The Park Governments of Chicago 127 



Foraging of Horses. 



Practically all forage and bedding are bought on season con- 

 tracts. The average cost of foraging per horse was $140 in 1910. 



Management of Stables. 



The foreman of stables has a force of 11 stablemen and 

 17 drivers. The expense of the stable is partly distributed to 

 the other park activities by charging the time of the drivers at 

 an arbitrary rate to the several departments served, but actual 

 costs are not determined. It appears that more horses are main- 

 tained than is necessary to meet the demands of the park service. 



IV. REPAIR SHOPS 



SOUTH PARK COMMISSIONERS 



Organization and Equipment. 



The repair shops now operated by the South Park Board 

 date from the rebuilding of the entire central plant in Washington 

 Park in 1908-9. At that time the shops were enlarged and more 

 fully equipped, approximately $10,000 being spent for machine 

 tools alone. A change in the organization was made in Novem- 

 ber, 1909, and again in April, 1911. At present there are two 

 co-ordinate heads of the shop forces. One, known as the elec- 

 trical engineer, has charge of the machine shop, steam fitting, 

 garage, and also the power and lighting plant. Another, known 

 as the master mechanic, has charge of the carpenter, blacksmith, 

 plumbing, tin, and paint shops. Each shop is under the direction 

 of a foreman. 



At the close of the fiscal year 1910, $138,592 was shown on 

 the books as the cost of shop buildings and equipment. The cost 

 of operation during 1910, as shown on the books, was approxi- 

 mately $50,000. No inventory of shop equipment has ever been 

 made, so far as the records show. 



Shop Costs. 



On work done in the shops time reports are collected and 

 time distribution is made to the operating accounts in a separate 



