The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-07-09
BETTER CITIES
CONTEST CLOSE
Surveys of Is Wisconsin
Cities in Hands of
Judges.
KENOSHA IN RUNNING

Madison, Wis 81 unexpected
social and civic conditions have been
found to exist in many Wisconsin
cities and steps have been taken to
improve them as the result of the
Wisconsin Better Cities contest which
closes on Thursday.
Data sent by the cities to the Wis
consin Conference of Social work, un-
der whose direction the contest has
been conducted for the past thirteen
months, shows that approximately 1850
contest have been engaged in extern
sixe study of their community, which
will result in the development of
more sound economic, social, educa-
tional, and individual community life,
Aubrey Williams, secretary of the
conference, said today.
"As a result of the contest, citizens
arel earning more than they ever hop
ed to know about their town." Mr..
Williams said. "They are learning
that the town they have for years
proclaimed as the best town of it's
size I know anything Of has three
hundred families most of whom have
children who live in rooms over stores
on their business section streets.
They are learning that there are
families even to one-fourth of the
whole number of families in their city
whose yearly income is 5000 or $500
less than what it costs to live by
figures they themselves have gathered.
They are learning that ninety chill
dren out of every one hundred, never
GO to motion picture and that more
than fifty families out of every
hundred play home games with father
or mother.
Playground Cow Pastures.
"They are learning that Fairgrounds
they enthusiastically believed would
keep the boys and girls out of mis-
chief and off the streets, are located
SO far from the rim of The city as
to serve no other purpose than for y
COW pasture and that the park in ths
city, because of no direction, is
lounging place for transients, hoboes,
and local Migrants.
SIN this work of know myself ap-
piled to the city, every walk of life
has had part. The business men,
through their chamber of commerce,
the women through their clubs, and
leagues, the labor leaders, the city
officials, the farmers, the social work
ers, nurses, doctors, courts, police and
fire department members, are all to
be found at work on some part of
the Better Cities as it has come to be
known in towns participating.
"American-like, the work passed
quickly from the fact gathering to the
utilization stage. Where are we
weak the workers declared and they
meant it. The stronger leaders had
anna picture in their city. Almost
every one of those in charge, while
fighting for ali that actually was
worth while, were just as scrupulous-
ly exacting in wanting their defects
brought out.
improvements On All Sides.
"And they went about to correct
them. In five cities, Ashland, Superior,
Waukesha, GAINESVILLE and Ladysmith,
they are at work to establish case
work methods for the charity Of the
city. In Sheboygan they had no city
plan. They have hired a city planner.
In Fond du Lac they were in need
of milk inspection work. They are
fighting to get it. In Kenosha there
were no countrywide play days. They
are to have one. In Eau Claire they
have established a control clearing
house for relief. In Oshkosh they
have whole roster of things to cur
tail and to enlarge. Sparta is. work
ing out an extension of its sewerage
system.
'It has meant civic action on an or
gained, planned and related basis.
"Yet this is only the beginning. |
Cities are trying to take care of those
few items which are Of nature to be
remedied by organization and which |
can be taken care of quickly.
"They are looking farther ahead !
than that, however. Five cities have |
requested that the Wisconsin Confer /
ence of Social work make detailed
study of the data which they have
turned in and give them a full report
of how they compare with all other
cities in the contest, along with the |
methods employed by the cities doing
the best work.
Growing Demand for Planning.
"They want to know and they want
a plan. There has gradually but un-
developed that our cities
and towns have just happened. They
have been pieced together-thi house,
that house, this store, that store, a
street here, street there, forced
NV the immediate needs.
A prize is to be awarded to the city
which is tie best place in Wisconsin
in which to rear children. The judges
for the award are; y