H6 73N f\'f^c.\'i^ Meter, tc'^p. Neighborhood Improve- ment In and Around Chicago OUAJ^ /l^?) LLINOIS HISTORICAL SURVEY 367'7^ r li V h Neighborhood Improvement In and About Chicago PUBLISHED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER COMMITTEE OP THE CHICAGO WOMAN'S CLUB UlN'iVERSITY OF /iT '.^yii^'S LIBRARY AT U«BANA-CHAMPAJGN Wa Neighborhood Improvement In and About Chicago COMPILED BY Amalie Hofer Publishing Committee: Caroi^ine A. Bi^Ey Nei^we J. O'Connor Annie W. Johnson Amawe Hofer JUNE) 1909 NEWELL B. STILES & CO., PRINTERS 85 Fifth Avenvue CHICAGO 301.16 T.U/ ^ NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS INAUGU- RATED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER COMMITTEE FROM 1901 TO 1909. The organization of neighborhoods for local improve- ments has had a unique development in Chicago. It has been said by so eminent a civic authority as Horace Mc- Farland that the major portion of civic and neighborhood work done throughout our country, has been done by the women. The Chicago Woman's Club is widely recognized as an inaugurator of those improvements which come under the descriptive title of ''municipal housekeeping." With intelligent sympathy the Club has frequently an- ticipated the needs of our all too rapidly growing city, and promptly undertaken the solution of these problems with characteristic Chicago zeal and effectiveness. During 1901 and 1902 the Chicago Woman's Club of nearly one thousand members, made a study of the physical needs of our city in order to find out what this s-ame organization could do to relieve the city of certain <^ undesirable conditions, and to promote a better Chicago. With this in view plans were proposed by each of the six working departments and presented for consideration to the Club as a whole. At a meeting held April 23, 1902, i it was voted by an enthusiastic and intelligent majority ^ that the efforts of the Club should be directed toward : (1) ^ improving the physical conditions of Chicago through the agency of the Improvement Association, (2) toward ^^^-^ the extension of school privileges and the use of school houses for public meetings. 'jj^ A special committee was immediately formed under li- the name of Social Improvement Centers Comittee, with the following members : Chairman, Mrs. Annie W. John- son; Edith C. Hancock, Ellen M. Henrotin, Julia P. Har- vey, Jane Eyer Smoot, Caroline M. Hill, Nellie J. O'Con- nor, Caroline S. Twyman, Celia Parker Woolley, Frances Whidden, Mary G. Ayers. The committee came to be known as the Neighborhood Center Committee of The Chicago Woman's Club, and has continued in active service under the following leadership: Chairman, 1902-3 Mrs. Frank Asbury Johnson. 1903-6 Mrs. John O'Connor. 1906-9 Mrs. John C. Bley. 1909- Mrs. F. J. Scott. The original program of the committee was to organ- ize Neighborhood Centers for the purpose of improving the general physical condition of the city, with the school- house or social settlement of each district as headquarters for the Center, dealing with the following special re- forms : Sanitation, smoke nuisance, street and alley cleaning, care of vacant lots, garbage disposal, spitting ordinance and more general civic education. An Association had been organized in Woodlawn as early as 1882, mainly for the purpose of keeping side- walks free from snow, the district being large and sparse- ly settled. In 1901 the South Park Association, the first of the new Associations, was organized, largely through the influence of the Chairman of the Neighborhood Center Committee of the next year, Mrs. Annie W. JohnSon. The main object in organizing this Association was to secure the removal of the garbage receptacles, cans, barrels or whatever they might be, from the sidewalks in front of the houses, there being no alleys in the district. This was accomplished by making a personal house to house can- vass of the district, thereby raising enough money to put an extra man on each garbage wagon who should go to the rear of the house and bring the can to the wagon, thus ridding the street of this unsightliness. WORK DURING 1903-1906. The chief work of the Neighborhood Center Com- mittee under the leadership of Mrs. John O'Connor for the years 1903 to 1906 was the organization of local Im- provement Associations. The success of the South Park Improvement Association served as an impetus and a model to the formation of others. In 1903 the Hvde Park Association was formed, the initial meeting being held at the home of the chairman, immediately followed by a public mass meeting of the citizens of the entire neighborhood. This came to be the usual way of organizing: first, a small meeting called at the home of a member of the Chicago Woman's Club, at which the local problems were fully discussed, followed by a mass meeting of citizens at which the organization of an Improvement Association for that district was effected. The organization was then incorporated and the entire population of the district represented in its membership, including men, women and children, house- holders, residents and business men. In each case the work undertaken was not only that of upholding the city's efforts toward keeping said district clean, but to supplement the city's insufficient means by such methods of its own as would make the district more habitable and a nearer approach to becoming the ideal setting for American homes. The only work done by the citizens of Hyde Park district previous to organizing, had been the sprinkling of the streets, $5,000 having been collected by three sprinkling men who had the right of way in the district and who charged the individual hpuseholder whatever they were able to collect, varying from fifty cents to $3.00 per month. The first year of the Associa- tion it was able to do better work with $3,500, leaving $1,500 for other needs of the district, such as cleaning vacant lots and picking up waste paper. The organization of the Douglas and of the North Central Improvement Associations followed immediately. The Douglas Association was started by three Club women who were the only individuals to respond to the call and who felt that the formation of an Association was almost hopeless. But a large mass meeting was called and the Douglas Association has continued to do efficient and original work during all these years. The North Central Association was formed at a meet- ing held in the home of Mrs. Potter Palmer, much of the money raised being expended in districts less favored than those represented by the subscribers. The Oakland and Washington Park Asociations were formed soon after, until a chain of Improvement Associations extended along the Lake Front. At the same time the Merchant's Club and the Commercial Club took over the cleaning of the entire Loop district, bringing on Mr. Richard T. Fox from New York to superintendent the same. EXHIBIT OF IMPROVEMENT WORK. . In the fall of 1904 the Municipal Museum was founded and opened by the City Home's Association, in the City Library building, which became an active center for improvement work. Charts were pre- pared and exhibited giving complete statistics of the improvement associations of Cook County, and a large book was started in which was filed all the liter- ature pertaining to them, including a file of all the Year Books published by the different associations. In April, 1905, a Neighborhood Center exhibit was installed by this Committee, demonstrating as far as pos- sible the work of the various Neighborhood Improvement Associations in the city, with model exhibits of street cleaning, garbage removal, smoke abatement, care of vacant lots, work of vacation schools, school