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PARK AND CEMETERY 
experts, who made comprehensive plans for a reju- 
venated and greatly beautified city. 
This systematic planning for years to come, plan- 
ning upon a comprehensive scale, is the feature of 
the “Harrisburg plan” that should be adopted in every 
village, city or metropolis. 
An interesting feature of the plan of the Harrisburg 
Civic Club is the work of the Department of Forestry 
and Town Improvement. Quoting from a recent Bul- 
letin issued by this department : 
“When the Civic Club was first organized, in 1898, 
this department was formed of four committees, viz. : 
Parks, Tree Planting, Forestry, Playgrounds. 
Since the Civic Club began its efforts to have a 
cleaner and more beautiful city, great changes have 
occurred. We now have a model Park Commission, 
our councilmen are interested in beautifying the 
streets, the Board of Control has granted us permis- 
sion to have school grounds planted, and other pro- 
gressive measures render some of our former aims 
superfluous. 
It seemed, therefore, a sensible thing to re-organize 
on the two lines of greatest usefulness, viz. : Play- 
grounds and Home Improvements, and at the general 
meeting held in December, 1902, January and Feb- 
ruary, 1903, it was voted — 
1st. To continue the playgrounds and to enlarge 
their equipment. 
2nd. To repeat the prize planting of 1902. 
3d. To reorganize in two main committees — 'Play- 
grounds and Planting. 
The pamphlet gives explanations regarding the 
prizes offered, and excellent specific directions for work. 
Work in a Metropolis . 
The work of the Civic Improvement League of St. 
Louis during the fifteen months of its existence ex- 
emplifies what may be accomplished for civic better- 
ment by organization and the combined efforts of all 
citizens who are willing to contribute money, time, 
social talent or organizing ability in an attempt to im- 
prove local conditions. 
The membership at present is about 2,000. Each 
member pays $2 annually. Several hundred are hon- 
orary members, paying $25 annually. There are also 
donations from public spirited citizens, so that the 
league spends between $500 and $600 per month in 
furthering good movements, besides expending about 
$3,000 this year for playgrounds. 
The committees of the league are : 
Executive, Ways and Means, Press, Legislation, 
Open Air Playground, Public Bath, Waste Paper 
Boxes, Sanitary, R. R. Track Depression, Member- 
ship, Vacant Lot, Statuary, Sign and Sign Board, 
Civic Cleaning Days, Junior League, and Committee 
for Marking Historical Spots. 
Among the things accomplished, in whole or in part, 
through this league may be mentioned : 
First. The distribution, in connection with the 
Engelman Botanical Club, of several thousand copies 
of a pamphlet upon the subject of tree planting in the 
city, giving full instructions as to kinds and methods 
with which success would most likely be assured. 
Second. The establishment of six open air play- 
grounds for children in the congested districts remote 
from parks. All of these are provided with shower 
baths and a library. 
These six playgrounds, together with those in charge 
of the Vacation Playground Association, a sister or- 
ganization, make a total of thirteen playgrounds main- 
tained during the summer for the children. 
These grounds are patronized by thousands. As 
many as three thousand baths may be given daily. 
The police department asserts that in the districts 
where these playgrounds were maintained commitments 
for crimes and misdemeanors decreased one-half. 
Third. Some of the shrewd brewers made an at- 
tempt to get the monopoly of supplying waste paper 
boxes for the street corners and using them for ad- 
vertising. Their efforts were thwarted, and there is 
a prospect that the city may supply the boxes free 
from advertisements or under special regulations. 
Fourth. The more general enforcement of the wide- 
tire laws. 
Fifth. The enactment of an anti-spitting ordinance 
and its quite general enforcement. 
Sixth. Through the efforts of the Sanitary Com- 
mittee, there has been a marked improvement in the 
3d and 4th wards, where special work has been done. 
Clubs have been organized among the women for the 
purpose of teaching sanitation. Three “breathing 
spots” have been prepared. Fifty of the women have 
entered a prize contest for home improvement. 
Seventh. The depression of the R. R. tracks in the 
vicinity of Forest Park and the World’s Fair Grounds. 
Eighth. Enforcement of the ordinance relating to 
sign boards, and prospective legislation for better laws 
regarding the same. The League’s counsel is now pre- 
paring a bill board ordinance, which is to be made a 
part of the revised building laws. 
Ninth. The completion of plans for an extensive 
boulevard system connecting the parks of the city and 
adding to the park system several strips of high bluff 
having commanding views of the Mississippi river. 
Tenth. Formulating plans for organizing all the 
children of the city into Junior Civic Leagues. A novel 
feature of the organization is that the members of this 
league pay annual dues, but not in money. Their 
annual dues are paid by their doing some active work 
to make St. Louis clean, healthy and beautiful, and 
