Connecticut western news., 1906-12-06
TOWNS LIVE LEAGUE
EXCELLENT WORK OF ENTERPRlSiNG
 WOMEN IN CRAWFORD, N. J.

Eyesores Transformed, Streets and
 Schools Improved and Waste Places
 Redeemed by . Village Improve
 ment Association Twelve Year. old.
 With a silver gray stream winding Its tortuous way through the village and an abundance of trees, 1t Is plain even to the casual observer that Gran ford. N. J.. was destined by the Gre ator to be a beautiful place. But In the beginning. some twelve years ago, its citizens were not content to let the matter rest there. They wished to help make 1t beautiful place to live in. It was about this time that the I'm pavement league of this pretty town was organized. and the fact of Its be- ing a prettier town today Is the result largely of the leagues work
 The work of the first year was to- ward beautifying the spot -on which the building of the town newspaper now stands, and when this was done a barren space, where storekeeperS burned their rubbish and boys played ball to the imminent danger of the paSserby. was wiped out of existence. An ordinance obtained by the Village Improvement league prohibited both these evils and abolished the gathering of the clans on the corner opposite the station.
 In the former days, when any one wished to build or repair the dock. the river was let out to enable him to do ol- and running the risk of spreading dis ease in hot weather. Many complaints from the Improvement league resulted in an agreement to let out the river only on request of three and then for only one day. These necessary i'm provements were followed by a general clearing Of the streets of litter and ash heaps. During this the first year the society became regularly incorporated.
 The second year of the work of this organization was marked by an at tempt at street sprinkling. This was successful in every way except finan- eially Entertainments were given to raise funds for a sprinkling cart and horses; but, alas, at the end of one sea son it was necessary to dispose of one of the horses in order to straighten up accounts. Nothing daunted. however, the members of this organization put the other horse to good use. He was employed to drag a snow blow around town early in the day so as to clear paths to school. station and stores.
 The organization then turned its at tention to the betterment of the schools A committee elected for this purpose on inspecting the one frame school building on Holly street found it in q forlorn condition-unclean, over crowded, insanitary and dangerous. A fire or panic would have resulted in much loss of life. The building, which had been originally put up to accom- modate fifty pupils. had been added tc in every direction. One stairway had been closed to make room for another classroom, and thus the pupils were more numerous and the means of exit lessened. The light was bad and the heating so impossible that on cold days the school was dismissed. Circu lars were sent out. the opera house hired and speakers engaged to tell the citizens of the bad conditions Finally a town meeting was called to decide upon the question of a new school. A controversy that arose between two sections of the town as to the location of the new building resulted in the erection Of two instead of one new school
 About the sixth year the study of household economies was taken up. This phIlanthropic work has been dear est of all to the members of the asso- citation. An appeal has never been re fused. whether to supply furnishings and food for the fresh air camp, artifi cial limbs for unfortunates, food for the hungry, clothes for the needy and medicine and nursing for the sick. In 1902 new committee was formed, and a new fund of over $500 was raised to provide free hospital treatment for the sick poor of the town. The last two years of its existence this organization has been working for the passage of the pure food bill and is the first wo- mans organization to send to Wash ington q petition indorsing the bill This association has thoughts of per manent home building. in which 1t hopes to be housed before long
 The village of Cranford today shows the result of the good work of it's I'm provement league. When this society came into existence the streets were unkempt. the waste places offensive to the eye and too often the back yards but unsightly ash heaps. Tradesmer by lack of example were won't to sweep into the streets the refuse Of their stores. The question of disposal of ashes and garbage. If discussed at all. still remained unsolved until the reorganization of this society Today an excellent system of ash and refuse collection has been established upon q self sustaining basis Many waste places have been redeemed. Flower beds have taken the place of ash heaps and tin can collects. No longer do the sweepIngs of the stores lie in offensive