gardens, improvement of school grounds, railway station improve- ments, public library, and public hygiene. The exhibition was directed by the Neighborhood Center Committee of the Chicago Woman's Club, which enlisted the co-opera- tion of the Neighborhood Improvement League of Cook County, the Vacation School Committee of the Chicago Woman's Club, the Chicago Library Club, and the Wo- man's Out-Door Art League of the American Civic Asso- ciation. In connection with the exhibition informal ad- dresses were made daily at twelve and at four o'clock for three successive weeks. Among the subjects pre- sented were the following : Neighborhood Improvement Associations, — Needs and Results; Mrs. Frank Asbury Johnson. Public Schools as Social Centers; Rev. R. A. White. The Need of Improvement Societies Proven by Statis- tics ; William J. Pringle. The South Park Improvement Association (Stereopti- con) ; A. H. Nelson. Smoke Abatement ; A. Bement and T. E. Donnelly. Disposal of Household Garbage; Mrs. A. P. Norton. Expectoration; Edward R. Pritchard. The Improvement of School Surroundings (Stereop- ticon) ; O. T. Bright Preservation of Our Native Wild Flowers (Stereopti- con) ; Chas. F. Millspaugh. The Douglas Improvement Association; Herbert C. Metcalf and Clifford Williams. Relation of Improvement Associations to the City Government; Frank I. Bennett. Street Paving; Andrew M. Lynch. The Redemption of Harrisburg (Stereopticon) ; Charles Zeublin. The Formation of a Neighborhood Improvement As- sociation; Mrs. John O'Connor. Smoke Abatement; Ralph Clarkson, Chas. A. Stevens, S. H. Clark and John C. Shubert. The Disposal of Garbage; A. J. Doherty and Mrs. Imogene Paul. The Children's Part in Civic Improvement (Stereop- ticon) ; E. G. Routzahn. Landscape Art in the City ; O. C. Simonds. The Citizens' Improvement Association of Normal Park; P. Hesse. The Recognition of Improvement Associations in the New Charter ; Francis W. Parker. The Neighborhood Improvement League of Cook County; E. C. Wentworth. Small Park Field Houses ; Rev. J. A. Rondthaler. The Legal Relation of Improvement Associations to the Municipality; E. B. Tolman. Out-Door Art and Civic Improvement; Mrs. C. F. Millspaugh. The Relation of the Good Citizen to City House- keeping; Charles B. Ball. Conference of Committee of Improvement Associa- tions on Smoke Abatement, Mrs. John C. Hessler, Chair- man. Railroad Station Improvement ; Mrs. A. E. McCrea. Conference on Co-operation of School Children in Civic Improvement; Before and After Improvement (Stereopticon) ; Civic Improvement Round Table. It is still the hope of the Committee to organize this valuable printed matter and place the same for reference in one of our public libraries. In addition to this a list of speakers was furnished to clubs and associations and a propaganda for placing the general subject before the various clubs and organi- zations of the city was outlined. The Municipal Museum and this exhibit proved of great value to the growth of the work and served as a clearing house center for the daily increasing number of associations. Letters were received from all parts of our country and plans of work exchanged and discussed to the strengthening of the movement throughout our city. The same season a re- ception was given by the Neighborhood Center Committee in conjunction with the officers of the Municipal Museum in honor of Mr. Joseph Medill Patterson, then Commis- sioner of Public Works. Mr. Patterson always co-ope- rated heartily with the improvement associations and the 8 social honor done him on this occasion was enthusiasti- cally participated in by delegates from many organiza- tions, including the Commercial and Merchants' Clubs. Shortly after this occasion a new contract was made whereby the city undertook to pay for one-half the ex- pense of cleaning the down town district, the other half being paid for by the Commercial and Merchants' Clubs. THE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT LEAGUE OF COOK COUNTY. At a call of the Neighborhood Center Committee of the Woman's Club, the Neighborhood Improvement League of Cook County was organized in 1903 with thirty associations in the League. The object of the League was "to induce co-operation and harmony of action between existing improvement associations and to stimulate the organization of similar associations throughout the city of Chicago and the County of Cook for the purpose of improving physical and sanitary con- ditions, to cultivate the artistic in the appearance of streets, alleys, lots, lands, and buildings in the various neighborhoods ; to insure the cleaning, improving, and otherwise caring for the streets, alleys and vacant lots ; to aid in the education of the people to a proper knowl- edge and observance of existing city ordinances and to do such other things for the public welfare as may from time to time be agreed upon by the League." The fol- lowing officers were elected at the time of the organiza- tion of the League : Mr. Edward C. Wentworth, President; Mrs. John O'Connor, Vice-President ; Mrs. Frank Asbury Johnson, Secretary; Mrs. Irving Washington, Treasurer. Execu- tive Committee : Mr. Frederick F. Norcross, Mr. Herbert C. Metcalf, Mr. Edward G. Carter, Mr. Willard P. Stearns, Mr. Chas. Hull Ewing. Each association in this League is entitled to elect a member to the Board of Directors, otherwise the Presi- dent of the local association becomes a member of the Board. The expenditures of the League are met through an annual membership fee of $2.00, contributed by each association or individual affiliated with it. The League has published and distributed the following rules which it commends to newly organized associations : ARTICLE I. The object of this association is to interest residents of the district bounded as follows : 1st. In securing proper and durable streets and alleys. 2nd. In keeping streets and alleys clean. 3rd. In securing uniform sprinkling of macadamized streets and washing of asphalt streets at reasonable cost. 4th. In removing snow from front of vacant lots, street crossings and sewer inlets in winter. 5th. In cultivating among residents of the district personal pride in keeping it clean, free from loose papers, advertising signs and untidy vacant lots. 6th. In familiarizing the residents of the district with the requirements of the clean street ordinance and enforcing its observance. 7th. In co-operating with city officials and employes and working for such other things affecting public welfare as are from time to time deemed wise b}^ the association or its Board of Directors. ARTICLE II. Any resident of this district may become a member of this association upon signing an agreement to render moral and financial support, the latter to such an extent as he may feel able. ARTICLE III. The Board of Directors shall be elected annually by the members and shall consist of men and women. They shall elect and control the officers of the association and fill any va- cancies that may occur in their own number. ARTICLE IV. The officers of this association to be elected by the Directors, shall consist of a President, three or more Vice-Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer. ARTICLE V. These By-Laws may be amended by the members or direc- tors at any meeting which shall be regularly called. 