Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-01-10
WOMEN'S GOOD WORK

IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION DOING
MUCH FOR KALAMAZOO, MICH.
Aldermen Given Lessons on Street
Cleanins-SchOOl Children Taught
How to Bcautify the T~Own-Prizcs
For Best Plants and Vegetables.
The Women's Civic Improvement
league OF Kalamazoo. through a legal
committee Of the charity department.
is attempting to assist poverty stricli-
Ell women burdencd with shiftless hus-
bands to secure legal separation. and
already three suits are pending in the
local court that were begun by attor-
neys acting for the league.
A systematic effort to rid the town of
chattel mortgage loan sharks has al
ready been instituted by the ONE OF
the association. The women are talk
ing the initiative in matters of inn
provcment in all civic lines, and they
do not hesitate to appear in court to
testify as witnesses when the occasion
requires. In the league membership
is a delegate representation from all
the women clubs of the town. includ-
ing the Ladies' Library association.
Daughters of American Revolution.
Celry City club, of colored women;
Twentieth Century club, Methodist
Pastors union, st. Luke's guild. w. G.
r. L. and Hebrew Ladies' Benevolent
association.
Last year the league planned and
successfully carried out u civic house
cleaning. Sending Il committee from
the association before the council, the
women induced the aldermen to allow
being paid for cleaning three blocks
of the principal street of the town. The
league promised in turn to personally
superintend the cleaning of that stretch
of pavement at Il price less than vas
then being paid by the city, and, be-
sides, they promised to keep the street
clean.
Through the efforts of Mrs. Crane the
Colonel Warning system ~of.cleaning was
adopted and four men were sent out
with carts and broomS, dressed in
white suits. Mrs. Bartlett Crane and
hand to direct four white wings as
the advance guard against filth and
dirt. The work was so thoroughly and
cheaply done that the aldermen dis
posed of the rotary steel sweeper and
ordered that all pavements be hand
swept. and that the street cleaners be
attired i'll white coats and helmets.
The plan has worked fully as we'll I'M
der the management of the town Off
Gals as it did under the direction of
the women of the league. and Kalama-
o streets are a marvel of cleanliness.
The women have in their work Of
attempting to beautify the town gone
to the school children. knowing that to
interest them will mean more care in
lawns. delight i'm flower beds and
added beauty to horne surroundings.
The Junior City Improvement league
las olSulllLtl anu HOW HIS IL IlltlliIDpI
ship of 100. Three SETS of prizes were
offered for the best plants and beds
and vegetables. The Commercial club
became interested and Offered cash
prizes for the best ESSAYS ON What
Our Children Can DO to Make Kalama-
o Cleaner and More Bcautiful.' The
work along this line is progressing
satisfactorily. and the Junior league
will reach a membership of 1000 be-
fore the end of another year.
1t was through the personal efforts
of the women Of the league that the
city council enacted an anti-spitting
ordinance. No favorites are played
and men in all walks of life are being
reported as violators of the act. The
latest department of the league organ
lied is that to deal with the poorer
classes. The charity work includes the
giving out of clothing and provisions.
A wood yard is maintained where men
willing to work are given employment,
for which they are paid with checks ON
groceries. Money is never given, but
the tickets may be exchanged for
clothing or furniture.
At a meeting held recently at which
the league members and the CONNER
cial club attended Jointly Mrs. Crane
presented figures she had gathered.
She found that there are go chattel
mortgages in force in the city upon
which 81 to 100 per cent is being paid
annually. The total amount of the
mortgages reaches $4,000. She told
Of one man who had borrowed $40. had
paid it back three times and still owed
the principal. \ joint committee has
been appointed from the membership
Of the two organizations, and legal ac-
ton will be begun against the six COM
panies doing unlawful business.
New Civic Association In Montclair.