Downtown Merchants Push Clean-Up Week

May 11, 1957 Southeast Missourian

Cooperating to get the current clean-up, paint-up and fix-up campaign under way, these merchants of the Main Street business district took their brooms in hand to sweep off a section of the street. Some showed rare form with the brooms; others only a slight acquaintance. The cleanup campaign will be featured by the annual pickup of the debris by city trucks Tuesday and Wednesday. (G.D. Fronabarger photo)

Cleanup Drive is Under Way

The annual cleanup week program got under way in Cape Girardeau today with appeals from city officials and business men for community cooperation. Not only cleaning up is urged, but a general program of painting and fixing up is suggested.

City street department trucks will start out Tuesday to pick up rubbish which householders are to place on the parkway. This pickup will be continued Wednesday.

Mayor Walter H. Ford urged all citizens to observe the week. "Cape Girardeau is a very beautiful city and it takes each and every one of us working together to keep it this way.

"I would urge every one that has rubbish to be sure and place this material on the parkway so it may be picked up by trucks," he said.

Howard H. Boyd, president of the Chamber of Commerce, pointed out the economic effects of the campaign.

"Tourists, visitors from nearby towns, and industrialists looking for new plant sites do not know what our inner feelings toward our community are. They judge our pride, honesty, energy by the outward appearance of our homes, stores, government. If what they see is attractive and clean, they will stop to learn more about us. If dingy buildings and littered streets greet them, they will pass by and never give us another thought," Mr. Boyd said.

"Let's take an example of what a new industry would mean. According to a Finer Carolina Report, every 100 jobs in industry create 264 additional jobs or income equivalent in the community. It means more business for contractors, railroads, truck lines, bigger markets for farm products, more business for retail stores, barber shops and every other facility in the city. It is estimated that for 100 new industrial jobs about $250,000 of new payroll will be spent locally. The money turns over about five times in goods, services or taxes. Thus, it grows into a million and a quarter dollars of new business for the community.

"Even a tourist's dollar turns over several times so that we each get a share. Isn't that worth fixing, cleaning, planting and painting for? In addition, we will have the benefit of living in a healthier, safer, more attractive community."