The Park Governments of Chicago 105 



regard to membership in any private club. In all these 

 matters the policy of the other Boards is preferable 

 because it brings the park facilities closer to those who 

 need them. 



Refectories and Lunch Rooms. 



1. The restaurant service offered at Lincoln Park, 

 although a source of considerable revenue to the Park 

 Board, falls far short of the service offered by the South 

 Park Board. It is suggested that when the contract of 

 the present concessionaire expires, service of this na- 

 ture be not made a matter of revenue, but be furnished 

 the public at cost by the Lincoln Park Board. 



2. The South Park Board has established excellent 

 restaurant service in several of the parks under its control. 

 In a measure this has been attempted by the West Park 

 Board, although not so extensively or completely. Thus 

 far, however, this service has resulted in financial losses 

 to those Boards. The losses have been accepted by the 

 respective managements much as a condition to be 

 expected and excused on the ground of the commendable 

 service rendered. The Bureau has made a careful study 

 of the conditions and finds, however, many reasons for 

 believing that the refectories and lunch rooms now oper- 

 ated in the South and West Parks might be made self- 

 supporting without any detraction from the excellency 

 of the service. The accomplishment of this would prob- 

 ably extinguish the present deficit of $20,000 per year. 

 The following suggestions are submitted as essentials 

 thereto : 



(a) That the South Park Board employ a capable 

 and experienced restaurant manager, who shall be 

 placed in general charge over all refectories and lunch 

 rooms operated by the Board. 



(b) That all supplies be purchased by the regular 

 purchasing agent of each Board, and requisitioned by 

 the sub-managers from day to day only as needed, 