10 The last annual meeting of the League was held in April, 1909, when the following officers were elected: President, C. T. B. Goodspeed; Vice-President, Mrs. John O'Connor; Treasurer, Mrs. Irving Washington; Secretary, T. W. AUinson. Directors : Mrs. John C. Bley, Dr. C. Gurnee Fellows, Mr. Chas. W. Folds, Mrs. Frank A. Johnson, Mr. John Morey, Mr. Frederick T. Norcross, Mrs. F. J. Scott, Mr. Willard P. Stearns, Mr. Edward C. Wentworth, Mrs. J, Zuckerman. At this meet- ing of the League a special committee was appointed to press the enforcement of the law regulating the height of bill boards ; also a committee appointed to co-operate with a similar sub-committee of the Chicago Woman's Club to enforce the ordinance against spitting in public places ; a committee was appointed to make complaint and secure the removal of indecent bill posters ; all organiza- tions in the League were urged to give their hearty sup- port to the new city forester, Mr. J. H. Prost. ACTIVITIES DURING 1906. During 1906 the Neighborhood Center Committee of Chicago Woman's Club under the chairmanship of Mrs. John C. Bley re-organized the following special commit- tees, and the work was pushed along these respective lines : City Ordinances, Smoke, Organizing Improvement Associations, Garbage Reduction, Spitting, Bill-board Legislation, School Extension, Finance, Sanitation and Better Housing, School and Vacant Lot Gardens. Regular monthly meetings were held by the committee as a whole to receive the special reports of the chairmen of these committees. Under the leadership of Mrs. Ernest Bicknell the Smoke Committee worked with members of the City Club to bring about the appoint- ment of the Smoke Commission. A conference was held in the rooms of the Chicago Woman's Club to stimulate the efforts of all interested toward this end. Delegates from many improvement associations were present. The speakers were Mr. T. E. Donnelley, now the president 11 of the Smoke Commission; Mr. A. Bement, who has since become Consulting Engineer for the Smoke Com- mission, and Mr. R. H. Kuss, now Assistant Smoke In- spector. As a result of this conference special smoke committees were appointed by a number of improvement associations and active work was taken up all along the line. The Committee to enforce the Spitting Ordinance has waged a constant warfare against spitting in public places, the campaign being pushed by the written com- plaints to the Health Commission as well as to the newspapers. Mr. John T. McCutcheon gave the work his co-operation by the contribution of a telling cartoon. The committee has recently succeeded in having large and conspicuous signs posted in all of the stations of the Southside Elevated Railway. The Garbage Committee has investigated the rela- tion of garbage disposal to public health and has pointed out that in no part of the city's housekeeping is the service more inadequate or the methods more antiquated. It has also reported on methods of garbage incineration adopted by other cities. The School Extension Committee under Mrs. Frank A. Johnson has continued its effort to modify the ruling of the Board of Education with reference to the use of public school rooms for civic purposes. As it now stands adults or parents are entitled to the free use of school buildings once per month, while schools may be secured at usual rates of rental for general purposes. However, the full free use of their schools by the citizen owners for social and neighborhood purposes still remains one of the conquests of the future. In the meantime the small park has come into existence with its field house which is supplying a meeting-place for its neighborhood. TWO MASS MEETINGS. In the autumn of 1907 the Neighborhood Center Com- mittee invited all of the leading clubs of both men and 12 women to participate in holding a down town mass meet- ing in the interests of "A Better Chicago." A large and interested audience gathered at Fullerton Hall, Sunday afternoon, November 10th, and the following program was conducted by the joint committee: Presiding Officer, Mr. Edward C. Wentworth, Presi- dent of the Neighborhood Improvement League of Cook County. Address, "The Common Good," Senator Francis W. Parker. "Co-operation for the Promotion of Public Health," Dr. W. A. Evans, City Health Commissioner. "Clean Streets for Chicago," Rev. Caroline Bartlett Crane, Kalamazoo, Mich. "A Cleaner City as a Commercial Asset," Mr. Franklin McVeagh. "Suppression of the Smoke Nuisance," Mr. T. E. Donnelley. "Better Facilities for Public Recreation," Miss Jane Addams, Hull House. This meeting was followed by a series of meetings held in field houses, settlement houses, and public halls as well as churches at many of which the superintendent of streets and the ward superintendents were present.' The notable address by Caroline Bartlett Crane on this occasion was published in full by the committee and sent to each member of the Chicago Woman's Club as well as extensively circulated throughout the neighborhood im- provement associations of the city. In 1909 a second mass meeting was conducted under the joint auspices of the representative men's and women's clubs of the city, at the instigation of the Neighborhood Center Committee. "Tree Planting and Preservation in Chicago" was the subject, and the program aimed to give publicity to the tree legislation already existing in our state and the importance of securing a city forester for Chicago. The meeting was held on Sunday 13 afternoon at Fullerton Hall; January 31, 1909, with Mr. Franklin McVeagh as the presiding officer. A large audience of enterprising citizens listened to the following program : Insect Enemies of Trees (with charts), Dr. S. A. Forbes, State Entomologist, University of Illinois. Legislative Provision in Illinois, Mr. John O'Connor. Municipal Control of Shade Trees (with stereopticon), Mr. William Solotaroff, Secretary and Superintendent Shade Tree Commission, East Orange, New Jersey. As a definite result of this important meeting a per- manent Tree Committee was appointed as follows: Franklin McVeagh, Chairman. John Algots, Superintendent Small Parks, Special Park Commission. Aid. A. W. Beilfuss, Chairman Special Park Com- mission. Mrs. I. S. Blackwelder, Former Chairman Vacation Schools Committee. Mrs. Caroline A. Bley, Chairman Neighborhood Cen- ter Committee, Chicago Woman's Club. Orville T. Bright, Assistant Superintendent of Schools. Ralph Clarkson, President Municipal Art League. Prof. Henry C. Cowles, Botanist, University of Chi- cago. B. A. Eckhart, Treasurer West Park Commission. Dr. W. A. Evans, Commissioner of Health. Chas. Hull Ewing, Real Estate. Frederick Greeley, President Playground Association. C. T. B. Goodspeed, President South Park Improve- ment Association. A. W. Glessner, Chairman Municipal Art Committee, Hamilton Club. Dr. C. Gurnee Fellows, President Kenwood Improve- 14 ment Association. Geoipe E. Hooker, Secretary City Club. Jens Jensen, Superintendent West Park Commission. James Keeley, Director Horticultural Society of Chi- cago. Bryan Lathrop, Lincoln Park Commission. Frank C. Logan, Broker. Charles A. Marsh, Vice-President, Marsh & Bingham Company. Frank L Moulton, Chairman City Club, Committee on Parks. John O'Connor, Attorney. Mrs. P. S. Peterson, Outdoor Art League. A. E. Schultz, President Federation Southwest Im- provement Clubs. O. C. Simonds, Landscape Architect. J. C. Vaughan, President Vaughan's Seed Company. Charles Vopicka, President Atlas Brewing Company. Lyman A. Walton, South Park Commission. Ernst Wienhoeber, Second Vice-President, Horticultu- ral Society of Chicago. This representative committee proceeded at once to secure a city forester for Chicago. The Mayor himself presented the request to the City Council at its first meeting and the Council immediately ordered the ap- pointment at an annual expenditure of $2,000.00. Thirty men took the civil service examination for the position which was awarded to J. H. Prost of Chicago, who now acts under the Special Park Commission of our city. The Commission has opened a veritable tree campaign by pub- lishing and distributing a pamphlet on ''The Inception of the Movement for Tree Planting in the Streets of Chi- cago." It has also sent out a reprint of the city ordi- nance relating to "The Planting, Preservation and Pro- motion of Trees and Shrubbery in the Streets and the Employment of a City Forester." 