10 Chicago Bureau of Public Efficiency 



for outdoor labor. Neither did the Bureau make an audit of the 

 accounts of the park boards. The inquiry was directed rather to 

 the fundamental features of organization and to the methods 

 of business administration. 



Chicago's splendid parks and boulevards constitute a fea- 

 ture of the city's growth of which its people may be justly proud, 

 and it must be recognized that much credit is due to a number 

 of public spirited citizens, who, in their capacity as park com- 

 missioners, have contributed their time and efforts to the devel- 

 opment of the system. 



Allowing full credit, however, for what has been accom- 

 plished, the problem presented is: How may better results be 

 obtained with the large amounts of money expended annually 

 for park purposes? The proportions which these amounts have 

 attained, the inefficiency and waste due to lack of unity in park 

 government and the rapidly increasing demand for park facil- 

 ities, particularly those of the character afforded by the small 

 parks and playgrounds, make the solution of this problem a 

 matter of first importance. 



This report undertakes to set forth in detail the weak places 

 in the present scheme of park government and to suggest remedies. 



