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

Mrs. w. HI. vittum Reads a Paper
Full of Good SuggestiOns-Thc
BOunteous Supply of BiIIbOards
and the Paucity of Policemen
Two of the Subjects Complained
AbOut-More Committees.
The street and block chairmen Of the
Dayton's bluff branch of the Woman's
Civic league met yesterday at the resi-
dence Of Mrs. F. w. Bergmeier, on Foun-
tain street. The pleasant weather per-
mitted the adjournment of the meeting
to the lawn outside, where the well-kept
grounds afforded an excellent object les
son for all Interested In the improve
ment of the Second ward. Mrs. Berg
meier, chairman of the Second ward
committee, on streets, presided.
A feature of the afternoon was the
reading of a paper by Mrs. N. H Vittum,
giving the plan Of work adopted by the
league. In regard to the improvement
of vacant lots, Mrs. Vittum said that
she had called on several real estate
agents In the cityssin order to find out
II well-kept vacant lots really. added to
the value of the property. without ex-
eeption every man. she Intercepted said
most alphabetically that they did. One
agent stated that those localities where
there had always been some association
among the citizens to see that vacant lots
were kept in good condition, as for in
stance, Paramount avenue, property was
fully 10 per cent more valuable than in
9th 1oI Ivy
however, so well kept.
Mrs. Bergmeier mentioned two especial
grievances that the citizens of Dayton's
bluff had with them always One was
the glaring and everywhere conspicuous
bill board the other the paucity of po-
licemen in certain localities.
Mrs. Vittum, who has been making a
special study of the city ordinances,
stated that the billboard nuisance might
be abated by a. rigid enforcement of the
law which requires bond of $500 be-
fore any poster can be put up. AS re-
garded policemen, or rather the lack of
that useful official, she knew of no imme-
date remedy. She said that from Dale
street 20 Lexington avenue and from
Summit avenue to Rondo street. one
policeman was engaged in the laudable
enOrC OF covering the eHllf0 lOCdilly.
Mrs. Robert Seeger stated that the
electric posts-tflat are now being put
UP in various parts of the bluff were an
eye-Sore to the citizens. The posts alone
were not so bad, but the white paint
which is now being applied to them will
make them painfully conspicuous, and
the two long props on either side the
main pole do not add to the appearance
of the street.
NHre thought dark green
paint would be better than the white
Mrs. Seeger hazarded the suggestion
of planting nice green trees about-the
props The matter was left for further
discussion.
Mrs. e. o. Zimmerman said that mem
bers of the league should be decidedly
conservative in their methods of work
in order not to antagonize people. She
said that so far as billboards We're con-
eerned, they were all right In ths-busi-
ness part of town, but; they should be
confined there.
Mrs. J. Firestone stated that vacant
barn on East Seventh street was now
being painted g. lurid yellow, with view.
she feared, of making an effective back
ground for poster designs. She was In
structed to ascertain whether the man
who intended to put up the advertise
ments had filed the necessary bonds.
AS an example of the far-reaching IN
fiuence of the st. Paul Woman's Civic
league, Mrs. Bergmeier read a letter
from Mr.. Samuel P. Cochran, of Dallas,
Tex, president of the Cleaner Dallas
league. Mr.. Cochran stated that he had
read an account of one of the meetings
of the Woman's Civic league in the St.
Paul G o b e, and as Dallas was also
being improved after a similar fashion,
he desired further information in regard
to the leagues work in st. Paul.
communication from ]. A. Wheelock,
president of the board of park commits
sioners, was also read, commencing the
Daytons bluff branch of the league for
its energetic work and expressing a de-
sire to confer with the members in re-
gard to the plans for identifying the
bluff
Mrs. Bergmeier outlined briefly the
plans that are being formed for the fur
Their improvement of the Second ward
She said that a committee would be ap-
pointed for all approaches to the Indian
mounds, also a committee for Seventh
street
There will be a meeting of the Womans
Civic league Thursday morning at 1918
at the Commercial club. The work that
has been accomplished will be reviewed
and future plans discussed.