The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1916-04-27
CIVIC IMPROVEMENT LEAGUE
REVIEWS ITS ACHIEVEMENTS

this size in such manner. The re.
port of the committees at the annual
meeting short time ago shows that
much has been accomplished and that
Valley City is much better and clean
er town in more ways than one be-.
cause of the work of the faithful ones.
In the first year the league was in
strumental in cleaning the river, when
about four wagon loads of old tin cans
and rubbish were taken out of the
stream in the vicinity Of the Normal
bridge. The city park was wilder
ness Of underbrush and tangled grass
and weeds, which they transformed by
organizing "raking parties" when
some of the ladies of town secured as
sistants and raked various parts of the
park and got it into much better con.
dition. During the past few years they
have had the splitting" ordinance en-
forced; also the curfew ordinance;
have arranged for garbage collections;
inspected allies and yards and helped
to improve the appearance of the city
in many ways. One year Mrs. Gabriel
Berg organized the boys of town into
squads for street work, under the sup
ervision of different ladies', and they
picked up all loose papers which were
blowing around the streets. Trash
cans were put on the street corners
for the use of the general public in
keeping the streets looking nice and
neat.
A Woman's Exchange was started,
which has grown to be one of the best
patronized places of business in the
city. It is the only one in the country
so far as investigation has been able
to locate, that is self-supporting. Most
of them receive help from the city.
But this one handles several thousand
dollars in year, and although self
supporting, it is not money-making
proposition. Every cent that comes
into the business goes out again to
the bakers, for rent or to the care
taker or into equipment for the rest
room. The theory that the Exchange
does not help the people who are
needy, is frequently advanced, but is
met by the reply that only through
it is the "rest ROOM possible. Many
people do not know that the rest
room is used to any great extent, while
it averages being patronized by 40
women per day the year around. 1t
has been known to provide rest for 70
in one day. 1t is CHEEKY, comfort
able room equipped with toilet, lava.
tory, and drinking fountain, furnished
with comfortable rocking chairs, and
couch, where the tired mother may
come with her babies and care for
them; where the farmers wives may
rest from their tiresome day of shop
ping; where the town women may
wait for their friends, or the out-of-
town shoppers may refresh themselves
after strenuous day away from home,
and the people waiting for trains may
be comfortable during tedious wait.
1t is also used by the various club wo-
men as meeting place for various
committees. In the course of one year
it offers rest and comfort to over 1900
women and girls, and is only made
possible through the means of the
Woman's Exchange. Thus the great
need of a rest room in the city is seen.
1t is in charge Of a neat and careful
caretaker at all times, and is always
safe and respectable place for lady
or young girl to spend, her time while
obliged to wait in the city. The league
is to be commended on the splendid
showing it has made in this respect in
particular, and it is hoped that the
time may come when more commod.
ious quarters and better accommodate
tions will be provided without such an
effort on the part Of the women of the
town, when the city can point with
pride to it's rest room, where Valley
City takes care of the women and
girls who patronize its various institu-
tions of business and learning.
The Improvement League is begin
ming a campaign for cleaner, more
beautiful Valley City. Nature has done
her part and it is now up to the citi.
zens to clean up and keep clean this
prettiest town in the state. Let us all
work for clean streets and clean yards.
The State Federation of Women's
clubs meets here this coming fall and
we must have lefty beautiful" to
show. . ..@ ...
SHOULD NOT FEEL DISCOURAGED
So many people troubled with indi-
gestion and constipation have been