The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-08
CIVIC FEELING
GROWS IN CHICAGO.
HOW A DIRTY SCHEME or rHE
CITY WAS MADE CLEAN. ,
Good Work Done by the South Park
Improvement Association - Broken
Pavements, Filthy Alleys, Weedy
Lots and Snowy Sidewalks Are Cared
for

Margaret Menet in Municipal News.
when the South Park Improvement
| ASSOCIATION of Chicago, organized in
1871, began its work Of out-ofdoor i'm
provements, the, condition that pre-
scented itself included broken pave
lots overgrown with weeds, waste pa
per blown about by every wind, heaps
Of rubbish, broken lamp posts, dead
shade trees, long rows of unsightly
garbage boxes, and, in fact, chaos Of
things unfit to be seen, breeding dis
ease and offensive to every. resident.
The fact was disclosed that exorbitant
prices had been paid for Intellectual
sprlnkling, while, during the winter
vacant lot property was only an occa-
| sional undertaking. III <ts1
In amelioration of this bad condi-
ton. the organization soon furnished
| Itself with an equipment of sprinkling
wagons with which it is able thoroly
to keep clean a large area Of territory,
and with snow plows Of the most APP
proved and well tested pattern it keeps
the Sta ets open during storm periods.
The South Park Improvement ASSOC
citation began its organization by Sc
curing contracts from; all property
owners, householders, the churches,
business men, the University of Chi
ings. ...... .-.-. K. .:..z--,
These contracts put tho signers under
obligations for sums ranging from ST.
a month to as high as 81, 500 year, the
latter amount being the sum paid by
the University Of Chicago: Owners Of
apartmen Mt b 6uilding S,d gpay from $lS
ing to the size of the building. ~ =
A comparison of the work done by
this association during the first year Of
its existence with the amount received
and disbursed during the past year,
may be of practical value to others
interested in similar endeavors. Re-
ceipts for the first year were $4,922.91.
For the year 1904 the, total receipts
during this year the total has reached
$4,000. The disbursements of the first
year were $4,370.33. Last year they
were so ,O7S.61, and they will be as great
this year. a." --T
The total receipts for the three years
amount to $22,O22.77; the total expendi-
lures $2l $685.. In three years the as
membership, so that the names of
large majority Of all the property own
ers, as we'll as most Of the tenants
within the district, are today upon the
roll. The total loss by doubtful and
bad ledger accounts is less than one
MALT OF one per cent of the total amount
pledged by the ownership contracts COW
erlng the same period. .-
The. territory that comes under the
jurisdiction of the South Park Improve
ment association extends from Fifty
fifth street to Fifty ninth street north
and south and from Cottage Grove ave-
nue., to the Illinois Central tracks east
and west. Within this district tbs
streets are kept clean and we'll watered
in the summer time and free of snow
and ice in winter. The proper removal
of garbage is another feature of the
work. The organization includes long
list Of members, every one Of whom
takes personal interest in the work
OF 3f,1 improvement; drawing inspiration
the working principle of the club: =
'sOur homes are not merely the
house houses in which we sleep; they are the
Fees for sustaining membership are
$l2, or more, a year, according to the
terms OF the membership contract in
each case. The regular membership fec
is So per annum. ri ~ 80 -