PARK AND CEMETERY. 
304 
many occasions we have appealed to the 
city authorities to have a fund appro- 
priated for the planting of trees about 
our public buildings and for the better 
care of trees already existing. As a 
result of this, an appropriation of $.30,- 
000 was made last year, which we 
understand has been spent by the Park' 
Department.” 
* * * 
In Tacoma, Wash., the North End 
Improvement Club, which has a sense 
of humor, and is backed up by public 
opinion in its section, has accom- 
plished good results against the bill- 
board by good natured ridicule. To 
a local advertiser is sent the follow- 
ing note : 
R. U. A. Poster. 
Dear Sir; We observe that you and Wise 
Owl Oil and old Cellar-door Whiskey are 
still keeping company on the esteemed bill- 
boards. 
“Birds of a feather flock together.” 
Yours very respectfully, 
THE NORTH END IMPROVEMENT CLUB. 
This proved effective. It also printed 
the following “hint” to out-of-town 
advertisers; 
Whereas — A. P. Cody, of Postertown re- 
fuses with contempt and silent scorn to 
do so much as read our courteous and in- 
structive letters written to him in regard 
to the billboard question; and. 
Whereas — We believe one of the reasons 
why A. P. Cody will not read our heart-to- 
heart and soulful letters on the billboard 
questions is because we, the North End Im- 
provement Club, will not fall in love with 
his “Sweet Girl,” the belle of the billboards; 
and, therefore, be it 
Resolved, by the North End Improvement 
Club — that we pledge ourselves never, no 
never, to use any of A. P. Cody’s “Sweet 
Girl” face powder, but to avoid its use; 
and be it further 
Resolved — That we hereby solemnly pledge 
ourselves not to tip our hats to the “Sweet 
Girl,” the $1,000 beauty of the billboards, 
but to pass her by with silent dignity; and, 
be it further 
Resolved — that since A. P. Cody will not 
read our kind and pleasing letters on the 
billboard question, a copy of these resolu- 
tions be sent to the “Posterville Poster.” 
It may be added that the “Sweet 
Girl” has disappeared. 
* * * 
The Woodlawn Improvement As- 
sociation, whose active and practical 
work for the beautifying of Wood- 
lawn, one of the choicest residence 
districts of Chicago, has been noted 
in these pages, has submitted its 
annual report showing the expen- 
diture of $14,147. Much of the credit 
for its successful work must be given 
to President Edward G. Carter, su- 
perintendent of Oakwoods Cemetery, 
who has been honored with a re-elec- 
tion. Mr. Carter says in his report: 
“The usefulness of the Association is 
best demonstrated in directions where 
110 other system of service exists to 
accomplish the results. Aside from 
the examples of this generally famil- 
iar, as snow plowing, etc., two par- 
ticular instances of last year’s work 
suffice to illustrate. One was the re- 
setting of the displaced stone side- 
walk in Greenwood avenue, from 
Sixty-third to Sixty-fifth streets. This 
necessary piece of work was imprac- 
ticable of performance through as- 
sessment by the City and no owner 
on the street could well afford to as- 
sume the expense and labor of secur- 
ing it, but our organization was en- 
abled to" satisfactorily encompass the 
task. Again, the Illinois Central 
Railroad frontage on Madison ave- 
nue, from Sixty-fifth to Sixty-sixth 
streets, offered excellent opportuni- 
ties in the way of planting. The trees 
and shrubs for the purpose were of- 
fered gratis by Congressman James 
R. Mann, and in addition to its other 
work the Association was able to ac- 
cept Mr. Mann’s liberal offer and 
make the improvement.” 
Hs 'M * 
Gadsden, Ala., although the oldest city 
in the state, is just now waking up to 
the possibilities of civic improvements, 
and under the direction of the City 
Beautiful Club have had Howard Evarts 
Weed, landscape architect of Chicago, 
examine the shade trees and sites for 
parks of the city and report thereon. 
Mr. Weed found that a number of the 
street trees would have to be removed, 
but gave information as to varieties 
and methods of planting whereby these 
can be replaced in a few years and real- 
ly make better trees than those now to 
be taken out. He also reported on sev- 
eral park sites and playgrounds. While 
in the city Mr. Weed gave two lectures 
illustrated by the stereopticon, which 
greatly aided in the park improvement. 
Mr. Weed also gave his lecture at Har- 
riman and Tullahoma, Tenn., to good 
audiences. The Civic League of Har- 
riman is doing much for that city. Har- 
riman is practically a new town, the 
main business buildings and residences 
all being built within twelve years. Mr. 
Doak Aydelott, mayor of Tullahoma, is 
forming a CiW Beautiful Club, and 
wanted the stereopticon lecture to show 
the good work being done at other 
points along the general lines of work 
undertaken by the American Civic As- 
sociation. 
* * * 
An increasing number of improve- 
ment associations are taking up the 
gardening contests as a means of 
beautifying home grounds. The Civic' 
League of Salem, Mass., in its 1908 
home and school garden contests an- 
nounces thirty-three cash prizes and 
twenty-one gratuities besides special 
prizes. The league is fortunate in 
having the expert advice of its presi- 
dent. Harlan P. Kelsey. 
The garden contest of the Winter 
Hill Improvement Association of 
Somerville, Mass., is being vigorous- 
ly started and will cover a wider ter- 
ritory than ever before. This asso- 
ciation is also to take up the work 
of vacant lot gardening. 
The Denison (Texas) Civic Im- 
provement League has just complet- 
ed its second annual distribution of 
flower seeds through the ])ublic 
schools, which proved a great suc- 
cess, more than seven thousand pack- 
ets being furnished. Prizes will be 
offered for the best results obtained 
with these seeds and liberal prizes 
will also be offered for the greatest 
improvement of home yards under a 
plan very successfully emploj^ed last 
season. 
>fi 
Christopher Clarke, the veteran for- 
ester of Northampton, Mass., has 
consummated plans for the holding 
of Mt. Holyoke by a stock company, 
and this probably means, some day, 
the complete control of it by the peo- 
ple. This may properly be consid- 
ered, with Mr. Clarke’s work on Mt. 
Tom, the most important accomplish- 
ment of his long series of public ser- 
vice.®,, and credit is also due to the 
public-spirited men in the Connecti- 
cut valley, particularly at Holyoke, 
Springfield and Northampton, who, 
by their means, have contributed so 
largely to the consummation of the 
enterprise. 
^ ^ 
The nation’s wealth of forest re- 
serves in the West has been materially 
augmented by the gift to the United 
States government of a tract of :I9.5 
acres of giant redwood on the south- 
ern slope of Mount Tamalpais by Wil- 
liam Kent, of Chicago. The tract lies 
about six miles from San Francisco 
and is to lie preserved as a pleasure 
ground for California and the nation. 
The gift was accepted with the approval 
of Gifford Pinchot, chief of the gov- 
ernment’s forest service, 
* * 
The Comprehensive City Plan 
Commission, appointed b\' Mayor 
George E. Ellis of Grand Rapids, 
Mich., last October, has spent the 
winter studying the problem and 
through its secretary, John Ihlder, has 
presented a report asking for author- 
ity to employ expert advisers at an 
expense not to e.xcecd $1,759. 
