TO.WN AND VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE. 115 



REPORT OF TOWN AND VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT 

 COMMITTEE. 



LOU ALICE GALE, CHAIRMAN. 

 (Made to State Federation of Women's Clubs.) 



It has been impossible for the Town and Village Improvement 

 Committee to meet together. But each member has done as much 

 as she could in our district. 



We had 300 " Do and Don't" placards printed and have 150 on hand 

 for use next year. Placards were sent to Wabasha, Benson, Tracy 

 St. Anthony Park, Buffalo, Milwaukee, Wis.; Forman, N. D.; Milner 

 N. D.; Citronelle, Ala.; Boise, Idaho. 



There were 300 circular letters printed and one sent to every club 

 in the federation. 



The ladies of Morris have been very much interested in this work. 

 They have succeeded in getting waterworks in their town ; have 

 been improving the cemetery all summer ; have tried to interest 

 people in keeping the weeds out of their yards. Thej^ succeeded in 

 having an unusual number of trees set out in the spring, and 

 planted ivies, furnished by Mrs. Ohlberg, of Albert Lea, around 

 school buildings and churches. 



In Albert Lea, they have organized an improvement league that is 

 doing good work. Mrs. Ohlberg will gladly send ivy slips to any 

 one who will send for them. 



The Town and Countrj' Club of Northfield has, first, given five 

 dollars to the Northfield Improvement Association ; second, this 

 club, in connection with other federated clubs of Northfield, gave 

 an ''Author Social" at which fifteen dollars were raised for the 

 Improvement Association — this money to be donated to placing 

 waste boxes at different street corners; third, it has encouraged 

 the planting of flower seeds, and neatness in general by talks to the 

 school children and the giving away of seeds ; fourth, in connection 

 with other clubs, it has kept before the public the benefit and 

 pleasure of having ugly places made beauty spots. 



The park by the Milwaukee depot is the result of women's work 

 in this direction. The poles about the city have been painted. 



The Monday Club of Northfield has also raised money for this 

 work ; made addresses at public schools on Arbor Day and has 

 helped in printing " Do or Don't" placards. 



Sorosis, of St. Peter, has succeeded in getting one fine drinking 

 fountain for horses and dogs put in their town and hope to have 

 more fountains put in soon. 



The Women's Reading Club, of Stillwater, has identified itself in 

 the movement to establish a free library, and has planted woodbine 

 around public buildings. 



The club in Sleepy Eye has put in a public fountain for man and 

 beast. 



In Sauk Center, the ladies tried to interest the children in beauti- 

 fying the school grounds. They distributed seeds among the school 

 children in the spring. These were to be planted at their homes, 

 and in the fall they had an exhibition Saturday morning at the 

 school-house. Recitations and singing constituted the program. 



