The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-29
,eoia. Correspondence Of The Journal.

srecla. correspondence OF The Journal.
THICAGO, April 27.-The soil of
= this city is very congenial to
civic work, and propagandists in
Chicago are not so much hampered as
in most large cities by the tendency
to stand and wait to see whether a
thing is going to succeed before giving
season Improvement work, sanitary and
esthetic, is most prominent. There are
in the Neighborhood Improvement
league of Cook county twenty-nine
local auxiliary leagues, each seeking to
do in the best way the kind Of work
most needed in it's locality. The work
most generally undertaken by the
leagues is the cleaning Of streets and
| alleys and the sprinkling of streets;
| The city does no street sprinkling, and
where this function has not been as
private contract. In the matter Of
cleaning, the leagues carefully avoid
doing anything that city funds can be
secured for, but, as in most wards, the
appropriations are hopelessly made
quate, there is plenty left for the
leagues to do.
l. How Work Is Done.
The South Park Improvement associa
tion is one Of the, best associations
altho its territory is not so large az
some, and its work is fairly typical OF
ALL It's last annual budget amounted
of expenditure was for sprinkling
$3,075 being used for this purpose
General street cleaning came next, call
ing for $2,012. In addition to the
general cleaning, special contracts fo:l
work were undertaken where enough
property owners contributed extra
funds for the purpose. One street
| Woodlawn avenue, near the university
was given the exclusive attention Of
one man thru the whole season and wa
in consequence kept in beautiful order
while several others received frequen
extra cleanings.
A garbage-removal service was main
tanned for those who needed it, thi
being paid for by those using it, am
some other items of special work wer
undertaken for members because the as
ISOLATION had the machinery and coul'
lido the work readily, and the member
were glad to get it done in that way OF
account of the assurance that the serv
lice would be satisfactory.
The Vacant Lots. y
Every vacant piece Of property. il
'Cn6 ASSOCIATION territory WAS hoP1 IAo
from weeds and no dumping Of ashes o
garbage or anything unsightly on an.
of them was permitted. This work cos
1892. The expenses fell on the associa
Etion, only three owners Of vacant prop
Eerty being subscribers to its fund, bu
, this work is undertaken for the benefi
Ithe improved appearance gives to ad
Ijoining property. The item Of $500 TO
,, snow removal is largely incurred on az
scount Of this vacant property, but tn
= assurance that it will be done prompt
. land well contributes to the comfort an
Eeonvenience of all whersuse. the streets
RI The subscriptions are all voluntar!
Ebut sortfFof scheeaarle, is, maintained
: based on the frontage Of property. N
, sustaining membership subscriptions al
received for less than 81 month an
for the average property owner the
! run from that up to So or 81 mont
for general service. The corporation
3 Isuch as churches and schools pay accord
t ling to the valuation they place upo
; Ethe service The university of ChGag
lis the largest single subscriber, payin
yearly 81, 800. ~. a..., ..