The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-01-27


than anything else tended to create
interest in the work was the contest
in flower gardening and castor bean
growing. For this purpose a large
quantity of flower seed was pur-
chased by the league and distributed
league at cost. Four hundred pack.
cts of castor beans were sold.
Prizes ranging from fifty cents
to SIS, $3.50 in all, were awarded
in this contest Another valuable
feature was the essay contest among
the grade children on the subject,
What l Can Do to Make Mankato
Clean and Beautiful"
Toward the end of the summer
groups of judges visited each ward
and viewed the yards, gardens and
castor beans. Some remarkable re-
suits were noted. A final committee
judged on the castor plants and set
tied on the winners.
On September II q rally day was
held in the library assembly room.
Superintendent Sperry and the presi-
dent of the league addressed the
Juniors. Prizes were awarded and a
group picture of the members pres
ent was taken.
The membership of the league is
at present 1863, this shows a growth
of nearly fifty per cent over the
first year. The enthusiasm shown
by the young workers has been very
encouraging and should be maintain-
ed. 1t makes for a cleaner, heater
and more beautiful Mankato.-
James G. Norby, chairman of junior
committee.
Membership Committee Report.
Report of membership committees:
First ward, 3O;. second, 54; third,
146; fourth, 40; fifth, 1OS; sixth,
40; total, 41S.-Mrs c. II. Nerbovig,
chairman.
A different report shows q gain
of twenty members over the above
figures.
The committee on lectures and
| literature of which George w. Sug-
den is chairman, reported that the
committee had started their work by
giving the civic improvement rally
at the opera house this spring. This
had been followed by talks 10 the
school children during the school
hours. This committee was instru-
mental in bringing Mrs. Crane to the
CITY,
The parks committee with Jean A.
} Flittie as chairman, reported that
this committee was responsible for
the permanent Improvement plans
for Sibley park. They also planned
the large flower bed that decorates
the central part of Washington park.
This committee purchased the steel
settee for Lincoln park.
Vacant Lots Committee.
Mrs. r. j. Jache, chairman of the
committee on vacant lots, reported
that when complaints of unkept lots
had been reported to the league
that the committee had taken action
to see that such lots were kept
clean. The committee had also stop
ped the hauling of sand on the Rock
street city property. The committees
in general, and especially this com.
mittee, willingly gave the city com,
missioners credit for helping the
league in its work. The league has
found the city officers always glad
to render help when it was asked
| for.
Report on Streets and Alleys.
"To the Civic League and the
Citizens of Mankato: My part OF
what has been done for the cleaning
up of the city is very small. All
cases of weeds and bad places in
alleys, and uncleanliness that have
been reported to me have been taken
care of, by the help of Mr.. Waters
our street commissioner. The city
commissioners have been willing al
any time that we asked for help
to grant it. There is an ordinance
that fOrbidS the growing of any foul
seed and the maturing of the same
within the city limits. There ar,
many lots and blocks of land in the
city that are crowded with brush
and truck of all kinds that should be
removed. | do not think that it is
proper to leave old machinery and
old wagons on the sidewalks or in
the alleys, or the boulevards of the
city, and | think that steps should
be taken and a committee appointed
to ask the city commissioners to ar
range for the discontinuance of this
practice. / want to state that
have found the city commissioners
the health department and Mr.. Wat
ters ready at any time to assist us
think that il good committee
is appointed for another year, ant
that the people as a whole, will take
a hand in the cleanup, we can &C
complish many things.
"Our Fairgrounds in the north enc
; of the city did not materialize OIL
account of no funds. There SHOULD
be some land rented in each end O
Mankato for play ground for chill
dren.
81 trust and hope that all take /;
hand next year, have been in Man
katO for the paSt tWenty-fiye wears