15 Anyone wishing further information or assistance in tree planting or preservation should apply to the City Forester, City Hall, Chicago, or to the State Entomolo- gist, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois. ILLINOIS OUTDOOR IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION. As a result of the tree planting and preservation com- mittee the chairman of the Neighborhood Center Com- mittee was interviewed by a representative of the Uni- versity of Illinois and preliminary conferences were held to consider the organization of a State Outdoor Improve- ment Association. President Edmond J. James invited the mayors and women's clubs of twenty towns from Cairo to Freeport to send delegates to a conference to be held March 31st at the University. At this conference the following committee on organization and program for a later state-wide meeting was appointed. Pres- ident Edmond J. James, Chairman ; Mrs. John C. Bley, Chicago; Mr. H. C. Schaub, Decatur; Mr. George E. Hooker, Chicago; Prof. A. P. Wyman, University of Illinois. "The object of the Illinois JDutdoor Improvement As- sociation is to promote physical improvement throughout the state in both town and country, and to stimulate effort in the educational institutions of the state toward the ac- compHshment of this object, to dispense information upon home, country and municipal improvement problems, to encourage and co-operate with the formation of local organizations having the beauty of Illinois for their ob- ject, wholly or in part, and to work for the preservation of important pieces of natural scenery and historical points." THE CIVICS COMMITTEE OF THE CHICAGd WOMAN's CLUB. At the closing business meeting of the Chicago Wo- man's Club for the season 1908-09 the name of the Neigh- borhood Center Committee was changed to The Civics 16 Committee of the Chicago Woman's Club, it being the conviction of the Club that this title more adequately described the enlarged scope of work already ac- complished and about to be undertaken by the Committee. With this change of name the story of the Neigh- borhood Center Committee, as such, comes to a close and it hereby presents, as its final contribution, this historical sketch of its work, together with the following impos- ing, although incomplete roster of Improvement Associa- tions in and about Chicago. The benefits which have been secured to our city^by means of these voluntary or- ganizations can never be measured, nor can appreciation be justly apportioned to those individuals who have been most efficient in this great civic service. The permanent value of the work is evidenced in the better enforcemnt of sanitary laws, smoke abatement, cleaner streets and garbage regulations, at a continuous annual expenditure of $150,000.00. In addition to these visible, physical results there is another of far greater import, namely, the clearly developed conviction among our citizens that it is worth while to have ideals for a beautiful Chicago and that every practical effort, hozvever small, to that end counts. 17 ROSTER OF IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS. (The following facts were furnished to the Neighborhood Center Committee by officers or members of the respective asso- ciations at the request of the Committee.) Auburn Park Improvement Association. Organized 1901. The officers for 1909: President, E. V. Sharp; Secretary, G. W. Leach; Treasurer, B. A. Specs; rep- resentative of "the citizens, residents and taxpayers." Annual membership, $1,00. Territory from 74th Street to 83rd Street and from Halsted to State Streets. During 1908-09 fourteen distinct petitions were made to the city council and city depart- ments bringing great improvements. Austin Improvement Association. Organized, May, 1903, by Austin Woman's Club. Incor- porated 1904. Year Book, 1904-5, shows expenditure of $2,653.00. City took over the entire work in 1908 and the association was succeeded by the Parents" Association. When the original asso- ciation was organized the women distributed 2,000 circulars in- viting the public to hear twenty-two prominent business men and women make five minute speeches. The meeting was a great success. Among prominent citizens who have been active are Hon. Clayton E. Crafts, Judge C. S. Cutting, Mr. J. J. Walser, Mrs. Rena S. Tuthill. The territory was divided into blocks with a director in charge of each block to procure sub- scriptions to clean; and sprinkle the streets, etc. Beverly-Longwood Improvement Association. Incorporated 1905. President, J. T. Hetherington ; Secre- tary, Prof. S. Smith ; Treasurer, Charles Blackburn. Suburban territory. Budget $400.00. Conducts sane Fourth, Buenna Park Citizen's Association. Chartered 1894. Reorganized 1904 with twelve working committees. Non-partisan. 152 members. Young People's Aux- iliary 150 members. The annual report for 1907 shows receipts $2,350.00. Same report gives full list of birds to be observed in the vicinity. Chicago Lawn Improvement Club. Organized in 1903. Headquarters in Marquette Park. D'/s- 18 trict divided into four sections with two reporting representa- tives in each. Annual membership fee $2.00. Officers for 1909: President, Walter J. Bennett; Vice-President, W. N. Butter- worth; Secretary, George N. Tobey; Treasurer, Edward H. Jones. Publishes Weekly Bulletin. Conducted successful Fourth of July celebrations in 1907 and 1908. Has secured the erection of a modern public school building, three public lectures, through service of street cars and elevation of Grand Trunk railway tracks. Central Improvement Club of the 27th Ward. Organized in 1898. Special committees formed whenever important improvements require. Regular monthly membership fee, twenty-five cents. Voluntary subscriptions for special im- provements. Officers for 1909: President, C. Heckinger; Secre- tary, Albert Haentze; Treasurer, H. Kellar. Has worked to secure Belmont Avenue sewer and cross-town car service. Central Edgewater Improvement Association. Organized 1904. Average expenditure $1,000.00 per year. In addition to the usual improvement work this association aims to "look after the general welfare of the community," ex- tending school, street lighting and mail box facilities. Citizen's Street Cleaning Bureau. President, J. L. Kesner, the Fair ; Secretary, Elmer Schlesinger, Rector building. $30,000 contributed by private citizens has been distributed by this bureau regardless of loca- tion. Douglas Improvement Association. Incorporated 1904. President, L. B. Nixon; Vice-Presi- dents, Joseph Beifeld, W. C. Wetherly; Secretary, J. M. Graves; Treasurer, William P. Wright ; Superintendent, J. A. Graves. Active members, 800. Membership enrolled 1,250. Expenditure for the season 1907-08, $5,610.00. Fine equipment. Territory forty blocks. In addition to the usual work the association aims to cultivate among residents a personal pride in keeping the district clean, free from flying papers, advertising signs and untidy vacant lots. Essex Improvement Club. Organized, 1902. Residence district. President, Charles T. Traynor ; Secretary, C L. Follett. Maintains streets and side- walks in good condition, procures street lighting, and opposes the construction of objectionable buildings and location of un- desirable business houses or factories. 