The Park Governments of Chicago 17 



II. GENERAL CHARACTERIZATIONS OF THE SEPARATE 

 PARK SYSTEMS 



1. The South Park System. 



In many ways the administration of the South Park system 

 is excellent. The standards of public service in the main are 

 high. This board carries on directly a larger proportion of its 

 activities than any other municipal government in the commu- 

 nity, and for the most part with satisfactory results. The enter- 

 prise manifested in the development and successful management 

 of small park and playground facilities has elicited world-wide 

 commendation. The improvement of Michigan Avenue and the 

 development of Grant Park are undertakings that have excited 

 the pride of the entire city by their prospective magnificence. 



In certain respects, however, the South Park Board has 

 been wasteful on a large scale. With more revenue than all the 

 other park agencies of the city combined, it has embarked upon 

 unwise projects that would hardly have been undertaken but for 

 the abundance of funds at its disposal. 



During the five years ending April 1, 1911, the South Park 

 Board had on deposit in bank never less than $1,000,000. The 

 monthly average of the deposits during the period was approxi- 

 mately $1,800,000. It is wasteful to carry such large deposits in 

 bank at comparatively low interest rates, while the Board is pay- 

 ing much higher interest rates on money borrowed. Savings 

 could have been effected by delaying the sale of bonds until 

 nearer the time that the money was needed. 



The South Park Board insisted upon building a new steam- 

 driven electric plant of its own at the very time that the West 

 Chicago and Lincoln Park Boards were entering into contracts 

 with the Sanitary District for the supply of electric current. The 

 new plant was put into operation January 31, 1908. The cost of 

 current per kilowatt-hour for the year ending November 30, 1910, 

 was 1.559 cents. In April, 1911, a five-year contract was made 

 with the Sanitary District for the delivery of electric current at 

 a price of three-quarters of a cent a kilowatt-hour. The failure 

 of the South Park Board to co-operate earlier with the Sanitary 

 District resulted in a needless expenditure for this steam-driven 



