Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-10-06
FAIR SEX OF ROCKFORD ACCOM-.
PLIsH WHAT MEN SUP.
POSED IMPOSSIBLE.
IMPROVEMENT CLUB
REvoLUTIoNlzEs TOWN
Was Organized Late Last juno and
Has Already Presented the Council
a Cement Sidewalk Leading to Re-
mote cemetery-How the Town Wa.
Warmed Up and Money Raised.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Rockford, Oct. 6.-This town Of 1000
people has about the most wide awake
bunch of women in the world. Once
when the town was in dire need of an
opera house some of them formed an
opera house association and built a
good play house. At another time some
of them formed cemetery association
and we now have as nice a cemetery
as can be found in the state. The lat
est is a Ladies City Improvement
Club, composed of five ladies, Mrs.
Belle Briggs, Mrs. C. E. Mitchell Mrs.
Nellie NJ. Baldock, Mrs. z. T. Mitchell
and Mrs. Fred johnson.
This club was formed June "a, 1909.
1t began business at once and it has
now almost completed its first job. at
a cost of 500 and will soon present
it to the city, free gif-4,774 square
feet of cement sidewalk.
The need of such a walk grew out
of the fact that our beautiful cemetery
is situated across and up the river from
the town. There was q road from the
bridge up the river past the cemetery
but it had never been established and
was always in a very bad condition.
Every time there was a funeral or 9TH
er event at the cemetery many remain
ed at home rather than take the diff
cult tramp. The town council had been
appealed to, but it had no money and
could do no part Of the work. The
Ladies' Improvement Club therefore
induced the city TO make a survey and
establish road and grades for a side
walk and give the club permission to
grade the road and build the walk. with
the understanding that when it was
completed the city would accept the
entire job as gift.
The raising of money for the walk
was no holiday frolic, tho the cam
paign began on the Fourth OF July
They called 1t tag day at tax of IL
cents tag, and raised s1l6. Mex
$3.50 came by selling $50 squares OF
sidewalks at 81 a square to those in
/ terested. BY this time things go
warmed up. Two individuals gave So
apiece and one gave $40. Then ever,
/ lodge and society in town raised none.
and donated until another 800 came
Men brought their teams and graded
down the hilt to I'LL UP the valley unit
$500 in all was procured. 1t was
tough proposition even after SO mucf
money was raised Before the wall
could be built, across the hollow nea
the cemetery coHcrete retaining wal
costing s106 had to be constructed
! When the hill was graded down the.
struck fine gravel for the distance o
block and clay had to be hauled UP
on 1t to make it passable. The work II
almost completed, and only 5000 being
required to finish paying for 1t. Thes'
| Rockford women are good for that
For months they have collected none.
according 10 well laid plans. For day
they have stood by the dusty roadsid
in the roasting sun and superintende'
The work. All has been done in a frs
lass business manner. Too mucl
praise can not be given them for thel
..chiey ment.
When other walks now in process o
cons raction are finished one may star
"a, the depot of the Rock Island railroa
and go one and a half miles thru tn
residence district, thru the bushes
section. along the edge of the new 50.
ooo retaining wall at the river bridg,
across the bridge and up the river I
the cemetery. without leaving cemen
sfdewalk or crossing. From all tn
churches there is good walk on whic
those without horses may follow thei
dead to the last resting place of tn
body. Josiah Aliens wife says wome
and camels are alike in lot of thing:
Both CT EN- willin' to carry tremen
dous loads for them they love Bot
on EN- liable to break right down un
DER las, straw" But the last straw
that breaks the Rockford women dow
has not yet grown. Heaven only know
what they will attempt next. but ever
! one for miles around believes they ca
+ do anything.