The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-05-28
"CINCER CLUB" IDEA
An Improvement Scheme Started
by Business nta.
ITS HELP TO A KkaSas TOWN

HiaWEths prespsrinp In FAes Of Esi
es., Disadvantages - Hos fuslii
Spirit ans consistens ciyis Improve
rtnt Rescued |, From Letharsy.
The merchants Of lllawstha. Kan
have taken np the ginger club hea
started b. Kansas City business mcn
Those IN each block viii form a clul,
and each VIII try 70 Guido the other II
improvements, The Clubs viii WORK
with the Civic Improvement club u
bcautify Iiiawatha this summer, The
Grst club 10 organize Is called the Five
Hundred Block Oregon Street Improve
ment club The officers are,
W. o. Noble. president; II D. Adj
ans. treasurer aud + NJ. Smith secre-
tary.
The officers form the executive COM
mlttee. with full power 10 spend mou-
ey for necessary improvements This
club Is formed Ia the smallest bnsi-
ness block In town. Every business
man and woman 10 the block Is mem
Der OF the club. They have subscribed
| $50 monthly for improvements, says
the Kansas City Star Electric lights
have been placed every twenty-five feel
along the block. aud the lights are kept
burning all night The buildings In
the block will be painted uniform
color. Lights VIII be placed In the
alleys and kept burning all night as a
protection 20 property.
The club has made special sprin-
Killing contract for this summer, and
the streets are swept each day. As
the streets are not paved the club has
induced the city council TO put In a ce-
ment crossing IN the middle of the
block, aud property owners have
agreed 10 put cement walks In the al
leys. The clubs in the other business
blocks win work along similar lines.
A civic Improvement club has been
In existence In Hlawatha for several
years. II has done much TO beautlfy
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 Hla-
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 electrl,
lights this summer. The Improvement
club will turn a vacant lot near the
center of the town into children'a
flower garden.
Each year the club offers prizes for
the best kept yards, churchyards and
school yards. for the best garden plant
ed and tended by a child, for the best
garden planted and tended by a man
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-and there are few of them-are
furnished with seeds by the club In
the fall 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
An ordinance has been
passed fixing 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 movement
has been started TO pave the streets In
the business section. City employees
cut the weeds along the street, and
when weeds are not cut In vacant lots
the city officials promise TO see that
Il 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 busl-
ness men and other residents. The city
council contributes each year TO the
support OF the band. In all the band
receives nearly $1,000 a year for ex-
)enses. The members are not paid sal
iries.
The money put Into civic improve
nent has been well spent There are
10 big industries In Hlawatha TO en-
,loy a large number of men; the town
q just dependent upon the surrounding
country. A few years ago Missouri
Pacific division headquarters were To-
'ated there, but were later moved to
Atchison. When the railroad families [
eft, many houses were left vacant, !
ents went down, and the value Of real 1
state decreased. The pessimistic said !,
he town would never recover The
theirs kept quiet and worked for city !
The work OF identifying /,
he town has brought results. !
Hlawatha has grown larger than !,
yer. Mere are no vacant houses;
Iewcomers either have to buy or build. |,
! water system and sewer system ex-
end over the entire town. The city :
leciric light plant furnishes power for :,
Ights on street corners. City property !,
] higher than ever before. !,
This has all been caused by the citi- n
ems making a united effort for town
etterment o