Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 April 1901 — FOR VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT. [ARTICLE]

FOR VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT.

Both Is Home Grounds and Public Ground*. “In discussing the method of management for our Village Improvement (Society,” says Eben E. Rexford, in the “New” Lippincott, “we decided to have everything about It as simple as possible, for some of us recognized the fact that success in undertakings of this nature is largely dependent on simplicity and directness. In order to avoid friction and ‘running expenses,' it is wise to have but little machinery in a society of this kind, and that of the simplest character consistent with effectiveness. We dispensed with a formal apd elaborate * constitution’ and ‘code of by-laws,’ for we did not think either was needed. We sitpply drew up a paper setting forth the object of the society and the few rules we thought necessary to formulate for Its operation, and when we had subscribed our names to It we were full-fledged, active members. “In this paper It was stated that (membership was conditional on an agreement on our part to devote at least one day’s work, spring and fall, jto the Improvement of the home (grounds, and to give one day’s work, spring and fall, to the improvement of public grounds and vacant places belonging to non-residents if called on to do so. “Each member pledged himself to the payment of one dollar semi-annu-ally, the money thus secured to constitute a general fund to be drawn on in meeting the expenses attendant on the Improvement of public places. We had but three officers, a President, Secretary, and Treasurer. It was understood that the President was to have supervision of all work on public places, with the power of appointing such committees as might be deemed necessary whenever they were needed. “At first we had not proposed to take women into membership, but It was suggested that they had as much right in the society as men had, and would, no doubt, take as much Interest in It,—and quite likely a good deal more. Accordingly It was unanimously voted to admit them.”