PARK AND CEMETERY 
AND LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
Vol. XVIII Chicago, June, 1908 ' No. 4 
Two Important Conventions 
The first convention in the west of the American Associa- 
tion of Park Superintendents will be held in Minneapolis, 
Minn., August 11-13 next, and if location has anything to 
do with making the gathering a success, Minneapolis offers 
attractions practically unsurpassed. The hospitality of the 
cit}', its beautiful surroundings, its fine park system, and pro- 
gressive spirit generally, create an inspiration always condu- 
cive to successful deliberations and interesting proceedings, 
and it is quite certain nothing will be spared to make the 
Minneapolis convention most enjoyable as well as instructive 
to the park men attending it. It affords an e.xcellent oppor- 
tunity also for western park superintendents to take part, 
;ind as a token of loyalty to their calling they should he very 
fully represented, and such an opportunit}' for mutual benefit 
and acquaintance should never be missed. The preliminary 
program is published on another page. The Kansas City 
convention of the Association of American Cemetery Super- 
intendents is bespeaking a full attendance, and the promises 
for a delightful and profitable meeting are multiplying. The 
cemetery superintendents always conspire to have the best 
convention of all every year, and the local committee of ar- 
rangements are not letting the grass grow under their feet in 
preparation for this annual meeting. In city making and 
building Kansas City has been, in spite of embarrassments, 
most progressive, and will have much to interest and attract 
cemetery superintendents, and a full attendance is urged. 
Cemetery organizations everywhere should endeavor to he 
represented, for it really means money to them. 
Ng Ng 
The Governors’ Conference 
The conference at the White House last month on the 
Conservation of our Natural Resources drew together some 
forty state governors and five hundred representative dele- 
gates and prominent men. It was a pronounced success from 
every point of view and President Roosevelt is to he con- 
gratulated on his wisdom in bringing it about. Intense in- 
terest was manifested throughout its sessions and the speeches 
of the President, Secretary Root, Mr. Bryan and other dis- 
tinguished men showed a perfect unanimity of opinion on the 
necessity of stopping the waste of our natural resources, pro- 
tecting what we have left, and of encouraging a fostering 
care in their use for our domestic and commercial needs. It 
has been evident all along that nothing of practical benefit 
could be brought about without the co-operation of the states 
with the federal government, and to this end the conference 
has unquestionably tended, for a progressive and constructive 
spirit permeated its deliberations, and while no immediate 
results as to further action were disclosed, the way was left 
open in the final resolutions for future work. 
Ng Ng Sg 
The Billboard Nuisance 
'I'he American Civic Association has just issued a pamphlet 
cii “The Billboard Nuisance,” which should be in the hands 
of active workers in the cause of abating this nuisance in 
every community in the country. It is intended “to afford 
a summary of the arguments advanced against objectionable 
billlioards. and to furnish suggestions as to the mo-t avail- 
able ways and means for the curtailment and elimination 
of the evil,” atid the information contained in its -iS pa, go 
justify both its intention and publication. It discusses the in- 
dictments against the billboard, the judicial decisions rendered, 
the efforts made to suppress or curtail its use, its effect on 
property values, state laws relating to it, taxation and regu- 
lation, the work of the public press, how such advertising is 
managed abroad and how to combat billboard abuses at home. 
It does not appear to us that, in any campaign for the further- 
ance. of outdoor improvement, the people have been more alive 
to the necessity of suppressing an evil tlian in that against 
the advertising billboard, and it is not therefore surprising to 
note that evidence is steadily increasing in volume to the 
effect that’ the public does not approve of the billlioard. In 
its excessive and obtrusive use it has become intoleralde, and 
war against it must be waged until it is under complete and 
permanent control. All interested in the work and desirous 
of obtaining the latest available information should address 
tlie secretary of the American Civic Association, Philadelphia, 
Pa. 
The City Beautiful 
It is well to be reminded, at least occasionally, of the prog- 
ress made in the several lines of civic improvement work 
now being so systematically and sincerely prosecuted through- 
out the country, and it will be a surprise to many of our 
readers to learn that there are between forty and fifty cities 
now giving attention to the problem of the “city lieautiful" 
m an acti\'e way. Several of these are small, but the_v are 
working so as to anticipate future requirements in a direction 
which they realize will be to the great advantage of the com - 
mimify. Developments of the past few years have displayed 
so forcibly the evils to be avoided in the remodeling of our 
cities on lines in which beauty is to play so conspicuous a part, 
that in the city planning now being studied, future conditions 
and contingencies are carefully anticipated and possible future 
stumbling blocks avoided by legislative enactment :md city 
ordinance, thus leaving the way clear for the consummation 
of well matured plans. It will, at best, retpiire main' years 
and great expenditures to complete the proposed changes, but 
.'[11 thin,g.s considered little thought is likely to be given to cost', 
for future values will more than amply redeem it. 
N? Ng 
Public Comfort in Cemeteries 
Pulilic comfort in public places is an essential to be pro- 
\'ided, from the modern viewpoint, but we have not progressed 
far enough along improvement lines to iiracticall)' demon- 
strate the proposition, and in the modern cemetery we have 
only just begun to realize its necessity or appropriateness. 
'I he use of chairs and settees is discouraged on priwate lots 
because of the damage that may be done to the grass by the 
frequent use of these conveniences liy visitors to the ceme- 
tery. and yet little or no seating accommodation is otherwise 
provided liy the cemetery managements. The approach of 
summer with the increasing number of visitors suggests that 
public comfort is an important matter to be considered by 
cemetery officials, and that due, full and proper provision 
should be made in all cemeteries for the comfort of both lot 
owners and visitors in all its details. The accommodations 
provided in the cemetery office buildings, etc., in the great 
majority of cases is only begging the main question. Shelter 
from the elements, accommodations for rest, and sanitary and 
agreeable toilet arrangements should be in'ovided in all our 
larger cemeteries and this would fix a standard by which 
all classes of cemeteries could gauge their requirements in 
this much neglected feature of management. Our parks arc 
rapidly progressing in this particular of ])ublic comfort and 
our cemeteries must be equally vigilant. 
