301 
PARK AND CEMETERY 
large number of trees. About 500 metal signs bearing 
both common and botanical names serve to identify 
about fifty different species and varieties. A short stop 
was made at the Zoo, where the polar bears were 
induced to dive, and the seals gave an exhibition 
luncheon. 
The drive, was continued out Humboldt Parkway to 
Humboldt Park. This tract covers 54 acres of com- 
paratively level area and is valued chiefly for its serv- 
ice to the children. The big wading pond, with a 
surface area of five acres and a maximum depth of 2^ 
feet, was the show feature of this park. As many as 
5,000 children have enjoyed it in one afternoon, and 
in winter it furnishes safe and ample skating accom- 
modations in connection with the new shelter house 
erected about a year ago. 
The return drive led again through Delaware Park 
on the other side of the Meadow, and out over several 
of Buffalo’s handsome tree-lined parkways and ave- 
nues. This section of the city is remarkable for its 
trees, its fine residences, and for the numerous minor 
places, squares, circles, and triangles that relieve the 
bare corners and angular lines of street intersections. 
These tiny tracts form admirable hubs and joints for 
uniting a number of streets, and Buffalo is particu- 
larly rich in them by reason of its street plan which 
embodies a number of long main avenues radiating 
like the spokes of a wheel over an irregular gridiron 
plan. There are more than 27 triangles and nearly 
as many circles, places, and squares in the city’s sys- 
tem. The visitors drove down Lincoln Parkway, 
which ends in .Soldiers’ Place, a circle 750 feet in 
diameter, from which Chapin and Bidwell parkways 
branch off at different angles, ending respectively in 
Chapin and Bidwell places. From these squares lead 
Delaware and Richmond avenues, Delaware running 
down into the heart of the city to Niagara Square, and 
Richmond ending in “The Circle” at North street, 
which rounds off the intersection of six streets. Parts 
of these avenues were traversed, and The Front, a 
48-acre area overlooking the Niagara River, visited. 
The drive was concluded with a return via North 
street to the Lenox Hotel. No evening session was 
held, the members in groups seeking amusement in 
the city or informal discussion at the hotel. 
Second Day, Thursday, June 29. 
Thursday was Niagara Falls Day, and was in- 
augurated with a roar by the roaring committee under 
the efficient leadership of Chas. E. Keith. A special 
trolley car was awaiting the members at North street 
at g a. m. and made the run to The Falls, a distance of 
about 20 miles, without a stop. Superintendent Ed- 
ward H. Perry of the New York State Reservation 
met the party at the office of the commissioners with 
another Buffalo welcome, and introduced them to the 
great 'waterfall. Ever3'body got a guide to the Reser- 
vation and then religiously forgot to look at it. Nearly 
all had seen The P'alls before, and those who had not 
concealed their ignorance by refraining from asking 
the following questions : 
Why is a waterfall ? 
How high are the falls? (American 167 feet, Cana- 
dian 158.) 
How much water goes over in a minute? (15,000,- 
000 cubic feet.) 
How long will it take to wear The Falls back to 
Buffalo ? 
"Wdiat makes the rainbow ? 
Why is the Horseshoe Fall a deep green? (See 
guide.) 
Did the Maid of the Mist go over in a barrel? 
And many others. 
Superintendent Perry led the way to the automobiles 
for the ride through the grove and on the islands 
above the American Falls. Under his able and court- 
eous guidance the grand views were seen from every 
vantage point. When the islands had been thoroughly 
explored the visitors went down the inclined railway 
and boarded the little steamer Maid of the Mist, which 
circles around in front of the falls near enough to 
catch a shower of spray. 
The boat landed on the Canadian side, and Super- 
intendent James Wilson of Canadian Reservation 
show’ed the way to the handsome refectory in Queen 
Victoria Niagara Falls Park, overlooking the Falls 
and backed by the majestic trees that cover the bluff 
along the Canadian shore. Mr. Wilson’s courtly hos- 
pitality and his famous luncheon on the balcony were 
in every way worthy of the surroundings, which are 
of the grandest that nature provides. 
Victoria Park is a natural tract with a magnificent 
growth of native flora, and it has been admirably pre- 
served in its original beauty under the wise care of the 
superintendent and head gardener, Roderick Cameron. 
Mr. Cameron’s herbeaceous border and his fine collec- 
tion of hardy shrubs won great admiration from the 
superintendents, who made free use of their note- 
books here and found much difficulty in tearing them- 
selves away. With perfect conditions, soil, and care, 
Mr. Cameron has achieved remarkable success with 
his planting. Over 100 varieties of evergreens flour- 
ish unprotected within the. herbaceous border. The 
park proper is about 154 acres in extent, but the reser- 
vation includes almost the entire bank of the river 
from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, and steps are being 
taken to secure the rest, when it will be a continuous 
park of 42 miles. The tract will soon be supported 
entirely by revenues derived from concessions to the 
power companies, amounting to about $150,000 a year. 
The trolley ride down the gorge was prefaced by a 
little trip above the falls to see the immense new power 
houses under construction which are to harness a little 
