12 
PARK AND CEMETERY 
the ablest men and women of a town, it can accomplish 
but little. If its methods are not so administered as to 
instruct up to the highest ideals, its efforts are quite 
likely to be harmful as beneficial.” 
NOTES OF THE ASSOCIATIONS. 
The Dallas Civic Improvement League, Dallas, Tex., is 
working “to make Dallas a good place to come to and a 
better place to live in,” and the annual report recently pub- 
lished in the local papers' shows some of the methods it has 
adopted in working toward this end. The work is directed 
by the Executive Board, composed of one member from each 
ward. The league has wisely decided not to attempt too 
much and has confined its efforts to carrying out a few 
important recommendations and to seeing that the laws rel- 
ative to cleanliness are strictly enforced. One of the first 
acts of the board was to have a booklet printed entitled 
“Extracts' from Certain Ordinances of the City of Dallas,” 
which was intended to inform the people and their officers 
concerning a number of laws pertaining to the cleanliness 
of the city and the comfort of its citizens. These were dis- 
tributed to the members and others who requested copies. 
The next thing was the preparation of a letter to the chief 
executive of the city, pointing out the most flagrant viola- 
tions of these laws, to-wit : The obstruction of sidewalks 
and streets, unlawful signs before business houses, spitting 
in public places, particularly in street cars and on the side- 
walks, and the failure to make sewer connections. There 
has been a manifest improvement in all of these lines, with 
the exception of the matter of swinging signs, and one of the 
local papers comments as follows on the work of the league : 
“The Dallas Civic Improvement League has proceeded along 
conservative lines, getting first one section of the city and 
then another to beautify, at the same time keeping the whole 
city sufficiently interested in the work of improvement to be 
ready to work when the time comes. In this manner the 
whole city will be cleaned, and cleaned well, and when it 
is cleaned the prospects are that it will remain clean.” The 
committee making the report is composed of A. J. Brown, 
O. P. Bowser and R. Liebman. 
* * * 
Some idea of the varied lines of activity of the Dorches- 
ter Lower Mills Improvement Association, Dorchester, Mass'., 
can be gathered from the following list of committees which 
it maintains: Grade crossings, railroads and stations; parks 
and boulevards ; legal and legislative ; schools and school 
houses ; gas and electric lighting ; rapid transit and street 
railways; streets, sidewalks and bridges; sewers', water sup- 
ply and drainage ; trees, shrubbery and grass plots ; press 
and library; entertainment, music, etc.; athletic and public 
gymnasium ; sanitary and general health ; auditing commit- 
tee; plans for improvement; sickness and charity. 
* * * 
A committee appointed by the City Club of Chicago to con- 
sider the subject of street tree-planting in the business sec- 
tion of the city, has listened to experts on the subject who 
differ as to the feasibility of the project. Mr. Jensen is 
of the opinion that trees could not survive the effects of the 
gases common to the earth and air in such localities. 
* * * 
Citizens of Riverside, near Chicago, recently held a 
largely attended meeting, at which addresses on improvement 
work were delivered by Mrs. Herman J. Hall and Jens Jensen. 
The forestry committee of the Illinois Federation of 
Women’s Clubs is planning an active campaign for the pres- 
ervation of Illinois forests. The plans contemplate : 
Urging the next legislature to pass a law creating a for- 
estry commission. 
Selection of an annual day by each woman’s club for the 
planting of trees. 
Labeling all historic trees. 
Encouragement of the Arbor day spirit in public schools. 
The committee will promote the planting of trees in every 
village, on every farm, and along the country highways'. 
* * 
The Winthrop Improvement Association, Winthrop, Mass., 
has recently organized with one hundred members, and 
elected officers and an executive committee. The constitu- 
tion states its objects as follows: “Its objects shall be to im- 
prove and ornament the streets and public grounds of Win- 
throp, by planting and cultivating trees and shrubs, and by 
doing such other acts as shall tend to improve and beautify 
the town. Also to inculcate the motives of the Association 
through the medium of the school and home.” A. C. J. 
Pope is president and E. F. Chisholm secretary. 
* * * 
The City Improvement Society of Lincoln, Nebraska, is 
turning its attention vigorously to the enforcement of the 
anti-spitting ordinance, and an effort is being made in Chi- 
cago to enforce a similar ordinance. A number of arrests 
have been made in the latter city and fines' imposed. The 
Lincoln Society has standing committees on Finance, City 
Parks, Civic Education, Improvement of Public Grounds, 
Streets and Nuisances and Sidewalks. Mrs. Lewis Gregory 
is president. 
* * * 
The Village Improvement Society of Cranford, N. J., was 
the first women’s organization to send a petition to congress 
urging the passing of the pure food bill. About 250 names 
were attached to the petition. The association is urging a 
concerted effort on the part of the club women throughout 
the United States in favor of the bill, which is designed to 
“prevent the adulteration, misbranding and imitation of foods, 
beverages, candies, drugs, and condiments.” 
* * * 
The Village Improvement Society of Charlton, Mass., has 
for its objects: “To provide for street lighting, sidewalks, 
planting and protection of shade trees, care and improvement 
of the common, and preservation of the natural scenery and 
places of interest in and about Charlton.” The membership 
fee is fixed at one dollar a year and provision is made for life 
and honorary membership for donors of money. 
* * * 
At the recent annual meeting of the Village Improvement 
Society of Rockland, Mass., the opinion was expressed that 
the promiscuous use of salt on the street railway for the thaw- 
ing of ice is working an injury to the trees along the high- 
ways. Tree Warden Frank Shaw was appointed a committee 
to enter a protest to the selectmen on the indiscriminate use 
of salt by the street railway. 
* * * 
The Woman’s Improvement Club of Santa Rosa, Cal., has 
petitioned the city council to include in the estimate for the 
bond issue the sum of $12,000 for the purchase of a public 
park. The club agrees to lay out the park and care for it. 
Mrs. Joe P. Berry is secretary. 
