Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-03-05

Changes For the Better since the
Organization Began work.
Bay Ridge, a suburb OF Brooklyn,
hes been improved greatly in the
last few months owing to the work Of
the Woman's improvement league. It's
streets are cleaner than ever before, its
front and back yards have been beauti-
fed with flowers and plants, and the
whole place las changed for the better
since the league began work.
The Woman's Improvement league is
the outrowth OF the Bay Ridge Read
ing club, which has met weekly on
Thursday mornings for fifteen years,
says the New York Tribune. Until last
June the club had confined itself 10 lit
erary matters and occasional luncheOns
and lectures. but the unkempt condi-
ton Of certain neighboTing streets led
It's members 10 consider means for bet
tcriug conditions. The day the public
schools closed the society was officially
organized. and the members left the
first meeting In carriages for flying
trips 10 the schools IN order TO get hear
ings with the children before they
should be scattered for the summer.
Eight awards were Olfered-frst, sec
ond and third prizes Of s.. SO and 81 re-
spectlvely, FOR the greatest improve
mcut in the back yards and the same
for front yards TO the middle OF the
street: 50 for the best window box in u
home where there was no ground to
cultivate and 50 for the largest number
OF contributing members added to the
club The children were TO do all the
work Of the yards About nifty chill
dren entered the lists Visits were
made by members Of the club about
July 10 the houses OF all the enrolled
competitors and conditions were care
fully noted. Suggestions for laying out
and planting the gardens were also
made Rounds were again made be-
fore the opening OF school to note the
change.
a condition Of the test was that the
competitors must not only keep their
gardens free from weeds and disorder
and their plants IN healthy condition.
but they must also pick up paper, old
cans and all rubbish wherever they saw
1t scattered in the streets. To insure
success I'm the last undertaking an ap-
peal was sent to the authorities for
rubbish cans to be placed at school
houses and at the junction Of certain
streets The appeal was needed prompt.
ly, and the rcceptacles are now dotted
through Bay Ridge.
The most thlckly populated blocks OF
Bay Ridge are made up Of two family
houses, and II was for the benefit OF
children occupying the second floors Of
such buildings that the prize for window
boxes was offered. This effort has met
with less enthusiasm. Landlords oh.
jcct 10 the placing Of window boxes in
tenement house windows, as they dis
figure the sllls. The nolghbors ON lower
floors, too, are likely to demonstrate
against the dripping OF water over
their windows from upper floors. Then
n the houses have blinds the boxes
furnish an obstacle IL Is probable that
hereafter prizes VIII be offered for
thrifty house plants
So far about $50 In ten cent annual
fees has been brought IN by the young
stcrs, meaning an added membership
to the league OF about 200. The chill.
drcn themselves constitute the assocl.
ate mombors Of the league and the
grown ups, who pay the 10 cents year
ly the contributing members. Each
child wears % button bearing a device
IN the form Of tree aud the legend,
improvement League"
Other committees OF the league are
devoted respectively to sanitation.
cleanliness, the care Of trees. Of new
streets and the gaining or better trav-
cling facilities for tho population. The
chairman Of the sanitation committee
tracks strange odors TO their sources
and reports unsayory conditions to the
powers that be. The president both Of
the league and OF the reading club
heads the tree committee She has oh
taincd from the authorities a perma-
ncnt permit for the league to trim and
lehu oll trees win the permission OF
Ineir owners without further license,
ih'' committee discovered that certain
p'pes were being placed under the side
walk OF Ih'rd avenue instead OF
through the middle OF the street. thus
making the successful planting Of trees