PARK SUPERINTENDENTS IN MEETING AT SEATTLE 
Long to be remembered was the 
Seattle convention of the American 
Association of Park Superintendents 
held August 9 to 11. 
Mayor Miller, of Seattle, delivered 
the address of welcome and Presi- 
dent Duncan responded. 
Routine business was conducted and 
then a paper read by Mr. Adams, of 
Omaha, on the duties of a park super- 
intendent. A lively discussion fol- 
lowed. 
On the third day Harrisburg, Pa., 
was selected as the next place of 
meeting, and these officers elected: 
W. S. Manning, Baltimore, Md., pres- 
ident; F. L. Mulford, Harrisburg, Pa., 
Sec.-Treas.; vice-presidents: Geo. 
A. Parker, Supt. of Parks, Hart- 
ford, Conn.; J. W. Thompson, Supt. 
of Parks, Seattle, Wash.; E. T. 
Mische, Supt. of Parks, Portland, 
Ore.; James Wilson, Commissioner 
of Parks, Toronto, Can.; Myron H. 
West., Supt. Lincoln Park, Chicago, 
111.; J. G. Morley, Supt- of Parks, Los 
Angeles, Cal. 
Each of the three days an excur- 
sion was enjoyed — one viewing the 
parkways, another the parks and ex- 
position grounds and another park- 
ways under construction and civic ob- 
jects, such as a subterranean comfort, 
hydraulic filling of the tidal flats, 
sluicing of the hills, etc. 
Throughout there was ample to 
study and interest. With true Seat- 
tle spirit the members of the Park 
Board and Superintendent Thompson 
acted the part of princely and most 
cordial hosts. President Cheasty in- 
vited the party to dinner at club down 
the shore and it was there that the 
visitors became familiar with “the Se- 
attle spirit.” The host acted as toast- 
master, and among the responses was 
one by Mr. Blaine, the father of the 
Seattle parks, and from his remarks 
some inkling could be gained as to 
why Seattle and her parks have made 
such remarkable progress. 
It is said that every city has some 
one individual whom the public look 
to for creating progressive projects 
and approving or disapproving public 
policies and once such a one speaks 
it is success or death according to 
the edict. Such a citizen to Seattle 
is Mr. Blaine. While not officially 
identified with the Park Board today, 
this city builder expressed some ideas 
as to what Seattle may do to foster 
a civic center, a street system bet- 
ter co-ordinated with its parks, con- 
serving the shores of fresh water 
lakes and saline bays everywhere 
washing the feet of Seattle’s hills. 
His ideas were those of wisdom, care- 
fully matured and indicated ripe judg- 
ment with aggressive advancement. 
The association very fittingly passed 
a resolution endorsing the general 
proposition of establishing civic cen- 
ters as an economic measure as well 
as one of aesthetics. Each of the 
ideas advanced by Mr. Blaine found 
a warm and unanimous seconding by 
resolution of the association. 
As a whole there were three cardi- 
nal phases worthy of mention as the 
principal experience of the convention. 
The first was the rapid strides made 
within the past three years in Seat- 
tle’s parks. Three years ago Inter- 
laken parkway was supposed to have 
excessive provision for driving when 
a twenty-foot wide drive was pro- 
vided. It is now clear that it is much 
too narrow and will require early cor- 
• rection. Parkways are being pushed 
in all directions and questions and 
criticisms were being continually 
brought out. It is this phase of a 
convention that has special value. 
Each one was peculiarly interested 
and criticisms were always made and 
accepted in a friendly way. No one 
understands the caution necessary in 
commenting upon projects under 
process of construction better than 
people who are publicly identified 
in the same work. If a road metal 
was especially good, its composition 
had to be explained, its depth, drain- 
age, etc., brought to light; if a con- 
crete matrix was composed of espe- 
cially fine sand, was rich in cement or 
otherwise had some peculiarity, the 
merits and demerits were discussed; 
if the city erected a poorly designed 
bridge or put it on an awkward align- 
ment in relation to a parkway as at 
Yeslerway it was very generally com- 
mented upon. 
Both completed work and that 
under construction was inspected; it 
seemed to be interesting to many of 
the eastern visitors that cuts along the 
parkway required the rising slope to 
be anchored by piles to prevent the 
entire embankment from slipping. 
The Pacific coast is geologically very 
new; the least disturbance of the soil 
makes itself prominently noticeable — 
here it is not a matter of the rate 
of surface sloping, but rather whether 
or not the clay stratum has been dis- 
turbed. In all construction work along 
the Pacific coast avalanches are com- 
mon and must be calculated with. 
The inspection of the parks prompt- 
ed a continuous talk of “shop.” Seat- 
tle provides a park maintenance fund 
of one mill on an assessed 80 per cent 
valuation plus 10 per cent of license 
and certain court fees. For 1910 it 
is estimated that $277,000 will be thus 
made available. In addition a half 
million dollar bond issue is to supply 
further funds. 
Most of the park activity has taken 
place during the past two years and 
wonderful strides are evident. Some 
14 miles of parkway exist, as also a 
number of parks, one. Woodland, over 
100 acres in extent. Bailey Peninsula, 
a fine flat upland, heavily wooded and 
commanding excellent views, beside 
providing boating facilities, a terminus 
to one of the drive systems and ex- 
cellent bathing and p^rk opportunities 
in general, is now under process of 
acquisition by condemnation proceed- 
ings. 
That so-called “Seattle Spirit” is well 
typified by the Park Board. Contin- 
uous progress has marked its exist- 
ence. Mr. Blailie was its president 
of the old board. Mr. Shrewsbury 
remains to guide its acts in conform- 
ity with the original and clearly de- 
fined policy. All its work has been 
carefully co-ordinated with a general 
scheme defined at the outset. 
Nothing within human probability 
seems to balk consummation and each 
citizen assumes a responsibility in 
forwarding the interests of the city 
at large. This is evident in the Park 
Board as elsewhere. One member 
paid $30,000 for land selected for a 
