Morris tribune., 1909-04-17
The needs of communities differ so


greatly that each association must de-
eide for itself what after clean1iness-its
| town needs most.
| All towns do not realize their needs, as
is illustrated by this story-a true one
of Pennsylvania town. philanthrop-
ist offered to clean up typhoid fever
district, in this town, and provide pure
water supply. A committee of towns
people waited on him and said that if it
was all the same to him they would
much rather he would build them sol
! dier's monument.
| You all remember the recent plan, orr
ginated by Gov. Pengree, of converting
weedy vacant lots into gardens which
was adopted by many towns, practical
mode of improvement.
| Bethany is a town of less than 5000
people in Missouri. During the first year
| in the life of it's Improvement Association
| its streets were cleaned, it's court house
yard made gay with flowers, it's cemetery
and church yards put in order, rest
| room established with reading, toilet con-
veniences and matron in attendance.
| This is surely showing what can be done
4 in small town.
4 Greely,- Col, a small town built on
| a dry alkali plain now has, thanks to its
| association, we'll shaded streets, lawns
| and parks and is comparatively free from
| rubbish.
AT Woonsocket, S. D., a town typical of
| the sparsely wat cred regions, the women
! asked for a better water supply for the ir-
| rigation of parks and lawns. The men
| politely expressed their regret at not be-
| ing able to provide this supply. The
| women went to work, collected money
| and had an artesian well put down and
| fortunately struck remarkable flow of
| water, one of the finest in the country.
They have since begun the construction
| of an artificial lake of ii acres, shores to
be planted with trees and drives and
| walks laid out.
| The Improvement Association of Grand
Forks has just held an enthusiastic an
nual meeting, elected officers and dis
cussed means of raising money for the
seasons work. They want and expect to
raise $5OO.0O. They have petitioned the
council for a paper burner and 2 garbage
| wagons to facilitate the work of cleanli-
ness.
Valley City, N. D., has done famous
| work in cleaning and beautifying the
town, so has Aberdeen, S. d. At Aber-
with a captain for each. On rally day or
"tin can day" as it was nicknamed, an
army of men, women and children ap- |
peared and thoroly cleaned the streets |
and alleys. Someone has said that if you
look after the back yards the front yards |
will look after themselves.
The Improvement Club at Lake City,
Mimi. is now in its fourth year of exist
ence. 1t began with the inevitable clean I
ing up, then drove from the sidewalks and
streets unpleasant displays of old boxes,
barrels, old wagons and agricultural i'm
p1ements. You know the custom, if
there is no use for a worn out article it is
stored in the street) With the aid of the
health officer, the association made it
most uncomforta BILE for the owners of
rubbish and refuse piles. The lake shore
about the harbor has been cleared, bare
places seeded to grass, boat houses paint
ed and general appearance of thrift
made prevalent. Now attention is being
centeTed on the lake front and its inn
provement will surely be accomplished.
Pepin, town across the lake on Wis.
side, seeing Lake City's good work got
busy and offered prizes for the best kept
lawns and greatly helped the appearance.
The Crookston, Mimi, association gives
attention among other things to child
rens flower gardens. Seeds are bought
in bulk Ito insure uniform quality made
into packages and sold for cent pack
age, planted by children in own gardens
and in own yards. Prizes are offered for
the best results in each ward. First prize
of $1.OO. second prize Soc, third prize 25c.
There are judges for each ward, 8 women,
who inspect the gardens several times
during the summer, and in the fall give
out the prizes, taking into consideration
the care given the gardens during the
summer as well as the results shown in
the fall. Quality not quantity" is their
motto. One lad secured a 1st prize for an
of lOc, others who had invest 1
ed larger sums reaped many weeds as
well as flowers, but no prizes. Prizes are !
also offered for best kept lawns. In the
spring the school children are given
holiday if they will spend the day clean
ing up. High school boys are placed in