The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-09

1t Is More Enthusiastic and More
ginnings, Small at First, Have
shown the scope of Its Possible
Success-RepOrts Received Were
Very Encouraging.
Previous to yesterday mornings meet
Ing at the Commercial club there may
have been one or two luke warm members
of the Woman's Civic league. 1t would
certainly be difficult to find even one now.
For there is nothing so contagious as en-
thusiasm, and the $50 or more members
who met yesterday in the Commercial
club parlors were fairly bubbling over
with 1t. And well they might be. The
meeting was taken up principally with
the reports of those who have had charge
of the streets, parks and vacant lots, and
it is safe to say that no association Of
business men could have nose successfully
organized, controlled and personally con-
Quoted so efficient q corps of workers as
have the women who have had charge Of
this particular branch Of the Women's
civic league. The different reports as
they were read made the few men who
through curiosity or interest were present
very wide indeed.
Mrs. Condo Hamlin, the presiding off,
Ger, in a short opening address said that
she was forced to admit her surprise at
the work already accomplished by the
league. The work done was most prac-
teal and the street Improvement enter
prise was fairly started. The league would
soon be called upon to take up more grave
problems. as for instance, consideration
nniOn
necessary that the women take some
steps to educate themselves along this
line.
Miss Lily Long, chairman of the COM
mittee on lectures, reported that arrange
ments had been made with DR.. Samuel G.
Smith to address a series of twelve lee
lures on civic subjects next fall.
The question Of street cleaning and i'm
provement was then taken up. Mrs. N.
II. Vittum is chairman Of the committee
on streets. For each street she has ap-
pointed a chairman who is responsible
for the condition of that street. Under
the street chairman are subchairmen for
the different blocks. The downtown dis
trict is divided into precincts, with a
woman for each precinct. She goes over
her particular territory once week and
the policemen have been instructed by
Mayor Kiefer to see that her efforts are
furthered in. every way. The women thus
work In conjunction with the police off,
GERS and something after this fashion,:
An unsightly deposit of rubbish is dis
covered or perhaps an unsanitary condi-
ton Of an alley. Instead of going imme-
diately to the owner of the property the
woman whose duty lies In the region Of
the offensive premises reports to the po-
liceman on the beat. Protected thus by
the strong arm Of the law she applies to
the owner of the property for immediate
@s..l~
territory covered by eight women in this
manner extends from Seven corners and
Walnut street to Exchange and Tenth
streets and to the river and Sibley streets.
This district will probably be extended
along Seventh street to Dayton's bluff.
Mrs. - S. Shurick reported yesterday
for the district lying between Sixth and
Tenth streets. Her efforts had not been
without success. Boxes and rubbish In
the rear of drug store on Seventh street
had been removed, the back yard Of a
hotel on Eighth street had been reduced
to order and everything had been made
to look as slightly as possible. The paving
operations on Cedar and Minnesota
streets presented a neat appearance. but
the corners and back yards Of her terri
tory We're without reproach.
Mrs. Wildman reported, and her CO.
| workers nodded in confirmation, that the
influence of the women accomplished
more than the commands of the police,
many citizens being willing to assist the
members of the league while thy objected
to what they termed the interference Of
the officer.
Only by persistent effort was Mrs. Ben
jamin Goodkind able to persuade a pro-
prietor of hotel in her locality to re-
move a quantity of waste paper and other
rubbish Her district Is bounded by
Ninth and Exchange streets, Walnut and
Pleasant avenues, and besides the Offend
| ing hotel proprietor there were many
| others whose premises were untidy, but
| she had been able to effect marked i'm
| provement.
| Mrs. Moss report contained unpleasant
| as we'll as pleasant features. The Bridge
square district Is under her espionage and
| contained a blind alley that was not all
that could be desired in the way Of clean
Illness. A walk through an undertakers
shop. part corpses and collins Is not en-
| liveping, but with the interests of the
| city at heart, Mrs. Moss passed bravely
| through the shop, reached the alley and
| had the satisfaction of seeing the debris
| removed. She reported the policeman
| on that beat to be particularly obliging.
Mrs. Hamlin reported that City En-
gineer Rundlett was earnestly co-operal-
| ing with the league and was In favor Of
| making a demand upon the city for waste
! corners. She said that five more inspec-
| tors were necessary and hoped to be
| able to secure that number shortly.
! Miss Frederick Sommers read Mrs.
| Vittum's report OH PARKS, streets and
vacant lots in the residence district.
| Under the direction of the committee, Of
| which Mrs. Vittum Is chairman there are
230 block chairmen and eight inspectors.
| A total of forty eight streets have been
| organized. The report contained a brief
review of what has been accomplished in
| other cities. Everyone, said Mrs. Vittum,
| was taking the deepest interest in this
work of cleaning up and she said it was
| the general belief that the value of prop
| erty had increased 10 per cent where this
| cleaning had been accomplished. The re-
port recommended that st. Paul follow
| the example set by other cities of haul
| ing away all rubbish, charging a small
| fee.
Mrs. F. w. Bergmeier gave a most in
| teresting account of the work that is be-
| ing accomplished on Dayton's bluff. The
| women are all enthusiastic and even the
| school children are becoming interested
| and are accomplishing much good. Mrs.
Edgerton. chairman of the Portland ave-
| nue. work; Mrs. Polk, Of the St. Anthony
| Park district, and a number of others
| submitted encouraging reports.
! Mrs. Forepaugh called the attention of
| the league to the fact that the handsome
groves along the West side bank were
gradually being destroyed and suggested
! that action be taken to save them before
| 1t was too late. She thought the league
| should work for the construction OF a
| boulevard and the creation of park.
Her suggestion will be acted upon.
Mrs. Hamlin introduced President
| Griggs, of the Burr Street Improvement
| association. who related what had been
done to redeem the street from deplor-
| able state and transform 1t to the present