368 
THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 
| American Association of Park Superintendents 
OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
EMIL T. MISCHE, President, Portland, Ore. R. W. COTTERILL, Sec.-Treas., Seattle, Washington. 
IllfilllllllllH 
PERSONAL AND OTHERWISE. 
It will indeed 1»' good news to our membership to learn that 
our former president, Wm, II. Dunn, has resumed his old place 
as superintendent at Kansas City, effective July 1 of this year. 
Mr. Dunn is the man who built up the wonderful Kansas City 
park and boulevard during its constructive stage and it is very 
appropriate that he should assume his tinnier post. Ralph 
Benedict, another of our members, has been in charge of the sys- 
tem for the past three years as assistant executive officer, and 
Mr. Dunn is loud in his praise of the work of Mr. Benedict, who 
will continue a- hi- assistant. One or both will be with us at the 
New Orleans convention. If only one is sent Mr. Dunn will give 
vvav to Mr. Benedict. 
Theodore Wirth writes that be figures on passing up the next 
convention in order that his unassuming assistant, < '. A. Bossen, 
may attend. This is a rather nice custom which Mr. YVirth has 
ami our only regret is that matters cannot he arranged so that 
both can attend, as they are both loyal active members of the 
association. 
The pleasing news conies from former president Gustave 
Amryhn at Xew Haven, Conn., that he is planning' to be with 
us at New Orleans. 
Adam Kohankie. the "Duke" of Washington Park at Denver, 
has been honored by being elected as the first president of the 
newly organized Denver Society of Ornamental Horticulture. 
John C. Olmsted recently made a study of the park situation 
at Louisville, Ky.. for the Board of Park Commissioners and will 
shortly render a formal report. 
Invitations for our 1917 convention are beginning to pile up 
with the secretary. Asbury Park, X. J., "The Town Without a 
Frown," was first to file: then came St. Louis with documents 
from the mayor and various associations; Chicago came next, 
followed by Columbus, Ohio, ami Buffalo, N. Y. None of the in- 
vitations so far received bear the endorsement of the local park 
commission. Last year at San Francisco we heard quite a bit 
about Ottawa for 1917 and it is quite likely that Alex Stuart 
will be on the job at the right time. 
Members should take note that proposed amendments to the 
constitution or by-laws must lie lih'd in writing with the secretary 
at least thirty days prior to the .late of our annual convention. 
If you think our constitution needs fixing in any particular, don't 
come to the convention expecting to advocate a change unless 
the data have been in the secretary's hands prior to September 10. 
This is in order that notice may be given to the membership of 
any proposed changes which will come up. 
An International Recreation Congress will be held at Grand 
Rapids Mich., October 2 to 6. under the auspices of the Play- 
ground and Recreation Association of America. The dates are 
fortunate in that they are the week preceding our convention, so 
that it will be quite possible, as far as time is concerned, to attend 
both conventions as many persons will no doubt do. 
Without mentioning any names, here is a peculiar situation 
one of our well known members is in at the present time. He 
has for eight years been park superintendent of a city of over 
100,000 population and has clone excellent work, practically build- 
ing up a very creditable park system. The park board, appreciat- 
ing his work, increased his salary, but the city council refused 
to allow the change in the budget. In order to sustain the 
dignity of the park board our member took the matter into court 
and won. The city council appealed to a higher court, but the 
decision of the lower court was affirmed. The council, however, 
refused to make the allowance and were cited for contempt of 
court. Now in order to evade the effect of the court order the 
council in making up the budget tor the hist half of this year 
has made uo allowance whatever, eliminating the position. This 
leaves our member with a position with no -alary, sn he is quite 
naturally looking for another one. 
CONVENTION NOTES. 
President E. T. Mische announces the following committee 
appointments in connection with our eighteenth annual conven- 
tion at New Orleans. October 10. 11 and 12, 1916: 
Convention Committee — Wm. Allen, New Orleans, chairman; 
('has. W. Davis, Memphis; Nelson Crist. Atlanta: Clarence L. 
