New-York tribune., 1907-06-03
WORK OF ONE SOCIETY
JTunicipaI League Branch Performs
Many Ci1ic Stunts" "

The members of the AIorrisania branch OF the
Woman Municipal League seem 70 be content
with common things While some womens
clubs brayely hitch their wagons to the star
q parliamentary procedure, and bump along
after it. no matter into what intricacies It car
ries them. the 1Iorrisania women stay down on
the ground and get vacant lots in crowded dis
tricts opened 10 the people for parks; force the
authorities to make proper disposition Of gar
base and DO other little stunts" Of that sort
Consequently, the last report of the leagues
Norrisania branch, the one issued on May 81,
has quite practical sound
Since the last report before this was issued
the league members have secured three new
fountains for The Bronx. They have insisted
on clean streets and clean subway stations, and,
what is more, have got them, here and there at
least.
The Kingsbridge members OF the league are
trying 10 save a few of the natural beauties of
;hat locality from the devastating march of
commerce. Everybody who has Bone summer
ing around Kingsbrdge knows Tibbets Brook.
Iibbets Brook. the league says, Is IN imminent
danger of being swallowed up by the INTERIOR
oush Railroad. which has purchased several
acres of land near il. and is planning TO have
some big and freight yards there. 4 COM
7nittee of women from the league has attended
TWO hearings at the City Hail. and tried head
off the nteTboroughs attempt to have two ave
nues closed on the purchased property Should
those avenues be closed, the Interborough viii
and spoil the beauty of the neighborhood 1t
remains be whether The city fathers
have enough of the feeling Of Ruskin TO listen
TO the plea of the Kingsbridge women, but the
latter have done their best. Also they are try
ing 10 keep Tibbet's Brook from being turned
into sewer.
GARBAGE NOT REMOVED.
A new division Of the league has been formed
in Spuyten Duyvil Miss Dora NJ. Lesley is
chairman. Mrs. R. H McKelvey is secretary and
Mrs. Il. s. Livingston treasurer. Garbage is the
chief grievance of the Spuyten Duyvtes-
bage that IS dumped on private property and
left there until II smells 10 heaven The women
OF the league are laboring with Commissioners
Craven and Darlington 10 abate this nuisance;
far there are no visible results, but the league
has hopes. Commissioner Darlington has done
one thing for the league, anyhow, at its petl-
tiOn he caused TO be shut up the cows that used
TO wander rurally around Spuyten DuyvN and
dine off the gardens of the inhabitants; and the
league has persuaded the Water Department TO
remove q leaking hydrant. the moisture from
which bred many mosquitoes and iucA soiro"
for Spuyten DGyvil.
The league park committee there has secured
from Commissioner Bingham better police sur
Veillance for MOshOlu Parkway, and has got
Park Commissioner BeTrY'S promise that he
would consider favorably its desire Of filing and
grading the swamp land lying AT the inter
section Of Jerome and Mosholu parkWays. Com
missioner Berry has applied TO MI Parsons, the
landscape gardener. for the requisite plans for
this He was not so complacent When the league
asked him to keep ball playing out Of St. Jamess
Park though the league contends that ball
games in that little park are a nuisance 10 the
neighborhood and could just well be kept to
Van COrtlandt Park.
T6e league chairman at Inwood, Miss Francis
L. Hobbie has wrestled with the gas company
till she has made it increase the pressure IN seV-
eraI houses 10 the normal number of feet; has
persuaded the Department Of Highways to lay
new hags39Hes. on 4 dangerous stretch of side
walk. and has WEung from the Department OF
Water. Gas and Electricity promise OF lights
in Emerson street. which at present is as dark
= c-af though il is the path from InWODd
20 the subway station.
The Inwood division has made a campaign
against untidy streets, and result garbage
which had been allowed 10 lie for two weeks
has been s-emOved; and the service continues
good. The sidewalks and empty lots along
Broadway TO the ship canal nave been ceane4
up and the Street Cleaning Department has
promised the InWood division to continue the
good work. Miss Hobbie hopes. too, TO have
the Inwood knoll made into a park.
CLEAN STREETS AND STATIONS.
The chairman and the secretary of the Wood
stock. division of the league, Mrs. 4. d Fisk
and Miss Leah Anderson. have been bolsterins
up the street cleaners Of the section. BY gentle
persuasion and encouragement they nave got
the cleaners really TO take an interest in their
work. Also, five additional cleaners have been
detailed TO this district at Mrs Fisks request,
and the stationmaster at the Prospect avenue
elevated station has been reused to take an m
terest in keeping the steps and platforms of the
depot clean. Prospect avenue, TOO, has been re-
eodded hv the Park Commissioner on Mrs Fisk s
representation, and five drivers hailed to court
foy defacng the new sod with their wheels.
Several owners of vacant lots in Woodstock
have consented to open these lots to the public,
and the Park Department has stocked them with
benches. Department stores have contributed
some big umbrellas: the advertisements on
these umbrellas are not exactly high art but
the shade they cast will be grateful TO tired
mothers and children. OF course the lots are
subject TO sale. but if the people can have them
for one summer it will be a great boon in the
crowded quarters Already the police officer
patrollng the district where an empty lot has
been opened Ghe other lots are not ready yeD
Gays that the boys are much less obstreperous
since the creation Of that little park.
The Superintendent of Sewers has promised
the league TO bring to life once more fountain
at Third avenue and 164th street. which has
been choked UP for eight years Mrs. Fisk and
Miss Anderson have raised money to place Il
horse trough and drinking fountain at the
5uncture of Third avenue, Lincoln avenue and
13Stn street The design for thee fountain has
been made the Department Of Sewers has prom
ised its cooperation and as soon as the posi-
ton is determined work the fountain Will
begin. When it is completed, II viii be presented
70 The city with imposing ceremonies.
who made speech az a Woman's Mu-
nicipal League meeting a while ago remarked:
at is surprising how much work YOU and peo-
pla like you have to do just to get the officials
10 keep things going" The women of the Nor
risania branch seem 10 be holding UP their end.