The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-26
THEY SAW, The CITY
Delegates Of American League for
Civic Improvement Spend the
Day in Minneapolis.
Guests of the Park Board at Lunch
con and on a Trolley a
'
Trip. L ~.

con and on a Trolley a
y Trip. n /
Most of the closing day of the conven-
ton of the American League for Civic
improvement was spent in seeing the
twin cities. The delegates got an early
start from the Commercial club in St.
Paul, going in a body to the public baths
on Harriet island, to see an exhibition
OF the apparatus and methods of the
health department: The company was
delighted particularly with st. Pauls
celebrated health - commissioner, DR..
Justus Ohage.
Cars were then taken for Indian Mounds
park and thence to Como park. The dele
gates arrived in Minneapolis at o'clock,
and were met at the West hotel by COM
mittee of the park board with their
wives. After an informal reception of
half an hour, the party was seated at
luncheon. At the close of the repast,
DR.. w. w. Folwell extended the formal
welcome of the city and the park board,
and was followed in similar vein by
c. M. Loring and Professor Maria L. San
ford. '%s' d..
| The program for the afternoon was
| given in the parlors. The annual address
| of President Zueblin had been reserved,
and was listened to with marked interest.
| 1t treated OF "A Decade Of Civic Improve
ment,' and the speaker said. in part:
| The last decade has witnessed not
| only greater development of civic i'm
| provement than any previous decade, but
more marked advance than all the pre-
vious history of the United States can
| show. The movement for civic improve
ment may be said to have found a three
fold expression in, first, the new civic
spirit; second, the training Of the citizen
and third, the making of the city" Among
the fruits Of this interesting decade were
noted movements for democratic educa-
| ton and municipal REFORM the expan-
sion Of the school curriculum, the multi
| plication of facilities in the schoolhouse,
| the extension of education to adults and
people engaged in Wage-earning occupa-
| tons, the Introduction of the merit sys-
tenn in public service, good street paving
| and cleaning, the multiplication of beau
tiful boulevards, public school and library
buildings The significant, movements in
| identifying public buildings and whole
cities were briefly reviewed.
! 1.-THE beginning of the new century
finds ideals and concrete accomplish
ments so far advanced that, for the first
time the public is ready for a national
organization to represent and coordinate
| these interests T.
Mr.. Zueblin expressed the belief that
plan for cooperation, whether or not the
organization shall be honored with the
mission of carrying outathe plan.
Municipal Fairgrounds.
Dwight H. Perkins Of Chicago spoke on
| municipal Fairgrounds" telling of the
work done in Chicago. A special park
| commission was appointed in 1899 which
has established and is maintaining seven
Fairgrounds in crowded. districts. The areas
tare from one to five acres with the usual
| equipment for sports, a shelter building,
which includes Covered sand court for
the Eabies, and platform with seats
| In each ground an athletic director is in
attendance from a. M to 10 p. ma po-
liceman is generally on hand to assist. His
services as a leader in exercise are more
| frequently used THAN ASA policeman. The
children are beginning to realize the bene-
| fits OF the grounds and assist in govern
rnent and ma intenance. The .hoodlum is
not tolerated by the other boys any more
| than by the officials y 49, '}''''f
| During the summer trained kindergart-
| ner;i are, in attendance six hours each day
and lead the small children in games and
| occupations. An experienced athletic
trainer and coach is employed to SUPER
wise the, work of the directors in all of
| the grounds. . = ~
There. are numerous teams to do all
things popular With athletes. Several of
tn, teams are composed of girls.
MISS M. Eleanor Tarrant of Louisville
| outlined the plans and results of play
ground work in that city.
| $3.50 The Rural Social Problem.
structor in rural sociology in the Univer-
s1ty OF Michigan, was read. On the sub
ject, ''Federation of Rural Forces. >" Mr..
Butterfield said that the rampant indi-
vidualism of the American farmer, more
than anything else, aside from the phys
social problem. In. reviewing the agen-
cles already at work in rural life, they
were grouped as religious, educational and
industrial. The social forces, together
with the improvement that comes from
such physical agencies as assist quicker
mmunication-namely, good wagon
roads, telephones, rural mail delivery
electric roads, constitute the forces that
are to be depended upon in rural social
betterment None can be spared or ig-
lnored. To imagine that substantial prog
ress can. result from the emphasis of any
one, agency to the exclusion of any other
is mistake. There is a logical division
,of labor among rural social forces; only
the Intelligent and efficient and harmo-
NOUS cooperation Of all these forces can
! assure the best progress.
i Answering the question, how this fed
Grafton can be brought about, the need,
IN the speakers Judgment, is not along
the line of a new organization, but Of a
clearing house for an exchange of ideas
and plans among all who are at work or
any phase of the rural social problem
There is need of a central bureau that
may emphasize the necessity of the study
of agricultural economics and sociology
and press the value Of cooperation in
the work A directing force is needed tc
assure a comprehensive view and study
of the whole rural problem. Above all
it would be desirable to initiate local
state and national conferences, where the
whole spirit and purpose is that of Sc
curing the hearty cooperation of all the
rural social forces, of all the organiza-
| lions that have any rural connection
whatever, and of all individuals who have
the slightest genuine interest in any phase
of the. farm problem. $500, ..-
At the conclusion of the program cars
were taken for a trolley excursion to Lake
Harriet, the party being escorted by the
members of the park board
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