the continent where extensive alterations have been undertaken for securing arc 

 effects, remedying sanitary conditions or improving the city generally, and it is ques 

 whether many of the improvements would have been otherwise accomplished. UDjec 

 to giving the City such power have sometimes been raised, on the ground that it mig 

 abused or injudiciously exercised. In these times, however, of increasing municipal activi- 

 ties, when so many more extensive powers are constantly being entrusted to those cnarg 

 with the administration of the City's affairs, such objection can scarcely be considere 

 necessarily fatal or conclusive, if proper safeguards and limitations are imposed. 



This necessity is becoming more clearly recognized throughout the United 

 States. If Philadelphia had the authority to condemn land on both sides of the 

 Fairmount Park Parkway, while the initial expenditure would, of course, be larger, in 

 the long run it is altogether likely that the City would be able to recoup itself the 

 entire expense. In other words, Philadelphia's taxpayers will pay from eight to ten 

 million dollars, because the City has not this authority. Further, if it had the 

 authority, the City, having secured title to these properties, could sell the land with 

 building restrictions, thus insuring a more beautiful approach to our great park. 



Staten Island 



Two years ago, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, a business organiza- 

 tion, be it noted, determined that, as that Island is likely to be a residential section, 

 no time should be lost in securing a complete system of parks, playgrounds and 

 parkways. It accordingly appointed a Committee, which on December 19, I9° 2 > 

 presented a report recommending the acquisition of more than 3,500 acres of parks 

 and 200 acres of playgrounds. The report contains a comparison of the per capita 

 park acreage of the leading cities of this country. When we find such a compari- 

 son in official reports made by other cities, it would seem time for us to take vig- 

 orous measures to improve Philadelphia's showing. 2 This is the table : 



Washington, D. C. . . .1 acre of park lands for every 78 persons 

 Essex county (Newark, N. J.) . . . .1 acre for every 100 



San Francisco 1 



Minneapolis I 



St. Paul 1 



Indianapolis 1 



Louisville 1 



Boston 1 



Detroit 1 



St. Louis 1 



Cleveland 1 



128 

 140 

 141 



•57 

 163 

 230 



233 

 272 

 277 



Philadelphia 1 " 350 



1 For further information, apply to Secretary New York City Improvement Commission, New York 

 City, N. Y. or Milo Roy Maltbie, Assistant Secretary Art Commission, City Hall, New York. 



2 For further information, apply to Cornelius G. Kolff, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, 

 Staten Island, N. Y. 



IO 



