The Park Governments of Chicago 97 



Picnic parties, however, can obtain coffee at 25 cents a quart, 

 and, by depositing 75 cents, a can and 3 cups and spoons can be 

 had. These charges also are higher than in the South and West 

 Parks. 



In the Seward Park building a lunch counter was operated 

 for a time by the Park Board itself, but the receipts being less 

 than the expenses, and the demand for food limited, the service 

 was abandoned. 



VI. BOATS 



Rowboats are operated by the respective Park Boards on 

 the lagoons and ponds of all the large parks, a small fee, based 

 on the hour unit, being charged as a rental. Canoes were also 

 provided at one time, but their use was discontinued, owing to 

 the large number of accidents resulting therefrom. The row- 

 boats have usually been adequate in number, and are compara- 

 tively safe. 



An examination of the accounts shows that in all parks 

 where boats have been operated the receipts have exceeded the 

 expenses of operation and maintenance. This result has been 

 due more to the popularity of this form of amusement than to 

 the financial control exercised over the fees collected. The latter 

 has been conducive to "knocking down" by park employees. It 

 is this problem in particular which is here discussed. 



SOUTH PARK COMMISSIONERS 



When the new accounting system for the South Park Board 

 was being devised, the lack of control over boat receipts was rec- 

 ognized. Beginning with the present season (1911), a complete 

 change in methods of control was therefore adopted and enforced. 

 The fees remained the same, being 15 cents per hour for a single 

 boat and 25 cents for a double boat, but under the former system 

 no advance deposit was required. 



Under the present system specially made cash registers, cost- 

 ing over $500 each, and several electric time stamps have been 

 installed in Jackson and Washington Parks. A one-dollar de- 

 posit is required in advance from each renter. When the dollar 



