River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-04-12
THE MEMS CLUB MEETS.
Fine Spread.-.Interesting Dis.
cussions on Various Sub
jects of Public Interest.

The Mems Club held their second
monthly banquet last Thursday
evening at the M. E. Church rooms.
AS before it was we'll attended,
sixty-nine sitting down to bounte-
Gus supper served by the ladies of
the Baptist church. AS a matter
of course Cor courses) the feast of
fat things occupied the unremitting
attention of those present for the
first hour, after which the tables be-
ing cleared to prevent the tempta-
ton of being further occupied by
the viands before them the literary
program was commenced under the
charge of DR.. Ashley who acted as
chairman for the evening.
The first topic was Our Railroad
Facilities. This was responded to
by Mr.. Davis, Prof. Clark and Judge
Weld. The general tone of the
speeches indicated that so far as
passenger traffic is concerned the
city has little to object to. With
two passenger trains each way well
equipped, coming at seasonable
hours, with polite trainmen and
careful attention to the safety and
convenience of passengers, it seem
ed to be the opinion of nearly all
that River Falls is as well situated
as is practicable on branch line
and better than many places on
main lines. Little was said howev-
er about the freight service, but
some remarks made privately ind1-
cate that there is some feeling that
the rates are rather high on many
articles and that delivery is rather
slow. This matter perhaps might
properly form topic for further
discussion or committee work at
some later meeting of the club.
To the second topic of the even
ing, "Our Parks" responses were
made by w. P. Knowles and Jay
Grimm succeeded by brief remarks
by some others present. That there
is a good degree of interest in this
part of our public work was shown
by what was said, but there perhaps
should be wider discussion of the
subject. While this does not par
ticularly concern the financial pros
perity of the city, the earnest efforts
now being made in very many pla-
ces to secure Fairgrounds and
breathing places for the larger pla-
ces and the numerous articles ap-
pearing in popular magazines relat-
ing to the more aesthetic features of
towns and cities show that it is be-
coming more than a mere fancy to
have beautiful parks and bouIevards
and that even cities of the smaller
size must if they would be abreast
of the times provide places of beau-
ty and convenience for rest places
for their citizens and visitors. That
the park board are awake to some
of these points was shown by the
plea of Mr.. Bailey, one of the COM
missioners, for more liberal contri-
buttons on the part of the city to
meet some urgent wants.
1t was also suggested that it
would add very much to the appear
ance of the city if each one would
see that the space in front of his
own lots, clear out to the travelled
tracks in the streets, was kept clear
of weeds and the grass cut with a
lawn mower SO as to give lawn
like appearance up to the road
track. A little hint was given to
those residing or having places
along the river bank to keep the
bank in a more cieanly condition
and the unsightly sewer outlets
came in for little criticism.
An important move was made to
appoint a committee on Good Roads
to see if arrangements can be profit
ably made to hold Roads Conven-
ton in the city at some early date.
This committee was composed of
A. w. Stiles as chairman, F. w.
Ensign, John Elliott, J. w. Allard
and E. H. Currier.
After a little discussion it was
voted to hold another club meeting
on the first Thursday of May, and
original volunteer committee to ap-
point committee in their places,
the first committee having request
ed to be relieved.
The paper by DR.. Gendron should
not be overlooked. The Doctor is
in earnest on the road question,
having doubtless found that auto
mobiles do not do their best work
on sandy or muddy roads, and the
necessity of the quick trips of the
medical men having aroused him
e1~eo 80