The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-03-11
From Tuesdays Daily.

vi nv POS NNet YIN
and officers elected for the coming
year. A good deal was accomplished
last year in an transformations manner,
but much more is planned this year.
Miss Minnie Parker, the acting Sec
retary. presented the following report:
Secretary's Report.
At the general meeting of the league,
held at the public library on the even
ing of October 9th, 1909, reports from
the committees on membership, laws
and their enforcement, lectures and lit
~erature. Junior league, lawns. yards and
lots, and streets, alleys and sidewalks
were submitted, showing marked activ-
ity along these lines during the spring
and summer. In the open discussion
following the reports matters pertain
ing TO public parks, children's gardens,
the improvement of the slough, a de-
tention hospital, and the violation OF
the Sunday laws We're taken up, and
the various committees authorized TO
act in these matters.
With the printing of stationery, a
lTtslSiiltG : bIutl boph WIN
membership blanks for adults and chill
dren, and all other records system.
matically arranged, league affairs are
in good working order and the year
just opening promises notable results.
Complete reports of the work ac-
complished by the various committees
during the spring and summer, and
submitted at the autumn meeting, are
on file at the library. There is also
"A great deal of valuable reference ma
terial for the use of league workers.
Miss Parker read the annual report
of Mrs. F.. X. Meagher, the treasurer.
This showed Il balance on hand at the
beginning of the year of $lS8.29, with
receipts of $l33.2S, and disbursements
of S204.5 2 leaving Il balance on hand
at the present time of $ll7.O5. The
two principal items of receipts were
$97.9 5 from dues and $20.S5 from the
juvenile league.
Presidents Annual Report.
The president, Miss Maude Van
Buren,, read the following report of the
past years work:
To the members of the Mankato
Civic Improvement league: In relin-
gushing the greatness" thrust upon
us last March, the officers do so with
a bit of proper pride in turning over
to the new officers a thoroughly sys-
tematized organization, and with APP
probation for the privilege of having
active participation in a work that has
met with ready response in most eases
"a work that is bound 10 reap far
reaching results.
The interest manifested in the work
of the league the past year was dis
tinetly gratifying, and the hope ex-
pressed by residents in all parts of the
city for its continuance very encour-
aging. Constant agitation does finally
bring results.
Much of the desired improvement in
Mankato can be brought about only by
the public authorities; more by home
builders; but for cleanliness of back
yards and alleys, attractive lawns,
parking and school grounds, porch and
window boxes. the utilization of va
cant lots and Il general interest in
flower growing, we believe the children
may be largely depended upon to make
Mankato throughout what it is in
spots, a truly beautiful city.
Children are natural doors of things.
and the largest effort of the league
the past year has been toward directing
these energies toward civic betterment.
One child, given seeds and Il few sim
pie garden tools (hOe and rake, trowel
and sprinkler). nav inspire all the
youngsters in the block to action. An
idle boy will become a better boy by
having a vacant lot to cultivate. and,
anropOs of vacant lots, every one in
this city should be utilized either as
Il playground, Il beauty spot, or a
market garden. Here are grand Oppor-
t%unities for the boys without home
gardens.
The beauty and cleanliness of our
town must not be judged by conditions
in the best residential and business
portions. Trees and vines and grass
and flowers work magic, and the worst
locality may be made to equal in at
tractiveness those sections having the
finest homes, public buildings and bust.
ness blocks representing large expendi
tnre of money. England's charm lies
not so much in her vast, parklike
estates and spacious mansions as in the
modest beauty of her hamlets and
scattered cots, each with its charac.
~teristic floral setting; not so much in
the grandeur of her c~athedrals thai
fill one with wonder and awe as in
her vine-covered churches, inviting one
to linger and mediate.
The charm of any country or any
community lies not so much in it,
piles of stones and mortar as in the
simplicity, the nominees of it's homes
and It's here that the child's civic
pride takes root.
Every Individual effort counts for un
told good. We talk, we sing, W,
write about boosting" our fair city,;
there is no easier nor better way thar
by joining the league forces, who's
first interest is in the welfare of tn,
city. We realize that the demand,
made upon public and private purse
the past year have been so numerou,