19 Fifteenth Ward East End Improvement Association. Organked, 1907. President, Frank C. Stubbe; Secretary, John B. Heinz; Treasurer, Herman F. Bruhm. Fine Arts Society of Oak Park. Formerly the Oak Park Improvement Association. 600 members. Special committees to direct the culture interests in music, literature, craft and municipal art. Conducts spring cleaning campaigns, making public inspection of the entire village and photographing all property not cleaned up, for publication. Pushing play grounds for children. President Chas. E. White, Secretary Chas. S. Woodward, Treasurer H. W. Austin. Galewood People's Improvement Club. Organized in 1908 *'to promote the general welfare of Gale- wood and vicinity." President Walter L. Tonner; Vice-Presi- dent, William H. Gale ; Treasurer, Henry Hansen. The club has petitioned the city council for prohibition limits ; has secured a new railway station from the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company; has secured grading of the local highway; adequate street lighting; cinder walks; long distance telephone service; police call box; fire hose; small park. Has organized a corps of local fire fighters. Monthly dues, ten cents. Garfield Improvement Association. Organized in 1905 to prevent the city from building a fire engine house at the corner of 56th Street and Emerald Ave. Incorporated 1906. Annual expenditure, $1,500. The streets and alleys have been kept in good condition, the weeds cut and sprinkling done in a thorough manner, all for the same cost of sprinkling alone before the existence of the Association. The President says in his annual report: "Our snowplow proved to be a good investment and has been used with good effect. It is felt that the work accomplished has added to the comfort of the residents of the district and if kept up and enlarged will not only make our community one of the most desirable on the South Side, but will greatly enhance the value of the prop- erty." In September, 1906, the President, Geo. E. Roth, ap- pointed a "Tree Committee," composed of J. C. White and_ G. M. Starr, by which a contract was made with a responsible nurseryman whereby property owners might be supplied with nursery stock at greatly reduced prices. As a result about 300 trees were set out during the spring of 1907. 20 Grand Crossing Improvement Club. Organized and incorporated 1905. District includes territory from Cottage Grove Avenue to Stony Island Avenue, and from 71st Street to 87th Street. Officers for 1909: President, E. P. Williams; Secretary, J. W. Classen. Membership, 375. Nineteen special committees and eight working districts. Executive com- ( mittee made up of chairmen of sub-committees is the working force of the club. Women honorary members. Annual fee, $1.00. Complaints are invited and carefully investigated. The following appeared in a local paper after the last annual meeting. There were eight regular monthly meetings held in Turner Hall, upstairs ; two executive meetings held in President Williams' office, and one special meeting held in the office of Vice-President Math, June 5th, for the purpose of considering ways and means to induce the council to force vhc railways to widen the subways under 75th Street and South Chicago Avenue. There was no meeting held in November. There were three special meetings held in District No. 1, one in No. 2, two in No. 4, and one in No. 6. There were 1,950 postal cards sent out notifying members of the meetings of the club and thirty communications sent out by the secretary by order of the club to public department officials and persons as follows: To the superintendent of streets, four; Commissioner Hanberg, three ; smoke inspector, two ; oil inspec- tor, one; corporation counsel, three; ward superintendent, five; manager of Calumet Electric Street Railway, one; Mr. Speedell, one; lieutenant of police, one; Alderman Hunt, three; Alderman Biehl, two ; secretary Park Manor Improvement Club, one ; secre- tary Anti-Smoke League, one; principal Cornell school, one; family F. C. Schmidt, one. During the year records show there were forty complaints made in the different districts of bad crosswalks, garbage, sewers stopped, etc. Relief in the way of repairs, etc., was effected in fourteen cases, some of which covered several complaints. There were nineteen special committees appointed during the year, of which several have failed to report up to this writing. Hamilton Park Improvement Association. Organized in 1902 as Yale Avenue Improvement Association ; later as Citizens' Improvement Association of Normal Park and Eggleston. Incorporated and name changed in 1905 as Hamil- ton Park Improvement Association. Territory, 67th Street to 74th Street, between Rock Island Railroad tracks and Went- worth Avenue. 1,000 members. Annual fee, $1.00. 1908 Year- Book exceptionally valuable. Successive Presidents, T. J. Eulette, L. O. Rand, Phil Hesse, W. C. Brown, C. T. Northrop, and George T. Spencer. Secretary, 1909, Clifford N. White. 21 The constitution and by-laws of this association are most commendable. The object of this association is to secure the co-operation of property owners and residents of the districts hereinafter named in public and private improvements within said district, and to assist in the enforcement of such ordinances as may be for the benefit of said property owners and residents. Article 1. Its object shall be to provide a fund by the assess- ment of its members, whereby the district covered shall be made as attractive as possible for residence. To attain this end : 1. In winter all sidewalks shall be properly cleansed of snow, including those adjacent to vacant property. 2. In summer all streets and alleys shall be properly sprinkled, including that adjacent to vacant property. 3. On all vacant property, parkways shall be mown, and lots shall be kept free from weeds. 4. All unsightly objects shall be removed from vacant property. 5. Measures shall be taken for the prompt removal of gar- bage, ashes and filth. 6. This association shall also, in every feasible way, assist the city authorities in the enforcement of such ordinances enacted for attaining the cleanly condition of all streets and alleys (it being an offense punishable by law to throw any loose papers or other litter into any street or alley of the city). 7. This association shall also see that the manhole covers are kept in proper repair. 8. Any wanton destruction of globes or glass on street lamps will also be sought out, and the offender reported to the proper authorities for punishment. 9. Anything that will tend to the comfort, cleanliness and health o^ the Improvement District shall have the association's energetic support. Hyde Park Improvement Association. Incorporated 1903. President, Walter C. Nelson; Vice- President, John B. Whitney; Corresponding Secretary, C. W. Bird; Recording Secretary, J. L. Bennett; Treasurer, D. A. Peirce; Superintendent, Thomas Brown. Territory includes from 51st Street and the Lake to Cottage Grove Avenue, from 55th Street east to the Illinois Central Railroad tracks, and south to 56th Street. Publishes the Hyde Park Advance. Expends $10,000.00 annually. Has the following eight active committees : Finance, Publicity, 'Street Improvement, Street and Alley Oean- ing, Vacant Lots and School Gardens, Smoke Ordinance, Electric Wires and Poles Building Lines. 