Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1912-04-11
time.

one of the strongest missionary
addresses heard here for a long
time.
Alleys and Allies
The Mayor has received by
Courier, a message from the
Improvement League calling
his attention, specifically to the
horrible condition Of the alley
"Back of Osborne's Drug Store. "
The fact is that the members of
the League haven't looked into
this matter carefully and thor
oughly enough. The League
will kindly note that there was
quite a fall of snow during the
winter just last past. They
will also kindly remember that
a part of the snow fell upon
the just and the unjust. And
it lay just where it fell usually
until removed by the civilized
hand of man. They will also
note that some of the snow
above referred to fell upon
the tops of the stores and
to save the roofs, the snow was
shoveled off and fell into the al
leys. And as one storm fol-
lowed another, which could
not be averted by any civic ac-
tivity, the snow accumulated
and mighty banks were built
up back Of the st ores, which, as
they melted wert. solidif1ed and
eventually became solid cakes
of ice. On top of these cakes of
ice, were deposited many kinds
of refuse and debris, thereby
causing the pile of rubbish to
re more apparent than real.
There is no odor emanating
from the alley back of MIR. Os-
borne's store, but it is insight
ly and Mr.. Osborne will remove
Fit just as soon as it can be done
without blasting with nitro
glycerine. The MayOr masses
this alley many times a day,
which he began in Missouri
Valley 80 years ago today.
For many years there was an
out house on the rear of this
lot within three feet of the
street, which smelled to heav-
en-, which my illustrious predi-
cessor was unable to get remov-
ed. The Leagues proboscis
was never alive to this mon
strous evil. 1t has been re-
moved by a simple request
since the present administra-
ton took up the reins of Office.
1t seems superduous not to say
futile to admonish citizens that
they ought to clear up their al
leys. It's positively contrary
to law to throw anything ex-
cept fluid in the streets or al
leys. Then why do our alleys
need cleaning? Simply because
our people persist in breaking
the law by depositing ashes and
tins and various kinds of re-
fuse in the streets and alleys
during the winter. Our lots
are much longer than those in
most cities so there is plenty of
room in the rear of every lot
for this rubbish.
And yet this law is broken
all winter long by our ''Promin-
ent Citizens" members of the
League, of the Commercial
Club, of the Twenty-first Cen
fury Club, members of "Our
Church" and civilians general
ly. A pious theologion told me
last year he was Fright with
me in any effort to clean up
the alleys" and yet this good
man began throwing his kitch-
en- refuse in alley Immediately
afterward and the ditch in the
alley back of his house is at
this very minute, filled up with
many tons of ashes! Selah
"Why do the heather rage
and the people imagine a vain
thing"
A wise man has said that
"The way to keep a city clean is
for every man to sweep before
his own door yard.
Do you know a better way,
dear reader?
Horace Warren,
Mayor.
Mo. Valley, April IL, 1912.
VIII cnxF1 OwFpS