Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-04-30
CIVIC COMMITTEES s
ANNUAL REPORT
Considerable Improvements Ac-
compIished by Ladies Fed
GRAFTON the Past Ieer

The following brief report for the
year 1913 and 1914 is respectfully
submitted by the Civic Committee:
Shortly after the annual business
meeting a year ago the Civic Com
| nittae met and formulated plans for
the years work. A civic meeting to
| be held in the evening, and one at
| which Miss Zona Gale would speak,
was planned for. We found, however,
Miss Gale was going east and SO
planned later for another speaker. The
Civic meeting was held in the even
ing as PLANNED for and both ladies
and gentlemen attended. The pro-
gram as outlined in the year book,
was carried out.
The usual city clean up was carri-
ed ON in May The matter Of bill
boards was taken up again by the
Washburm Crosby Co., and after
some correspondence, they were good
enough to put up no new signs and
W DIOllI60 BO JcsnlII NtAI O1tL OlHCSsAhSNA'N'
The Civic Committee then decided
to give especial attention to the
matter of trying to interest the town
people in the building of a river
wall to extend from the east end OF
the bridge to Cohen's store, or pos
sibly to the Witter Hotel. A little
preliminary work was done; an archi-
tect consulted in regard to the cost
and best materials for such wall
and walk, and we had just begun to
feel quite we'll started, in the fail,
when illness and other obstacles, ,caus'
ed the work of this committee to be
dropped until a very short time ago.
But at the last meeting of the Civic
Committee, each member expressed
herself ais quite as enthusiastic to go
ON, with this river wall, as they had
been when we first dilscI ssed this
plan. Certainly, there is no other i'm
movement in the whole city that
would be so grateful to thousands OF
our people as changing the present
east side river view. If each mem
her of the Federation will give us
her loyal support and help I'D TINS
nroiact the members of this commit
tee pledge themselves to do their
hest to bring about at least a start
fo,. this much needed change.
The views received in crossing ana
recrosrsfng the bridge are at present
much Like the before and after taking
signs crossing from the west to the
east side you have a strong powerful
view of what has not been done. Ma
nv dirty. ralmshackle, building ends
and norches. boxes, barrels, papers,
cans. filth and debris of adj kinds pup
licIy and prominently displayed NEAR
" the whole way. What must we
think of ourselves when we see these
SIGHTS and what must our friends
and visitors think of Grand Rapids
nnblic and civic spirit? as this is Usu-
alv their first or before view. IL
one crosses the bridge only to go 10
the postoffice and immediately ne-
turns when they look again at tine
river and the green smiling BANKS
the attractive shrubs and floWers,t the
charming bridge and consolidated
mark they find 10, what a difference;
s,7ra1v This lis the river-and river
banks. but this is after taking FED
.aration and Improvement treatment
For vou can all remember what the
z7oe+ slide hank used to be. Surely
IF that hank can have been so chang
cd so improved, so beautifded We can
do tine same for the east side II you
ALA want it? If you will all help! III
takes much time, muclAtrouble ana
much patience. These you mllst De
willing to give freely-and first, last
and. all the time, we must give mo-
nav to make the change.
Yet, if we all pull together for TINS
GOOD end we may all see the day
when we need not compare one side
Of our river with the other; when
We can, all with joy and pleasure, look
ont i'm any direction from the brldige
and see only clean, sweet, lovely aAia
peacefuI surroundings.
Respectfully yours,
Mrs D. J. Arpin, Mrs. L. M. Alex
n A
ander. Mrs. w. ]. Conway, Mrs E,A'
E1lis Miss Caroline Fitch, Mrs. Mary
PomainyiIle, Mrs. w. F. Kellogg, Mrs
F. Mac Kinnon, Mrs. Guy Nash' Nll's'
F.. J. Wood.