The Park Governments of Chicago 83 



more air for combustion. This can be done at an expense of 

 approximately $150 for each furnace. 



On account of the type of furnaces at Humboldt and Small 

 Parks 1, 2 and 3, the West Park Board cannot use Illinois or 

 Indiana coal without making considerable smoke, and they are 

 forced to purchase high-priced smokeless coal from West Vir- 

 ginia fields. At Seward, Stanton and Hamlin Parks, the Lincoln 

 Park Board for the same reason used Pocahontas and anthracite. 

 While the saving which could be effected by changing the equip- 

 ment would not be sufficient to warrant such action, the Bureau 

 recommends that when new buildings are constructed, furnaces of 

 a smokeless type be installed, in which Illinois or Indiana coal 

 can be burned. If a central heating plant were installed at Lin- 

 coln Park (instead of having four plants as at present), and if 

 it were equipped to burn Illinois and Indiana coal — the saving 

 on the coal bills would amount to several thousand dollars 

 annually. 



III. SMALL PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS 



The small parks and playgrounds constitute the feature of 

 park development in Chicago that has attracted the most atten- 

 tion and praise from the outside world. The initiation of the 

 small park and playground movement is due primarily to the 

 city council of Chicago. That body in 1899 provided for the 

 creation of a small park commission to make a study of the 

 need of the community for additional small park and playground 

 facilities. The report outlined a program of improvements which 

 the city was unable to undertake because of its straightened 

 financial condition. However, the city has done what it could 

 in this line. The small park and playground and bathing beach 

 facilities which the city, through its special park commission, 

 has furnished to the public, have been creditable in view of the 

 comparatively small amounts of money available for the purpose. 



Legislative authority having been secured for the commis- 

 sioners of the independent park boards to issue bonds for the 

 purchase of suitable sites, the further development of a small 

 park and playground system was begun by these boards. Under 



