practically the entire population toward an end for the public good.
The education of school children toward a better idea of living conditions.
The razing of dangerous buildings.
Elimination of public dumps, prospective early elimination of many more.
Hundreds of new street litter cans.
Cleaner yards and vacant lots.
Distribution of thousands of fruit and shade trees.
Collection of combustible waste by Salvation Army, relieving Street Cleaning Department, and reducing dump evil.
Development of community spirit through united action in a movement for public welfare.
The fact that most cities have repeated their campaigns from year to year should convince those which have not yet inaugurated the movement that the effort is well worth while. There are, however, a few large cities, New York being one, in which the congestion of work which a campaign entails creates a temporary situation which is unsatisfactory and expensive. These municipalities, and even many of those which have annual campaigns, are advocating more methodical care of light rubbish throughout the year, thus avoiding such a large spring cleaning. As a remedy several cities have lengthened the period of cleaning to several weeks. Generally speaking, however, clean-up campaigns justify the effort and extra expense by making safer, cleaner, healthier and more beautiful cities.