Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-05-09
"Gl*GER CLUB" IDEA.
An Improvement Scheme Started by
Business Men.

Business Men.
The merchants of Hiawatha, Kan.
have taken up the ginger club" idea
started by Kansas City business man.
Those in each block will form club
and each will try to Guido the other in
improvements. The clubs will work
with the Civic Improvement club to
beautify Hiawatha this summer The
first club to organize is called the Five
Hundred Block Oregon Street Improve
ment club. The officers are:
W. o. Noble. president, III. D.. Adj
ans, treasurer, and p. NJ. Smith secre-
tary.
The officers form the executive COM
mittee, with full power to spend mon
ey for necessary improvements. This
club is formed in the smallest bust
ness block in town. Every business
man and woman in the block is MEM
Der of the club They have subscribed
500 monthly for improvements, says
the Kansas City Star. Electric lights
have been placed every twenty-five feet
along the block, and the lights are kept
burning all night The buildings in
the block will be painted uniform
color. Lights will be placed in the
alleys and kept burning all night as
protection to property.
,, The club has made Il special sprin-
killing contract for this summer, and
the streets are swept each day. AS
| the streets are not paved the has
induced the city council to put in 4 &C.
| ment crossing in the middle of the
block, and property owners have
agreed to put cement walks in the al
| leys. The clubs In the other business
blocks will work along similar lines,
A civic Improvement club has been
| In existence in Hiawatha for several
years. IL has done much TO beautify
the town. Work for this summer has
already commenced, and the residents
| are taking hold with new vigor. The
members of the Improvement club
have adopted the slogan. Make Hia-
watha beautiful and spotless town."
| The members of the club plant and
tend flower beds in the city park.
which faces the main business block.
| The park will be strung with electric
| lights this summer. The Improvement,
| club will turn vacant lot near the
| center of the town into children's
flower garden.
| Each year the club offers prizes for
| the best kept yards. churchyarls and
school yards. for the best garden plant
| ed and tended by child. for the best
1 4 .x,x
over sixty years old, for the best look
ing yard kept in order by woman
and for the best flower gardens.
Those who are too poor to buy flower
| seeds-;nd there are few of them-are
furnished with seeds Thy the club. In
the fall Il flower show Is held, at which
! the prizes are awarded. The business
men and others pay the expenses of
the club, and the officers give their
| services. The city council and the
board of county commissioners appro-
pirate money toward the support of the
club.
The city administration is in hearty
sympathy with the town Improvement
movement. An ordinance has been
passed fixing a fine for any person
found guilty Of splitting on any side
walk or crossing in the city. After
each rain the dirt streets are dragged
at the city's expense, and o movement
has been started to pave the streets in
the business section. City employees
cut the va aug the street. and
when weeds d. q. i'm vacant lots
1.-THE city officials promise to see that
it is done at the expense of the prop
erty owner.
Each Wednesday, evening during this
summer concerts will be given in the
city park. The concerts have been
given each summer for nearly twenty
| years The band is paid by the bust.
ness men and other residents. The city
council contributes each year 10 she
support of the band In all the band
receives nearly $1,000 year for ex-
penses The members are not paid sal.
aries.
4 The money put into civic improve,
ment has been well spent. There are