Brock. Houston-. John Meisenbaeher, Tulsa, Okla. 
It "ill be the duty of this committee to handle convention ar- 
rangements, such as hall, headquarters, inspection trips, social 
features, etc. They will be assisted by a local committee of New 
Orleans park officials, which Mr. Allen will organize. 
Transportation Committee — John [•". Walsh. New York: W. s. 
Manning, Baltimore; Gustave X- Amryhn, New Haven; Jas. 
B. Shea'. Boston: II. W. Busch, Detroit': Alex. Stuart, Ottawa: 
J. II. I'rost. Chicago: C. II. Bossen, Minneapolis; Geo. Champion, 
Winnipeg; J. W. Thompson, Seattle; J. G. Morley. San Diego: 
Carl Fohn. Colorado Springs; L. P. Jenson, St. Louis. 
It will be the duty of this committee to work up interest in the 
convention and to organize groups and parties, arranging routes 
and stopovers. 'I hi- committee "ill work a- individuals, each in 
his own section of the country, corresponding with such other 
members as may be necessary in order to secure conceited action. 
There is much more to be gained by traveling in groups and it 
will devolve upon this committee to develop this idea. The suc- 
cess of the convention really rests upon this committee, so it is 
hoped that each member will apply himself diligently. 
The president and secretary have but one suggestion to make 
to the Transportation Committee and that i- this: No doubt 
delegates from Atlantic Coast states will desire to take the boat 
trip from .New York to New Orleans direct and quite a large 
party should lie organized for this trip. 
Delegates from the West and Middle West should have St. 
Louis as a "mobilizing" point, planning to arrive there on the 
early morning trains of October S. spending the day at St. Louis 
and proceeding by night train to Memphis, arriving there early 
on the morning of the 9th; spending the day at Memphis, and 
proceeding by night train to New Orleans, arriving there on the 
morning of the 10th, opening day of the convention. In view of 
the fact that St. Louis and Memphis were contenders for this 
convention, it would he a very nice thing to spend a day at each 
city enroute to the convention by an organized party which 
would number probably fifty people or more. These are merely 
suggestions which the officers submit as food for thought. 
Convention Programme — The duty of arranging the convention 
programme lias through custom fallen to the lot of the president 
am! secretary. 
In this connection President Mische has well defined ideas that 
will be carried out this year. Mr. Mische is inclined to the belief 
that we do not get enough out of our conventions, devoting too 
much time to social functions, so he has outlined a preliminary 
schedule which contains a number of original features. This 
programme will be amplified in our September notes. Briefly 
summarized it is as follows: 
First Day, Tuesday, October io — 
Morning: Opening business session preceded by meeting of 
Executive Committee. Opening ceremonies; applica- 
tions for membership; election of new members; 
officers' reports; address of welcome and response. 
Afternoon: Inspection tour arranged by local committee. 
Evening: Business session. President's address; communica- 
tions; resolutions: amendments : question box. 
Second Day, Wednesday, October n — 
Morning: Business session: papers; discussions. 
Paper — "Playgrounds in Parks, from a Designer's 
Viewpoint." by J. C. Olmsted. Brookline. Mass. 
Discussion led by IT. S. Richards. Chicago; M. L. 
Moore. Toledo: Laurie D. Cox. Syracuse. 
Paper — "Trend of Playground Movement as it Affects 
Parks," by L. TT. Weir. Cincinnati. 
Discussion led by J. B. Shea. Boston: Geo. Champion, 
Winnipeg: J. W. Thompson, Seattle. 
Paper— "Social Aspects of Park Properties." by Dr. 
i Iraham Taylor, ( 'hicago. 
Discussion led by G. A. Parker, Hartford: G. W. 
Burke. Pittsburgh: F. C. Alters, Cleveland. 
Afternoon : Recreation a- arranged by local committee. 
(Continued mi jku/c XC>~.) 
