The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-02
BEAUTIFY THE CITY
President Mills and DR.. Sheldon
Talk to Women's Federation.
Urge Club Workers to Labor to
Improve Topeka.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Mr.. Lee Z. Hammer of New York
Discusses This Feature.
Mrs. McCarter Revives Talk
About Club House.

p: The City Federation of Women's
clubs met Thursday afternoon at the
First Unitarian church. The meeting
was called by Mrs. F. w. Watson,
president of the city federation.
Delegates of all the clubs were pres
ent and reports of previous meetings
were given by Miss Whiting and ap-
proved. Mr.. Lee F. Hammer of New
York gave some good suggestions as
to the value of the play ground in
advancement has been made in a
number of larger places and in New
York as high as a million dollars an
acre has been paid for the sole pur-
pose of play ground for the children.
The Y. w. c. A. has done a great deal
towards helping this cause, but an
appeal was made by Mr.. Hammer to
the Mothers club whose assistance
would bring much success to MS
organization.
of the civic committee was the next to
speak on the combined results of the
civic committee and the Commercial
club.
Mr.. Mills Speaks.
Mrs futile was followed by Mr.. W.
w Mills, president of the Commercial
club who gave a splendid talk on i'm
proving and beautifying Topeka. The
first suggestion was to offer three
prizes-fifty dollars for the first.
thirty-five for the second, and fifteen
for the third, for the three prettiest
back yards in town. Another idea
that would prove beneficial would be
to petition the council to pass an ordi-
nance prohibiting cutting across the
parkings.
Mr.. Mills also suggested a plan to
instigate the boulevard system and to
I.rrIo+ e. 40 on
every other street corner with six in
candescent lights to. every DOCK.
Probably the most appreciated Sug-
gestion offered was the invitation ex-
tended by the Commercial club to the
city federation to hold their meetings
in the assembly room of the CONNER
cial club building.
The invitation was accepted by the
rising vote of thanks by the club mem
bers.
To improve the grounds surround
ing the three railroad stations was also
under consideration, and instead OF
the tin cans and cinders that are
most in evidence. Mr. Mills idea was
a pagoda covered with vines and
shrubbery where the wearied traveller
might spend a few restful moments
and when further on his journey TO
peka would appear as an oa oasis III
these western plains.
DIR. Sheldon Speaks.
The Rev. DR.. Charles Sheldon also
talked on the lackvof' interest in the
aesthetic Topeka, and the need OF
civic beauty "God has done a great
deal for our town and man has done
some, but not enough In order to
beautify the city we should begin with
our own individual homes. II one
resident in a block would improve the
appearance of his property the ne1gh-
bors would follow suit. There are
many things that we can do IN
dividually, but to improve the entlre
citv we need the cooperation or all.
Mr.. Sheldon spoke strongly against
+he billboards-he claims they not
only disfgure the town but are de-
moralizing and should be eliminated
and in their places should De tne
trellised vines and elevatlng mottoes'
Topeka Kan; Topeka Willis the
shirt that was manifested for the ad-
vancement of the city. The AFTER
Moons programme was concluded pS
an impromptu address mace py NIT
Margaret Hill McCarter In Whlch she
thanked Mr.. Mills and DR. Sheloon Ior
the interest they displayed III CO
onerating with the federation. Mrs
McCarter urged the building of CLUB
house. and inspired interest to pullo
I'D a chautauqua which could De
pointed to with pride by the entire
state.
Mr.. Ellis made brief address on
behalf of the emanuel movement.
Just leave it to the city federation of
clubs and the Commercial club for
Topeka to rival the beauties of Paris
or Rio Janeiro.