The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1903-08-06
IMPROVES THE TOWN
THE WORK OF BRooKLYN's HEALTH
PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION.

PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION.
How an Organization Composed of
Six Hundred Prominent Women
fes the City of Churches.
Village improvement societies and all
who are interested in town improve
ment will get some valuable hints
by studying the methods adopted by
Brooklyn women to clean and beautify
that city. An excellent example of
what few determined women can do
is illustrated in the development of
the Woman's Health Protective asso-
citation Of Brooklyn, which started its
work twelve years ago with a mem
bership of less than twenty and today
has inscribed on its roster the names Of
600 prominent women, says the New
York World. The association has for
its object the enforcement of city or
dinances and the Inauguration of re-
form where municipal cleanliness is
concerned.
Twelve years ago Mrs A. j. Perry
formed little organization called the
Street Improvement society. At the
same time Mrs. James Scr1mgeour
founded a similar society. Each was a
local club organized with The idea of
improving conditions liz tneir respec-
tive vicinities Hearing Of Mrs. Scrim-
occurs society, Mrs. Perry visited a
meeting and the union Of the two re-
suited Now the organization has de-
veloped into one Of the most potent
factors In civic affairs in Brooklyn.
Already a number Of reforms have
been credited to the organization, the
splitting in street cars and the throwing
of paper in the street being two notice
able endorsements of the law effected
1t is to acquaint the people with city
ordinances and to see that these laws
are enforced that the Woman's Health
Protective association is most earnestly
working.
Its explanation is that good laws are
made and filed away in archives con
demned to disuse Members propose to
bring out the ordinances and make
Brooklyn a cleaner city. The e1pecto-
rating in cars, in ferry houses and
In front Of the courthouse led to Il
violent agitation of the matter a num-
Der of years ago, the association going
to the health department and complain
ing. The result was the placing of
signs in the cars prohibiting eXpectorat-
ing. Now the 81" stations, the ferry
houses and the cars are all in better
condition; the association claims, as
the outcome of its work.
The garbage abuse was another evil
the Woman's Health Protective asso-
citation started a crusade against. Ref
use cans were allowed to stand I'M
emptied in front Of residences until the
association took up the matter and won
the cooperation of the police depart
ment, which detailed squad of police
men to see that garbage cans were not
allowed to stand in the street. Further,
the throwing of refuse in ash barrels
is subject the association is fighting
The cleaning Of vacant lots and SAM
tation in all forms are looked into by
the society, and its good work in re-
forming civic abuses has won for it
recognition from heads of the health
and police departments. Now when a
reform in municipal sanitary conditions
is required the Woman's Health Pro-
tective associa ton is called upon
Regular meetings of the association
are held once month"; but special
meetings are called when any neces-
sity Of immediate action is at hand
Members are called upon to bring com
plants Of bad conditions existing, and
the matter is taken up. Photographs
are taken Of the places where these
conditions exist and are in turn laid
before the health or police department
There is nothing theoretical about
the Woman's Health Protective asso-
citation. Hard work from the practical
side is gone into, and the authorities
have come to recognize its power.
Though the club numbers over 600
members, the meetings are attended by
not more than thirty or forty women,
but SO great has interest in Brooklyn
developed in the organization that dues
are sent in from hundreds Of women
who desire to see the society kept up.
Public Spirit In Menominee.