200 
THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 
At present we have a total area of sixty-five acres of them productive as a vegetable garden, and to con- 
developed parks, which are in three separate sections vince the people of the wholesome and profitable out- 
of Hibbing. Over eight miles of boulevards have been door exercise surely has been very gratifying in Hib- 
graded, seeded and planted with shade trees. A cem- bing. I am convinced that all the people, once started 
etery containing fifteen acres has been improved by in this line, will continue year after year, encouraged 
building roads and walks, by planting 1.200 shade trees by their own results; setting a good example to those 
and by establishing lawns and flowerbeds. The St. who as yet have not taken up this splendid and bene- 
Louis County Fairgrounds containing 160 acres, of ficial occupation. 
which about twenty acres nearest to the most im- Our operations for the last two years included not 
portant buildings have been improved. Also the only the work contemplated at the beginning of each 
grounds of the Detention Hospital, Carnegie Library fiscal year, but we have upon the request of the local 
and of other public buildings have been improved con- school board and the Hibbing Athletic Club laid out 
siderably. an athletic field, built a grand stand and bleachers, and 
We operate two greenhouses each twenty-three by improved the grounds surrounding the various school 
one hundred feet in connection with our park system buildings. This work amounted to $15,000 for which 
at an average annual expenditure of $3,000. we were reimbursed. 
We grow all the annual and perennial plants needed I deem it unnecessary to dwell upon the special fea- 
for the beautification of the parks and other public tures, the unique arrangements and equipment, of 
places and buildings. Over 38,000 plants were raised which we have quite a few in our parks, as I believe 
last season and used exclusively for this purpose. Two that each community or city has them, perhaps in a 
flower shows have been staged every year in these different design or material, but serving the identical 
greenhouses, namely, a chrysanthemum show and a purpose ; whatever may be found in natural local con- 
display of Easter plants. ditions and material most prevailing, and if taken ad- 
One fifty-foot section of the greenhouses is arranged vantage of. We aim to keep our parks in the natural, 
and used as a conservatory, with a goldfish and lily rustic style, preserving the natural groves, and adding 
pond in the center. In this section we keep plants of wherever necessary and possible with native trees and 
special interest to the public, and in order to help in shrubs, of which we find a great number of varieties 
an educational way the pupils of botany, and all chil- and in large quantities in the nearby forests. We make 
dren of our local schools in general, who visit the it a special point to call the people's attention to those 
greenhouses in large classes with their teachers. native trees and shrubs, and show them their useful- 
Two out-door concerts every week are given regu- ness and merit in beautifying parks and home grounds, 
larly during the summer season from May 1 to Sep- This idea and spirit has been taken up and copied by 
tember 1, while during the winter months one indoor the local people very readily and good results have 
concert each month is provided. These concerts surely been obtained. 
are appreciated by the public, and the attendance at The greatest majority of the people in this corn- 
all of those concerts exceeded our expectations. We munity, and I dare say the people of northern Minne- 
are giving much attention to, and believe it very im- sota, thought that this section of the country is too 
portant to educate the people in this community on far north, and the climate too severe to successfully 
horticultural lines, and try to induce them to beautify carry on horticulture or agriculture of any kind; how- 
their own home grounds ; also to get the poor people ever, since the activities of park departments in the 
interested in vegetable gardening, and I must say we several cities and villages on the Mesaba Iron Range 
have been very successful in our efforts, judging from have been so successful the last few years, the people 
the general appearance of Hibbing today, as compared at large show more and greater interest and encour- 
to prior to the Park Board's campaign. We are aid- agement all around, and many believe that this is as 
ing every citizen free of charge, to trim trees and good a section of the "U. S. A." as any. 
shrubs and even do it for them on application, and In summing up the activities of our park depart- 
assist them in an advisory capacity in the improving merit, 1 may state that while the park board was 
of home grounds and general gardening. Many at- formed mainly to build and maintain places for recrea- 
tractive prizes have been offered every year for home tion and play, it is doing its utmost to educate, en- 
ground improvements and also for individual vege- courage and to convince the people that we can have 
table gardens to further encouragement. beautiful flowers, trees and shrubs, and that this soil 
A large tract of land at Bennett Park was prepared and climate will produce everything necessary for the 
and divided into lots about fifty by seventy-five feet table from the vegetable garden. In order that the 
each, which were given to citizens upon application for people may follow the right course, that success may 
one seasi hi for vegetable gardening. One of these lots crown their work, and that failures and disappoint- 
was operated by the park department as a demonstra- ments may be avoided (for which generally the coun- 
tion garden, where people not acquainted with garden- try is blamed), we have made our parks in addition 
ing could see and learn how the work had to be done to a place for recreation and play, a place of educa- 
and could get all the information they wanted. tional and of practical demonstration for the benefit 
The results obtained by these methods, of inducing of the people, the community and the surrounding 
the people to beautify their home grounds, or to make country in these several lines. 
STATEMENT SHOWING PARK APPROPRIATIONS AND DISBURSEMENTS FROM FEBRUARY 1, 1912, TO 
JANUARY 31, 1916. 
Funds Buildings and Maintenance, Tools and Entertainment Total 
Year. Available. Construction. Enclosures. Including Salaries. Equipment, and Educational. Expenditures. 
1912 $26,000.00 $17,384.66 $4,580.55 $3,105.66 $483.82 $25,554.69 
1913 45,000.00 26,567.20 3,657.99 7,496.72 1,276.25 $1,928.95 40,927.11 
1914 57,072.89 32,107.47 8,011.85 10,882.37 1,492.24 3,370.06 55,863.99 
1915 23,700.70 7.906.57 259.69 11,078.36 372.65 2,700.00 22,317.27 
Totals $151,773.59 $83,965.90 $16,510.08 $32,563.11 $3,624.96 $7,999.01 $144,663.06 
