Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-07-26
TO BEAU7|FY A TOWN,
How Well Directed Efforts Will
Produce Good Results.
WHAT ONE SOCIETY HAS DONE.
Progressive Citizens Of Cresskili, N. j.,
Organize an Improvement Assoeia-
tion and Accomplish Wonders-Depot
Grounds Transformed-Trees Saved.

S'SHHds iTdHsIoTfneG-i FeeS saved.
Only few months ago three COM
muters living in n small Jersey town
met on train homeward bound from
New York. The conversation soon
turned to the subject of improving their
town.
What Cresskill needs is an improve
ment society" one of them remarked.
Nothing more was said on the subject.
and they left the train for their homes.
A few days afterward another Cress.
killite met the maker of the above re
mark, and this conversation ensued:
Did you say that Cressklll needed
an Improvement society?" said he.
Il did" was the reply.
DO you mean 1t and would you be
willing to help in forming onef"
Certainly. | will do all can"
A meeting was called for the pur-
pose of organizing an improvement So
ciety, and nine men responded to the
call. After a brief discussion a presi-
dent, vice president, secretary and
treasurer were elected and the society
launched on its career of good work
At first the membership was limited to
fifteen. The dues are 25 cents a
month.
For some years the citizens OF Cress-
kill had been trying to have an extra
train stopped in the morning bound
! for New York, but had failed. The
Improvement society at once tackled
the problem. arranged q meeting be-
tween their representatives and an Erie
railroal official and soon secured the
promise Of IN extra train. The meet
.nc, at which the needs OF the com
muter2 We're thoroughly discussed, was
YER RE. ant. and In few weeks the
extra train stopped at Cresskill and has
been well pntronized. This shows
what little organized effort will do.
The Interest In the society grew
was raised to twenty-five. More Off
GERS were elected and the good work
pushed along.
One of the principal streets in the
town is well shaded by an avenue of
fine trees, forming very attractive
feature. The electric light wires were
so strung that they were slowly, but
surely, running the trees. A commit
tee from the improvement society call
ed the town councils attention to the
condition OF the trees and requested
them TO urge the electric light company
to prevent their wires from touching
the trees throughout the whole bor
ough. The request was well received,
| and soon the electric light men cut off
all the branches that were touched by
the wires, and the trees have been
saved for the enjoyment of all
This action no doubt brought the So
cety prominently before the public
One OF the councilmen, who Is also
member of the improvement society
agltated the observation OF a cleaning
up day for the whole town. He urged
1t among his friends and fellow council
men. The mayor issued proclama
| ton urging all the residents on May
II last TO clean up around their homes
In the morning and to assemble in the
| afternoon to beautify the grounds
around the depot. Quite n large num-
Der responded, and great deal Of
| good work was done.
/ Through the generosity and the en-.
| terprise Of the councilman mentioned
| above over 200 Towering shrubs Of
many kinds were planted and beds laid
out In the parklike grounds about the
| depot. An expert landscape gardener
/ superintended the work. while the cit
| liens assisted In digging, planting, rak
| Ing up rubbish and trimming the edges
| of the beds In two days common
place piece Of ground was changed into
a pretty little park. which Is improving
all the time. The council has placed
the Improvement society In charge Of
this park, and II will be kept up and
improved as the opportunity offers.
Nearly everybody In town has talked
about the change. Such remarks as
"well. the old town is waking up at
last" quite an improvement" Looks
fine" and Good days work for Cress-
kill" were heard. Young and old. men.
women and children, turned out TO see
the change. Commuters from neigh
boring towns commented favorably on
the change.
What Cresskill has done any town
can do If only a few determined peo-
pie Will band together and resolve To
do what they can In the line Of I'm
provements. The force Of a good ez-
ample and determination not to be
easily discouraged will work wonders
All the society's members vie with
each other in keeping their own
grounds clean and improving them
thus setting an example that Is being
followed by other residents.
Cans for waste paper and fruit peel
lngs Will be placed in different parts OF
the town. II is the intention OF the so
ciety TO interest the school children
IN the good work.
All moneys Of the society are 10 b.
spent on town improvements. The
meetings are he'd nt the homes Of th'
members twice q month. As soon n:
all business has been transacted
Jolly heart TO heart time Is enjoyed
thus another pleasant feature has