22 Irving Park Civic Committee of Woman's Club. Hold joint meeting annually of all improvement clubs in Twenty-seventh Ward. Promotes tree planting, play grounds, street car facilities. Has secured public school gymnasium, municipal swimming tank. Organized Junior Improvement League. Unusual enthusiasm and co-operation on part of local press. Kenwood Improvement Association. Organized 1903. District bounded by 51st Street; 43rd Street, Drexel Boulevard and the Lake. Motto: "It is some- thing to use your time and strength to war with the wayward- ness and thoughtlessness of mankind." President, Dr. C. Gurnes Fellows ; Vice-President, Elliott S. Norton ; Secretary, Miss Gertrude Libby; Treasurer, Miss C. B. Neely. Expenditure in 1908, $11,364.00. Attractive Year-Book, from which we reprint the following: The Association's work consists of these items : 1. It gathers refuse, paper and debris from streets and alleys. 2. It removes unsightly and unsanitary accumulations from vacant lots. 3. It cuts down and burns weeds. 4. It sweeps and cleans crossings. 5. It opens the approaches to street sewers. 6. It removes snow from sidewalks by plows, and opens obstructions in ice and snow in front of vacant lots, etc. 7. It supplements the work of the city and any street organ- ization in all that is sanitary and ornamental. 8. It endeavors to exert a power of supervision over our district, to see that police and other officials are informed, and that contractors do their duty, and to keep the wheels moving where there is need. The Association undertakes to do what is not done by the city and which can not be done by the individual, but which must be done to keep our streets and alleys clean. The sprink- ling of our streets is necessarily a private business, and except for the periodical cleaning of the streets by the city the rest of the work must be done by private contribution. But, in addi- tion to this, and taking care of the snow in the winter, keeping the cross-walks clean, we have still in view the improvement of the lot in front of every residence by the addition of trees, the improvement of the parkways, such general repairs as must be done, and other things suggested by our members which are possible of adoption. 23 Lake Street Business Men's Association. Organized 1904 by W. M. Towne. Chief work, that of pushing officials to enforce laws. Expends $2,500.00 in sweep- ing and cleaning one and one-quarter miles of business street. Secured the appointment of Mrs. A. Emmogene Paul as Four- teenth Ward Superintendent of Cleaning in 1905. Sent gener- ous fund to San Francisco at time of earthquake. Regular meet- ings addressed by city officials and improvement experts. Lawndale Improvement Club. Organized temporarily for the specific purpose of remov- ing dead street car tracks from Lawndale Avenue in order to secure paving. Logan Square Improvement Association. Organized in 1904. First officers were: President, Philip L. Barker ; Treasurer, G. W. Wright ; Secretaries, B. F. Sim- mons and John Kiehn. Territory, triangular district between Hamlin, Milwaukee and Fullerton Avenues. During the past five years the association has pushed citizens to expend $30,000.00 on asphalt paving, cement walks, parking and setting out of trees, and increase of police service. In the accomplishment of this, the association has spent only $75.00. Longwood Improvement Association. Organized 1908. President, A. Swett; Secretary, F. M. Baker; Treasurer, W. F. Wood, Annual membership fee, $2.50. Fourth of July expense, $370.00. Mayfair Improvement Association. Organized 1898 by Mayfair Woman's Club. President, T. L. Hiles; Secretary, C. G. Wheeler. Reorganized in 1907, with Dr. Joseph Sanders as President; Secretary, C. G. Wheeler. Execu- tive Board made up of chairmen of standing committees. Annual membership fee, $1.00. McCormick District Improvement Association. Incorporated 1906. Hadquarters at McCormick Works Club. President, Chas. Fitzner; Secretary, J. T. Bagdzinuas. Territory extends from C. B. & Q. tracks to Drainage Canal and from Ashland Avenue to California Street. Membership fee, ten cents per month. During the past year membership has grown to include 125 porperty owners. The ward alderman is a member, giving full co-operation. He values the association because it gives him an opporttmity to hear the complaints and get sug- gestions once each month. The association has secured several 24 improvements, among others the closing of a low-dance hall, the removal of an objectionable shaving pile, better lights and cleaner conditions in the entire neighborhood. The association is now- working to secure the extension of the Western Avenue street car line south from 26th Street, also the building of a bridge across the Drainage Canal at California Avenue, also the paving of all the streets in the district. Montclare Improvement Association. Organized in 1899. First President, H. H. Peebles, of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St, Paul Railroad; Second President, Hon. Robert E. Pendarvis; Secretary Robert Bradshaw. Fifty members. Dues, fifteen cents per month. Territory, city limits on the west to 66th Avenue, and Diversey Avenue to Armitage Avenue. Active in recent traction campaign. Morgan Park Village Improvement Society. Organized 1899. President, H. Clay Russell; Vice-President, W. A. Wilkinson ; Secretary, Miss M. E. Myrick ; Treasurer, R. B. Thomson. Four working districts. 195 members. Receipts for 1908, $1,309.00. Supports an overseer, two men, one wagon and one watering cart. Keeps 325 premises clear of rubbish. Sprinkles all macadamized streets twice a day, mows vacant lots and parkways, trims trees of entire village. During the past year the association has removed twenty-five dead trees and recommends the making of Tree Day* a conspicuous feature in the village. Holds annual spring rally, combining a popular program with the annual business meeting of thq society, which attracts not only the citizens of Morgan Park but the surround- ing suburbs. Ninth Ward Improvement Association. Organized 1903. Outgrowth of Halsted Street Business Men's Association. 150 members. Annual membership fee, $1.00. Original President, A. I. Donat ; present Chairman, Herman Raddatz; Vice-Chairman, Joseph Burnhardt; Treasurer, Charles Huff; Financial Secretary, Ignatz Epstein; 'Secretary, Emil Mally. Regular and successful monthly business meetings. Pub- lishes monthly called Advocate. Largely responsible for securing West Park No. 3. Co-operates with public officials to secure adequate street sprinkling, garbage removal and transportation facilities. Has accomplished through car routes and increased lighting. Is agitating the relief of Halsted Street congestion. Recently passed resolutions objecting to the naming of the new public bath after a living politician. Now looking toward the planting of trees. 25 Nineteenth Ward Improvement Club. Published Live Topics for several years, thereby furthering local as well as general improvement work. North Central Improvement Association. Organized 1904. Territory, Chicago River to Lincoln Park, east to Dearborn Avenue. Membership fee, $15.00 per year. Gives staunch support to Board of Local Improvements. Presi- dent, Frederick F. Norcross ; Vice-Presidents, Frederick T. West and 'S. H. Helm; Treasurer, Leverett Thompson; Secretary, Charles W. Folds ; 'Superintendent, Richard J. Crawley. Office, 71 Rush Street. Among the most active and energetic workers was the late Mrs. A. C. McClurg. Annual budget, $17,000.00. 