Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1906-11-30

even 10 lue CdSuul ODSeTNeT ludl 1ruu-
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 it beautiful place to live In.
1t was about this time that the I'm
provement league of this pretty town
was organized, and the fact of its be.
ing a prettler 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
so, thus inconveniencing every one else
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 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-
clally. Entertainments were given to
raise funds for sprinkling cart and
horses; but, alas, at the end of one sea.
son 1t 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 snow plow around
town early In the day so as to clear
paths to school, station and stores.
The organization then turned Its Mt
tention to the betterment of the
schools. A committee elected for this
purpose on inspecting the one frame
school building on Holly street found
1t In forlorn condltion-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
and thus the prpils 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
n town meeting was called to decide
upon the question of new school A
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 o.
hous,lo,d economies was taken m
This rlllanthr9pc work has been dear
est of all u the members Of the assJ /
caton An appeal has neyer rocl r.. /
fused, whether to supply furnishing
nnd food for the fresh Gir camp artiG .
cial limbs f0r Unfortun2tes. fool 70.
the hungry, clothes for the needy au4 /.
medicIlc ami nursing for the slc&. l. f.
1902 new committee was f)ru!al. aa' |
Il new fund OF over $500 was raised { /
provide FREQ hospital treatment Tor tn |
sick poor of the t1wa. The latt O.. .
years Of its existence this ocgln&au1l |
has b2en w)"k'a- f1r the passage O
the pure food bin and is ;Ae Crst we .
mans organization u seal to Wash .
.2E I'm Il petition indo.s'o~ t., Tin /
THIS "Ssociat'11 l"s th0vGlts C." a.. pe- .
maA'W hp0' h"ld'ng IN wl.rh i.|
lop's to ne housed before long.
The vil!'g' Of Crawford tolly show
The result OF the 500. -'1rk o It's 81. |
>rovenent league When ti's socle,
'ame into existence tNr st"r1.s rsv,
inkempt, the wH1.> pieces oreaslvc &. /
he eye and too cc,IA the back yar> /
)ut unsishtly ash heaps TraAe me
by lack Of example vera wont :
sweep into the straet5 the s'rsusc
heir stores The question Of dlsnosl
# ashes and garbage, II diseased q,
I'll, stlll remained ucs0lvcd Until the |
of this society. To-day
IN excellent system of ash and refusa
collection has been established upon .
'elf sustaining basis. Many waste .
places have been redeemed. Flow~
,eds have taken the place OF ash heaps .
md tin can collects. No longer do the .
of the stores lie In offensive
or the main street. Boxes .
lave been placed at convenient places
or the reception Of refuse. the drink
ng fountain improved and the railway
station improved and painted and no
onger rendezvous for the disorder.
Y youth OF the town. This during the
.welve years of It's existence Is the