28 
THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 
REVIEW OF PARK REPORTS. 
Vancouver for the Year ig.14. 
Vancouver, B. 0. — Vancouver's 1914 park report indicates that 
its park expenditures, for all purposes, from the date of the in- 
ception of the system to the present, has been $1,812,223.20, 
and a funded balance of $410,031. 71 still available. 1914 
expenditures were $139,887.33. 
Work accomplished during the year is recited in detail of 
which the following is of general interest: 2,500 cubic yards 
of rock were utilized in the construction of another groyne 
upon English Bay Beach, the property comprising a southerly 
extension of the slime of Stanley Park and containing one of 
Vancouver's two bathing facilities. Another groyne was con- 
structed of timber for a length of 172 feet on the same beach. 
Groynes, utilizing the action of the elements and the sea, 
are built to transform a gravelly beach into a pleasant bathing 
area agreeable to the use of bathers with bare feet, by causing 
sand to wash over the groynes and become deposited over the 
gravel surface of the beach. 
Upon the Flanders shore in Europe from whence the idea 
was taken, they rely entirely upon the groynes to accomplish 
their purpose, but Vancouver had an opportunity to secure 
150,000 yards of sand removed in the process of some nearby 
dredging operations under way and availed itself of it and had 
it deposited upon the shore, thereby materially hastening the 
time limit wherein the beach would become more satisfactory 
and serviceable. 
The annual gross expenditure upon the property was $5,407.80. 
Upon Kitsilane Beach, a continuation of the English Bay Beach 
interrupted by an indulation formed by False Creek, a similar 
treatment was started, but lack of sand fill prevented its execu- 
tion. $9,899.76 was expended upon this property. 
Development of a new Zoo site is under way at Stanley Park 
and the installation of a water system composed of six and 
eight inch pipes, has progressed to the extent of almost a mile. 
A novel idea, the laying of water pipe to protect a thousand 
acre forest, though the water will be used in part for drinking 
purposes, comfort station and requirements of administration 
yards, etc. 
New Greenhouses at an estimated cost of $0,440.00 were started. 
A very serious attack of insects lias appeared in the forests, 
with trees two and three hundred feet high and the difficulty 
of combatting the pests by the present type of power machines 
and high tension hose, the trouble assumed alarming propor- 
tions and caused the Dominion and Provincial governments ex- 
perts to be called into consultation. The report states that the 
infected trees were dealt with in the manner required and ap- 
proved by these specialists, without describing the manner or 
requirements. 
This matter is so vital in Woodlands and of such general in- 
terest, it is hoped a subsequent report will recite the operation 
in the detail its importance demands. 
131,339 persons made use of the bathing facilities during the 
season extending from June to September, 
Work undertaken for the relief of the unemployed, a task 
confronting all of the coast cities annually, consumed $4,000, 
engaging 100 men. 
The interesting part is that the sale of cordwood and shingle 
bolts equalled the labor cost, an experience not duplicated by 
any of the other cities. Portland for instance, expending $7,500 in 
this line of work with a probability of being enabled to recover 
not over half of it. 
other cities seem to have had Portland's experience. 
E. F. M. 
Note: Seattle tried the woodcutting plan during the holiday 
season, paid out $793.75 to woodcutters, sold wood for $820 
and had 205 cords of wood over sales, for departmental use. 
R. W. C. 
Calgary, for the Year, 1914. 
With an appropriation of $80,000 Calgary is continuing its park 
development . 
Located far north, where the winter's cold specially favors ice 
formation, it is noted that ice skating, curling on the ice and like 
sports are very popular. 
Seventeen hundred trees, 4,000 shrubs ami 3.000 perennials and 
annuals were planted. It would be interesting to know what 
sort of hardy materials were used in that bleak, wind-swept prairie 
region, where conifers, poplars, birch and willows form the pre- 
dominating portion of the native woods. 
Of 40 miles in the city. 7 1 ., miles of "boulevard" (street parkings) 
were constructed at a cost of 45 cents per lineal foot. Would that 
dimensions in widths, areas and depths had been given, how deep 
topsoil was emplaced and how many trees were planted. 
In Canada, this street tree work is usually done by the munici- 
pality and assessed on the abutting property. Parkings are 
graded, topsoiled, drained, water pipes laid, trees planted, grass 
or shrubbery provided, plantations watered, cut. pinned, weeded, 
sprayed and generally cared for. 
Xo wonder that the Canadian cities have so pleasing appear- 
ance in contrast to so many of our own. where weeds are allowed 
to grow on parkings and lots, and a general neglect and lack of 
interest is so manifest. 
THEODORE WIRTH HONORED 
"HPO meet the demand for neighborhood parks and 
playgrounds is the great part of the work of the 
park commission of Minneapolis ; we have now nearly 
all the land required," was the summary of the park sit- 
uation delivered by Theodore Wirth, superintendent of 
parks, at a dinner given in his honor by 200 citizens of 
Minneapolis recently at the Minneapolis Club. The occa- 
sion was to mark the tenth anniversary of assuming his 
position in January, 1906. 
Mr. Wirth's achievements as park superintendent in 
bringing the city of Minneapolis to the foremost place in 
the world in the beauty and art of its park system, were 
detailed in the addresses. Following the toasts a silver 
service was presented to Mr. Wirth. 
In reviewing the work of Mr. Wirth one of the speak- 
ers said: "In Theodore Wirth's education as a horti- 
culturist and landscape gardener within the view of the 
mountains of his native Switzerland, he was uncon- 
sciously fitted for his work in developing the latent beau- 
ties of cities of America. When he came to Minneapolis 
from Hartford 10 years ago, our parks extended over 
1,800 acres and the annual expenditure for maintenance 
was $141,000; now the system covers 3,800 acres and 
has a current appropriation of $520,000. The cost of 
the system is $7,500,000, compared with $3,500,000." 
Illness prevented the -presence of Charles M. Loring, 
who was to have spoken. Mr. Loring was styled the 
father of the Minneapolis park system. In a letter con- 
veying his regrets at not being able to attend he wrote : 
"Mr. Wirth has builded the superstructure on the foun- 
dation laid bv William M. Berry, our first superintend- 
ent," the letter stated. "His accomplishments here have 
merited well this indorsement of the leader of his pro- 
fession. He has put our outdoor attractions in the front 
rank of cities." 
That $200,000 a year for ten years be expended to 
finish the improvement of parks was recommended in 
the communication. 
In his response, Mr. Wirth showered praise on the 
founders of the park system and on his fellow workers, 
and detailed the history of the park system. 
"Three main features of our parks appealing to us." 
Mr. Wirth said, "are the strong support of the citizens 
in the unbuilding of the recreation grounds, the har- 
monious spirit of our executive boards, and the complete- 
ness of the plan and its execution. Our parks are not 
detached, but connected in a chain of drives, lakes, gar- 
dens and groves. That is largely because few changes 
have been made in the personnel of the board of commis- 
sioners and the officers, and because of the absence of 
politics in the work. 
"We will need but little more land, and our main work 
is to provide for play spaces. We must lie willing to 
pay as we go, by assessments, for we can get little more 
by bond issues." 