650 subscribers. North Edgewater Improvement Association. President, F. W. McKinney; Secretary, H. B. Vanzwoll. Norwood Park Improvement Club. President, Charles J. deBerard; Vice-President. Frank M. Bunch; Secretary, M. M. Hoffman. Has accomplished the ex- penditure of $250,000.00 in street pavements, cement walks and small parks. Has secured the building of a $10,000.00 depot by the Chicago and Northwestern Railway. Attractive illustrated booklet. Recommends small but influential membership as a requisite for successful improvement work. The Oakland Improvement Association. Organized in 1904. Two miles of territory, from 39th to 43rd Streets, and from Grand Boulevard to Lake Avenue. Em- ploys two men summer and winter at $2.00 per day each. A collector is paid ten per cent of all collections from residents. President, A. B. McCoid ; Secretary, Louis M. Grant. A woman superintendent. Budget, $1,500.00 per year. Oak Park Improvement Association. Organized 1900. Thirly-three working sections. Chairmen of sections make up Executive Board. See Fine Arts 'Society of Oak Park. Park Manor Improvement Association. President, J. F. Peacock. 26 Parkside Improvement Club. President, P. J. McMahon ; Vice-President, E. R. Petersen; Treasurer, Evan Pusey; Secretary, Wm. C McClain. Organ- ized to improve Stony Island Avenue and adjoining streets. Ravenswood Improvement Association. President Frederick I. Morris. Rogers Park Improvement Association. Organized 1898. Former President, James I. Ennis. Annual fee, $2.00. This being a vacant lot territory, separate street asso- ciations are organized with separate dues, to do specific pieces of work. The following is a list of things already accomplished: 1. Extension of intersecting sewer on Sheridan Road from Pratt to Bryan Avenues, distance one mile. Cost, $90,000.00. 2. Addition to Eugene Field School. Cost, $50,000.00. 3. Entered fight against abolition of kindergarten seven years ago. 4. Secured transfer of town government of Evanston Town- ship from Evanston to Rogers Park. 5. Organized North Shore District. 6. Secured rebate in taxes eight years ago to an amount exceeding $50,000.00. 7. Organized and carried to successful finish the fight for ^the abolition of payment of more than five-cent fare from down- town to city limits, by organizing the "Home-made transfer." 8. Fought the Rogers Park Water Company (a private cor- poration) up to the United States Supreme Court to compel it to furnish water at city rates. Successful. 9. Fought the C. & N. W. and St. P. Railroads until we com- pelled them to grant five-cent fares from Evanston to Chicago, over the Northwestern Elevated and Union Loop, without change of cars. 10. Suppressed noisy Sunday picnics on Lake Shore. 11. Organized the series of public mass meetings during Mayor Harrison's term to prevent the aldermen from passing over the mayor's veto the nefarious street car ordinance. 12. Had ordinance drawn for several miles of cement walks and paving of many streets. Sheridan Park Association. South Central Improvement Association. Organized in 1903. Territory from 16th Street to 31st Street, and from Michigan Avenue to Lake Michigan. Board of Management, William Alton, John B. Drake, F. W. Farwell, 27 James E. Otis, Edward C. Wentworth, George E. Dawson. 460 members. Annual budget, $10,000.00. Quarterly reports. Super- intendent of Work, H. J. Springer. South End Business Men's Association. Organized 1894. Incorporated. Territory, south end of Thirty-Third Ward. Membership of business men. President, Herman Teninga ; Secretary, H. A. Wray; Treasurer, H. Trau- terjung. Permanent building valued at $16,000.00. Budget, $1,000.00 per year. Special committee on Progress and Improve- ments. Organizes picnics and outings for special revenue. In addition to street cleaning, has been instrumental in securing sewers, sidewalks, paved streets and names on street corners. Influential in securing Palmer Park. South Park Improvement Association. Organized 1901 by a group of Chicago Woman's Club mem- bers, with the co-operation of Senator F. W. Parker, A. H. Nelson, and others. Territory, the Midway to 55th Street, and Illinois Central Railway to Cottage Grove Avenue, known as the University communitv. Annual membership fee, $2.00. House- holders' annual fee, $12.00 to $30.00. Annual budget ,$12,000.00. President, 1909, C. T. B. Goodspeed; Vice-President, S. J. Earned; Treasurer, A. G. Lester; Secretary, Mrs. E. T. Lee; Superintendent of Work, Frank V. Irish. A recent annual report contains the following statement : "As a neighborhood organization, our Association is inter- ested in everything that pertains to the welfare of our community. We especially desire to encourage the making of permanent im- provements, and are willing to take the lead in this good work. Two years ago we planted shrubbery on the corners of the park- ways on 57th Street, between the Illinois Central and the Uni- versity. A year ago we planted a large number of trees on this much-traveled thoroughfare, and this spring we will further improve it by planting additional trees and installing two drink- ing fountains. During the past April we planted eighty or more trees on 56th Street, 58th. and other streets in our district. Lest w'e forget, we should also be reminded that it was the South Park Improvement Association that persuaded the Illinois Cen- tral to build the new waiting room for the 57th Street station." The Landscape Gardening Committee makes this plea : "In conclusion, we have to plead, not for financial aid, — that some other department of this Association is better able to attend to, — we have to plead for mora! assistance; we beg of you to help make the earth more beautiful. "The work of this Association so far has been simply from hand to mouth; the thing of the hour — money — has been freely 28 given for the necessity of each day and the money has been wisely administered for only these daily needs. But much more is now to be done; therefore, we feel called upon to say to you that not only the work of your committee on Landscape Archi- tecture is just begun, but the work of your Association is just begun. Instead of being satisfied with this hand to mouth activity — these daily needs in season — there is permanent work before us to be; considered. All that has been done had to be done, and the needs will continue to require that it shall be done. But some lasting stamp of tlus great movement must be fixed upon the land we live in; some further work of progress ; stable and real improvements must nois^ share in your deliberations." Sprinkles streets and alleys at a yearly outlay of $3,000.00; cleans sidewalks in winter ; cares for vacant lots and street cross- ings ; sustains helpful relations with city officials, and publishes Monthly Record. Has six standing committees of three members each : Finance, Promotion, Streets, Alleys and Vacant Lots, Trees and Shrubbery, Sanitation, Smoke. Third Ward Improvement Association. Incorporated 1904. Territory, east of Michigan Avenue, be- tween 35th and 39th Streets. Active for two years only. Presi- dent, Rush C. Butler. Spent $2,500.00 in street cleaning and sjscuring from the city council sufficient appropriation and more economical disbursement of city funds in the Third Ward, to the extent that the association was no longer needed. Twenty-Fifth Ward Property Owners* Improvement Association. Organized 1908. President, Frank C. Hoople; First Vice- President, A. O. R. Bergengren; Second Vice-President, W. G. Hartwig; Third Vice-President, C. W. Randolph; 'Secretary, Jas. E. Prendergast ; Treasurer, John Umbricht ; Financial Secre- tary, L. F. La Croix. Objects of the organization: To hurry the paving'of our streets and the improving of our ward; to look after this work while it is being done, to see that the proper materials are used, so that your streets will not wear out in a few years; to keep the cost of same as low as possible; to see that your streets are cleaned regularly; to better our street car and elevated systems; to secure a small park for our neighbor- hood; to see that garbage and ashes are removed regularly; to keep undesirable characters and places out of our ward; to regulate