The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-05-15
Civic Improvement League Favors
City Acquiring More Land.
Side Hills on GlenWood Avenue Should
Not Be Used for Shanties.
Committees Report at a Meeting
Held Saturday Night.
Much Has Already Been Accomplished
by the League.
From Mondays Daily.


The meeting of the Civic Improvement
league Saturday night in the basement
of the Nj. f. church was not as wei at.
tended as it would have been if the wea
| Their had been better, but for those who
were there it was full Of interest. The
meeting was held for the purpose o.
hearing reports from the various COM
mittees and suggestions from any of the
members.
Mrs. j. Fl. Ray, the president, opened
the meeting with some interesting re-
marks. She said that this spring i'm
provement is in the air. Never beftre
have the streets and alleys been cleaned
up so early. She stated that the league
now has some $50 members, although the
committee found it necessary IN most
cases to give full explanation of the
purposes of the league before the mem
berships could be obtained
Mrs. Ray also reported for one or two
other committees whose chairmen coulG
not be present. The committee on law
and law enforcement had turned its at
tention to dogs running at large. Much
of the complaint made by citizens has
been in reference to this. Many resi-
dents have promised to do something in
the way of improving their property if
the dogs can be shut up. The commit
tee was glad of the fact that the dogs
have now been ordered shut up even if it
is only for a short time. The commltIee
On lectures reported that Mrs. Ham
Inns lecture seems to have done a great
deal of good. A volume on Country
Life in America" has been ordered for the
public library. Improvement of Towns
and Cities" by Mullford is also there, as
well as a volume on home decoration by
Maynard. The latter has been in the
library for year but has been taken out
only once.
DR.. William Jacoby reported for the
committee on health and cleanliness. He
had not called the committee together
yet, as he had been waiting to see how
well the health department of the city
does at the annual cleaning up, which
occurs this month. Later the commit
tee might have some suggestions to
make.
Mrs. Ray said that every request which
the league has made of the council or
city officials has been granted, and the
league seems to have the favor of these
gentlemen.
Prof. Holtz said that the garbage man
has not yet put in an appearance in his
neighborhood, on Center street.
Prof. Holtz then reported for the COM
mittee on work among school children
The committee had begun its work i'm
mediately because there was so short a
time left. 1t had worked with members
of the school board to have the West
Mankato and Pleasant Grove school
grounds improved by the planting of
trees, etc. The members seen were
in hearty accord with the idea and an
appropriation has since been made for
the purpose. The West Mankato school
grounds are the bleakest place in town
and needs something done badly. The
board has now made a very good begin
ming, and those members who cooperated
should be thanked The committee had
also been aided by Superintendent Uline
and the teachers.
The committee was sorry that not
more was done on Arbor day. The tree
planting was done before that day, al
though the committee had asked that it
be delayed, as there is good deal of edu-
cational benefit that might come to the
scholars by letting them assist. Next
year Arbor day should be observed,
Through the kindness of President
Cooper of the normal school the commit
tee had been able to obtain 200 clippings
of the Boston ivy, which grows well at
Mortified, although it has not done we'll
here. These had been distributed among
the schools. Seeds have also been distri-
buted among the children of the public
schools, a package to each. Simple di-
rections about gardening, keeping lawns,
planting trees, etc., have been given to
the children. The bad effect of cutting
, across corners and boulevards was also
, told to the scholars. The committee
recommended that next year the children
buy the seeds, as they cost but one cent
a package. Prof. Holtz also mentioned
the improvement since the dogs were
ordered shut up.
I Mrs. Ray favored having the children
buy their own seeds next year, as it
adds to their self-respect by giving them
a proprietary feeling. This is done in st.
Paul
Judge Cray presented a report for the
committee on lawns, yards and vacant
lots. He said that the committee had
taken drive on April 25th in this city