PARK AND CEMETERY. 
148 
fied and extensive flora. It is also 
of well known interest from a geologi- 
cal point of view. 
Although Letchworth Park has been 
formall}" dedicated to the people of 
\ew York state (and in a larger 
sense, to the people of the United 
States), yet it has for many years been' 
open to the public. It was visited by 
about 20,000 people last year, and the 
publicity given to it this year will 
greatly increase that number. 
Long before the first federal scenic 
reservation had been created in the 
Yellowstone Park, and before the 
state reservation had been created at 
Niagara Falls, Mr. Letchworth had 
been developing and preserving the 
beaut}- of his estate, with the idea of 
ultimately deeding it to the public. 
FOREST PATH, EETCHWORTH 
PARK. 
This latest act of generosity on his 
part is typical of the man. His has' 
been a life of extreme usefulness, from 
a public as well as from a humanitar- 
ian standpoint. For twenty-four years 
he has been identified with the State 
Board of Charities, and has given his 
■services without compensation. He 
is considered an eminent authority bn 
all charity work. Largely through his 
efforts, children were removed from 
almshouses over a quarter of a cen- 
tury ago, and his influence was also 
felt in the adoption of plans to remove 
the insane from like conditions. 
OILED ROADS IN KANSAS CITY 
The park board of Kansas City, 
Mo., has issued an interesting bul- 
letin. showing the results of its work 
of oiling the boulevards. The bulletin 
says in part: 
“Our experiment with light residuum oil 
last fall p’. oved entirely satisfactory as a 
dust layer and of considerable value as a 
protection to the pavements through the 
inclement winter and spring months, but 
was not of sufticient gravity or body to en- 
tirely accomplish the results sought. Upon 
steep grades it was objectionable on ac- 
count of the roadway becoming somewhat 
slippery. We began in May. this year, ex- 
perimenting with the heaviest oil we could 
obtain in the Kansas oil fields. This oil 
is a residuum, left after the distillates have 
been removed, and i.s commercially called 
fuel oil. We have contracted for this re- 
siduum at eighty cents a barrel of forty- 
two gallons. 
“Two steel receiving tanks of ^i.OOO gal- 
lons capacity each were erected near our 
track on the Belt railway at Grove street, 
at a total cost of $714.99. It is connected 
with a 4-inch pipe line from receiving 
tanks to the side track, permitting the 
unloading of tank cais by gravity. 
“When the maca<lam was absolutely dry 
and hard, the entire surface of the roadway 
was swept clean of dirt and screenings. 
The sweepings were left along the edge of 
the gutter for protection t > the cement 
work when the oil was applied. To our 
sprinkling carts we attached a tin trough, 
perforated with quarter-inch holes, and 
thus obtained an even distribution of oil. 
The entire surface of the roa<lway was 
flooded with oil and thci'oughly broomed 
in. after which the sweepings from the gut- 
ter, with sufficient limestone screenings to 
form a slight dressing, were cast over the 
oil and thoroughly rolled with a steam 
roller. Since the last of May we have given 
one application of oil to practically all tlu- 
finished roadways, using 1 20.477 gallons of 
oil. which covered 135. :n4 siiuare yards of 
macadam pavement. The cost follows: 
For oil $2,357.1.'. 
For labor and supplies 3,202.0?' 
Total $5.559.R:1 
“This is an average of 1.4S cents a stiiiare 
yard. A second application in September, 
it is estimated, can be made at a cost of 
not to exceed one cent a square yard, for 
less care will be required in preparing the 
roadway'. The second application should 
carry' our roadways through the winter ami 
well into next season, in excellent shape, 
and at a much hss expense for repairs.” 
It is from men like Mr. Letch- 
worth, who have the welfare of the 
people at heart, that we can expect 
such great beneficence, and his latest 
great gift should, and probably will, 
have a potent effect in inducing other 
men of means to secure and hold for 
the people such places of interest as 
the Genesee Falls. 
According to the direction of the 
donor, who will occupy the park and 
continue to improve it until his death. 
The Americ:in Scenic and Historic 
Preservation Society will become its 
custodian. 
Mr. Letchworth has fully disclosed 
to the trustees of this Society his 
ideas as to the development of his 
property “for the benefit of mankind” 
and his great philanthropy will be 
more fully realized as his plans are 
carried out. 
Since the announcement of this gift 
to the state, interests such as those 
which are endangering the scenic 
beauty of Niagara have been at work 
to obtain the use of the water power 
of the Genesee river, but the people 
of New York state can be trusted to 
see that Mr. Letchworth’s gift will be 
preserved to future generations, 
George EnwARn McClure. 
EOWER FALLS OF q'HE GENESEE IN LETCHWORTH PARK; !)(l FEET HIGH. 
Looking Southwest from Table Rock. 
