The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-08-20
Department of the University of Wis
consin for distribution on application.
Working Out Local Problems

Working Out Local Problems
But out Of the search for material
for this program grew the wish to
get down to local civic problems. We
knew SO little about the great outside
wave Of interest In this work that
we had never heard Of the American
Civic Association and learned Of it
only just In time to telegraph to them
for help and material before the first
general meeting.
This general meeting of women in
terested in better conditions for the
town was called at the City Hall; and
the following were asked to be pres
ent to speak:
The city health officer, to explain
the vital need Of sewerage and the
desirability of garbage disposal sys-
tenn, and what practical means could
be used to get both.
The school superintendent, to tell
of the advantages OF manual training
and domestic science In the local
schools.
The art teacher in the schools, to
tell how the local school grounds
could be inexpensiyely improved and
made beautiful.
A woman who loves gardens, to
tell OF the Joy in gardens and in
planted spaces.
A club member, to tell of the work
of the American Civic Association
and Of the work Of children's gardens
and the penny seed packages.
A woman interested in pure milk,
to tell Of the dangers of tuberculosis
from uninspected herds and how a
town can go about securing the tu-
berculin test of its cows.
Eighty women were present at this
meeting and the following week a
meeting was held to effect perma-
nent organization. The constitution
of the Wichita (Kansas) Improve
ment Association was adopted, with
notifications suiting it to the small
Ter society, and the work was map
ped out for five standing committees,
whose chairmen, with the officers
and five appointive members, made
up the executive board. The COM
Nmittees we're: Sanitary, educational,
art, the children's auxiliary, and
streets and alleys. A membership
committee was also appointed to So
licit new members, the society's rev.
enue consisting only of the annual
dues Of SO cents.
The committees were instructed as
follows:
The sanitary committee ID to Sc
cure tuberculin test, and II pos
sible, an ordinance requiring the
testing of all local herds; ca To
investigate systems Of garbage dispo-
sal in the small towns of the state
and to devise some means of collec-.
ton in the town.
The educational committee to cir
culate petition to be presented to
the school board asking 1t to adopt
manual training and domestic science
In The local highs chool
The art committee to arrange for
special rates on quantities of shrubs,
roses, ETC., and to offer to order for
anyone who wished to order.
The children's auxiliary to see how
many children wished the penny pack
ages of seeds for home gardens.
The streets and alleys committee
to ask the mayor to appoint clean
up day; and to report unsavory al
leys.
What Was Accomplished.
Organization was effected In March
and In three months the following
had been accomplished:
The sanitary committee, had inter-
viewed the milkmen at meeting
called by the committee, and had
ascertained how to secure the tuber-
culin test. The milkmen were willing
to have the test made and to pay forI
II themselves, and the matter was
precipitated by the owner of a large
herd engaging to come to make the
test a veterinarian who found In the
herd three badly infected cows. All
the large local herds were inspected |
but the effort to secure an ordinance
the test semi annually, as
It should be administered, was post
poned in the hope that this will soon
be required by statute.
The Sanitary Committee had writ
.en to twenty Wisconsin towns, ask
ing about their garbage collection
systems, II they had any. Few were
found that had satisfactory systems,
but many of the replies asked for in