our taxes ; to bring property owners together and hear their complaints and suggestions and to furnish them with in- formation ; to build up an organization so that we might have power to ask and get things, alone we can do nothing; there are 29 no politics in this organization ; the books of the secretary and treasurer are open to your inspection. They publish a monthly paper. Vincennes Avenue Improvement Association. Organized 1903. President, William Garnett; Vice-Presi- dent, Rudolph Wolfner ; Treasurer, A. D. Mergentheim ; Secre- tary, G. E. Dubois. Membership, 113. Average annual expendi- ture, $1,500.00. Monthly fee, $1.00. Complaints invited. Washington Park Place Improvement Associatit>a Organized in 1901. Area, one court block, with fifty house- holders. Expenditure, $550.00, including the provision for a sane Fourth. President, Mr. Michael Altman; Secretary, Mr, Louis Wessel. Superintendent of Street, Mr. Lee Polacheck. The following is quoted from an informal report made by one of the members : "Our sane Fourth of July has been cared for by these same gentlemen. Each householder who is willing, contributes $5.00, by means of which the street is beautifully decorated with lan- terns at night, games with prizes are conducted for the children, with singing and speeches during the afternoon, and for the evening, music by a hired orchestra and fireworks." Washington Improvement Association. Organized in 1905 by a member of the Chicago Woman's Club. Territory, from East 47th Street to East 50th 'Street. First President, James M. Dowd, followed by S. Lederer and Robert S. lies. Supported by subscriptions based on property frontage of householders. Expenditure during 1908, $1,766.00. Annual surplus forms an equipment fund. Also a contingent fund of $1,442.00 was created by special contribution. "The alder- men, superintendent of streets, and the ward superintendent have recognized the Association and have cheerfully and kindly aided us in carrying out its purposes, for which we tender them sincere thanks." Wentworth Avenue Improvement and Protective Association. Incorporated 1903. Territory, 53rd Street to 63rd Street. President, George F. Eddy; Secretary, James Crausie. Active in pushing the "traction" question. West Central Improvement Association. Organized in 1905. Territory from Michigan Avenue to Wentworth Avenue, between 22nd and 35th Streets, half of which is known as the "Black Belt." President, Guy Guernsey. 30 Without any expense to the Association, city officials have been pushed to provide clean streets, perfect lighting of both streets and alleys. By special subscription vacant lots in the neighbor- hood have been parked. Working now to secure the lighting of elevated railway structure. West End Improvement Club. President, James J. Condon. West End Neighborhood Improvement Association. Organized 1902. Incorporated 1905. Territory includes Twentieth Ward, Thirteenth Ward and Fourteenth Ward. Sub- associations organized for each specific improvement or for small areas, each doing its own financing. Secretary, E. L. Stewart. West Pullman Improvement Association. Organized 1899. Territory, Stewart Ridge and West Pull- man. Large open tracts. Chief work to fight the dust of the streets. Yearly sprinkling expense, $1,200.00. Holds annual ban- quet and furnishes attractive programs at regular monthly meet- ings. Secured the Illinois Central train service known as "Busi- ness Men's Special." Has an executive committee of sixteen. At the annual election in December are chosen the president, two vice-presidents, secretary and treasurer, together with four trustees. At the January meeting the president appoints seven standing committees : Membership, Finance, Progress, Legisla- tive, Improvement, Entertainment, Sprinkling. The chairmen of these committees, with the officers and trustees, constitute the Executive Committee of the Association. "We have learned that the more we do the more the city will do for us. One of the things we wish to do this year is to fraternize with our foreign neighbors — the newly immigrated Poles and Hungarians — and to so inoculate them with the improvement germ that they will speedily learn their responsibilities as members of the com- munity." Wicker Park Improvement Association. Incorporated 1905. Budget in 1908-9, $2,016.00. Seven hun- dred members. President, John Mohr; Secretary, J. C. Mathie- son ; Treasurer, Andrew Engle. Woman's Cuyler Improvement Association. President, Mrs. J. C. Cannon; Secretary, Mrs. J. C. Wrath. Sixty members. Regular monthly meetings first Tuesday of each month. Woodlawn Improvement Association. Organized in 1882 as Citizens' Improvement Club of Wood- lawn Park. Reorganized 1894. Oldest association in Chicago. 31 Territory, one square mile, with $25,000,000.00 of property repre- sented. Motto, "Local improvements on a business basis." Annual budget, $14,000.00. President, Edward G. Carter; Vice- Presidents, John P. McGoorty and Edgar A. Buzzell; Treasurer, John N. Kimball; Superintendent, Joseph F. Falkner, Object: To secure the co-operation, of the residents and property owners for the improvement of civic conditions in the community. The territory is divided into six districts and the following standing committees serve the Association : Executive, Local Assessment and Taxes, Streets and Alleys, Buildings and Railroads, Public Schools, Police, Fire and Water, Arboriculture, Local Improve- ments. A recent report tells of work accomplished, as follows: "Every improvement of a public nature, and those of almost every other kind, introduced into this district during the past twenty years, has been either inaugurated, assisted or carefully looked after by the Association or its representatives. The pumping system of sewerage ; the elevation of the Illinois Central Railway, and location of stations and subways ; the building of the alley "L" road and location of it^ stations ; the paving of streets and sidewalks ; lighting of streets ; estabhshment of public schools, fire engine and hook and ladder houses, police station, fire and patrol boxes ; tearing down old buildings and excrescences left from the World's Fair period; reinstatement of express services on Illinois Central Railway discontinued after the World's Fair, etc., are among the more important of the many things attended to in the past. "The ordinary routine work of the Association consists in procuring such public and private improvements as may be needed in the way of sewers, water, gas, and lighting, street and sidewalk paving, educational facilities, fire and police protection, cleaning and repairing of streets and alleys, garbage service, suppression of nuisances and all other rights and privileges con- ferred by laws and ordinances in return for taxes and assess- ments paid for such purposes. "Heretofore the most important work of the Association has been the removal of snow, ice, mud and water from the side- walks and crossings during the winter season, and the cutting of weeds and grass in front of vacant property in the summer. It is elsewhere shown that the work of the Association is to be very largely broadened and increased. "Some of the matters outlined for the future in the last edition of the Blue Book are generally known to have been actually accomplished, notably the reconstruction of the sewer system, the paving of 63rd Street, the construction of exits from the Illinois Central trains to 64th and 66th Streets, and the building of a new public school in Woodlawn." 32 J 307.76 H673n t UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 307.76H673N C001 NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT IN AND ABOUT CH 3 0112 025281558