Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-09-01
CLEANING THE TOWN
THE WORK or A PROGRESSIVE CIVIC
IMPROVEMENT LEAGUE.
Women of Kalamazoo, Mich, Clean
the streets and Besutify Yards and
school Grounds Many organira-
tions In the League.


school Grounds - Many orEanira
tions In the League.
The work undertaken by the womer
OF Kalamazoo, Mich, TO clean tn,
streets and beautify that town is al
example for the women OF every city
town and hamlet In the United State,
to follow. The good housewives of al
these places keep their own homes
clean. Why can't they keep the street.
clean? The success with which thest
women have cleaned up Kalamazoo
and are keeping It clean is worthy OF
emulation. II ought to result, and per
haps II will, in the formation OF other
women's civic leagues in all parts OF
the country.
Kalamazoo Is n pretty clean town,
but II Is going TO be the ceanest ever
now that women are the captains OF
the white wings" and the best of II
Is they're not going 10 stop at Just a
little street sprlnkling and busting of
a bit, but they're going TO plant trees
and flowers all over and have vines
trained TO cover unsigbtly buildings
and make little spots Of beauty out OF
old back yards and real parks out OF
big vacant lots.
The Women's Civic Improvement
league, which Is engaged In the work
OF cleaning and Identifying Kalamazoo,
MO- faAffnDtaI N al. ua
during its short existence II has accom-.
pllshed what many another league OF
long standing has failed to do, says the
Brooklyn Eagle. In the very start II
aroused public sentiment, and that is
half the battle The league was very
popular and grew rapidly until now It's
membership reaches 400 and they
come from some Of the best and stron-
gest organizations OF the city. But II
is not only the club women who are
Interested in this municipal movement,
for many prominent business and pro-
fesslonal men and city officials are also
Identified with II. Among It's honorary
members are the mayor and the city
councllmen. But, while all these men
folk are giving the organization their
moral support and perhaps helping II
on little bit financially, you must un-
derstnnd that the women are the bosses
and that II Is through their efforts that |
the streets are being kept so splck and |
span.
While the women from the best fam |
flies OF the city are the leaders OF the |
league, II Is by no means class or
gunlzatlon. Az nm evidence OF this a
colored womens organization. known
as the Celery City club, has Joined the
civic society. This colored women's
club has been doing work among the
colored population OF the town that
has been surprising everybody so when
the present street cleaning movement
was first talked about the colored
women sent In word that they should
be glad TO cooperate with the new or
and their services were
readily accepted.
The Women's Civic Improvement
league was organized In a most busi-
nesslike manner. Each ward chairman
has as assistants members OF sub
OF five women. Among the
organizations that comprise the league
are the Ladies' Library association,
the Peoples Church society. delegates
Of the Daughters OF the American Rev
olution, Celery City club, Methodist
Pastors union, Twentieth Century club,
st. Lukes guild. Womnn's Christian
union and the Hebrew
Ladies' Benevolent association.
The leaders Of the league believe that
every one in the community should
help In this work Of cleaning and beau
tlfyng the town, and they have there
fore asked the school children TO do
all they can In the good cause. Efforts
will be made TO have the school
grounds places OF beauty. Trees and
plants are TO bo set out In the school
yards, and window gardening viii be
encouraged A great deal OF work
will also be done in the parks, and
lowers Will bloom In all parts OF the
Town.
But In the meantime sanitary condl.
lions are not TO be neglected. In this
connection Mrs Crane, who organized
ihe league. will prove invaluable, as
her efforts in the line Of meat and milk
Inspection are well known all over the
state OF Michigan She has been so
successful In her endeavors In this dl. '
'ection that she has had bills passed
n the state legislature In favor OF hor o
and the work has been so 7
we'll thought OF that It has been taken q
ip in Indiana ana other states. Clean. q
iness in all things that Nppcrtain to I
'ood has been Mrs, Cranes chief con. r
'ern for several years past. I
The city council signed contract {
With the Women's Civic Improvement 4
eague for the cleaning OF the thor g
'ughfares In the business section OF |
Kalamazoo, and the women have had 4
complete charge OF the work. Men are {
iept constantly at work armed with h
lush carts, hrooms, hoes and scrapers Il
rhe dirt is placed in sacks and at the h
nd OF the day is removed. Once each r
week the streets nre thoroughly flush !,
u by the fire department.
To aid In keeping the highways tidy
he league has placed at frequent inter.
'als ON poles along the streets metal Il
'oxes Of bright aluminium color and A
Mainly marked as rcccptaclcs for waste n
Material OF all kinds. &
Hound TO Grow. "