Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-02-22


ment by such an organization as was
recently formed in Rock Island with
a view to identifying private and
public grounds:
The little city of Dixon is situated
in the interior of Illinois on either
bank of the picturesque and beauti-
full Rock river. The progressive wo-
men of Dixon early caught the spirit
of civic pride and desire for local
adornment. Some years ago they form
ed n cemetery association. with n
daughter of one of the pioneer set
tiers at its head. and the result has
been that the almost unkempt bury
ing ground is today n most beautiful
home for those who have gone before.
The different churches. clubs and pa
triotic organizations were invited to
assist in the work. Many of these
planted and cared for bed of,fiowers
the Woman's Relief corps one for
the Grand Army of the Republic and
themselves; the Eastern Star n beau-
tiful bed in the form of n star; the
Phidian Art club n large bed of can
mas. and many others. The interest
manifested in the general beauty
of the few. lot owners, to make their
property cOrrespondingly beautiful.
The time now seemed ripe for n
more extended plan of work, and on
May of the present year the Dixon
Council of Women was organized.
The minutia of the forming of this
organization will not be dwelt upon.
but n few hints as to 1.-The how may
he of interest TO others desiring such
Il Formations: they have already been
applied to from several sources as
To their method of procedure. Each
and all societies of women in Dixon
were invited to send two or more
delegates to the first meeting for or
ganization. Missionary and young
wOmen's societies of both Catholic
and Protestant churcnes. and the diff
ferent clubs, in all about thirty So
cieties, were invited to affiliate.
From these delegates were chosen
the officers of the council. BY this
means the interest of hundreds of
women was enlisted without the
council becoming unwieIdy as to
numbers. \ small membership fee
was charged that the council might
have some money in the treasury
with which to carry on the work.
\ vice-President was elected for
each ward in the city. In n few
cases, where the ward extended over
much territory, two were chosen, al
ways from those whose homes were
in the given WARDS. These vice-presi-
dents had the privilege of choosing
assistants from their own wards.
Their duties were TO search out I'M
sanitary places and TO interest the
women of their district in making
the home surroundings more attrac-
tive. and to report from time to time
TO the president and committee which
had been chosen to confer with the
common council of the city.
When IL was decided to make the
river banks the first objective point
of work. all property owners were
consulted. and the mayor and alder
men invited TO accompany the ladies
upon their tour of inspection, that
they might know and realize the
work necessary to be done. What
they saw upon this little Journey was
Il revelation to most, if not all, of
them. They were PiIoted over paths
untrOdden by them before. They
were. however, heartily in sympathy
with the object, and the columns of
the daily press have at all times been
open to anything favOring civic i'm
provement.
The situation of Dixon afforded
fine and tempting opportunity for eX-
ercise of the talent of the landscape
gardener along the banks of the
Rock, this river taking its name
from the magnificent rock formations
that adorn it's shores throughout it's
entire length. and nowhere are these
formations more picturesque and
beautiful than in the vicinity of
Dixon. Its waters are fed by count
less numbers of springs and are
adorned with beautiful islands, ma
tural parks, romantic bluffs and
charming landscape scenery. OF the
Rock river, Margaret Fuller said:
1.-The aspect of this country was to
me enchanting beyond any L have
seen. for its fullness of expression,
its bold and impassioned sweetness.
The fragment of Rock touch it with
n mildness and liberality which just
gives it the needed relief. 1 should
never be tired here; here~the eve and
heart are filed"
The council first gave attention to
the river banks. These had never
been as unsightly or in as bad "a
condition as in some river towns.
Yet much rubbish and some garbage
had accumulated, which for sanitary.
If for no other reason, should be
cleared away. The city common
council was appealed to for permits
sion and assistance in cleaning up"
This was most readily granted, and
n man detailed to do the work under
the supervision of ladies appointed
for this purpose. Much good was ac-
complished.
Near the approach of the iron
bridge which Spans the Rock river