PARK AND CEMETERY 
308 
half a dozen different characters, any one of which might, 
with good effect, be given to the tract, but none of which has 
been. 
“The only safe procedure, when one goes a single step be- 
yond the neat and orderly provision for generally recognized 
practical necessities of the village, is to look fairly and 
squarely into the future, to adopt a definite and comprehen- 
sive plan and policy, and never to undertake or accept a 
project of improvement without earnestly and deliberately 
comparing its probable results with the aims of the general 
plan. However wise and comprehensive they may be, such 
general plans must from time to time be modified, but the 
modifications should be thoughtfully and deliberately accepted, 
not drifted into haphazard.” 
Aimual reports or extracts from them., historical sketches, 
descriptive circulars, photographs of improvements or dis- 
tinctive features are requested for use in this department* 
The new anti-spitting ordinance adopted by the Springfield 
(Mass.) Board of Health, November i8, is more compre- 
hensive than the previous ordinances. It provides ; “Spit- 
ting is prohibited either on the sidewalk, crosswalk or footway 
of any public street, way, park or square, or on the floor of 
any hall or office, in any hotel, apartment house, tenement or 
lodging house which is used in common by the gueSts or 
tenants thereof, or on the floor, platform, steps or stairs of 
any public building, hall, church, theatre, railway station, store 
or factory, street car or other public conveyance.” 
* * * 
Benjamin F. Ferguson, a pioneer lumber merchant of Chi- 
cago, who died in that city in April, bequeathed a fund of 
$1,000,000, the income of which is to be used for the erection 
of public monuments in that city. The will provides that the 
entire net income is to be paid to the Art Institute, to be 
known as the B. F. Ferguson monument fund and to be en- 
tirely and exclusively used under the direction of the board 
of trustees in the erection and maintenance of enduring stat- 
uary and monuments, of stone, granite or bronze, in the 
parks, along the boulevards and in other public places, “com- 
memorating worthy men and women of America or impor- 
tant events of American history.” All arrangements as to the 
designing and placing of these public monuments are to be 
left to the discretion of the board of trustees of the Art 
Institute. 
* * * 
The Village Improvement Society of Sterling, Mass., has 
made plans for competitive garden work among the children 
of Sterling this summer. Children i6 years old, or younger, 
can compete, and prizes of money will be given by the society 
at the end of the season. The gardens can be either of flow- 
ers or vegetables, and will be judged for neatness, skill and 
taste in arrangement. Rev. Henry D. Stevens, Mrs. Joseph 
H. Osgood and Miss Ella E. Roper are the committee in 
charge of the work. 
The secretary of the City Improvement Association of 
Portsmouth, N. H., has issued the following set of “Don’ts” 
as an aid to citizens in keeping the city clean : 
Don’t try to raise a large crop of hay on a plot of ground 
10x15 feet) but keep it neatly cut as a lawn. 
Don’t wait until September before sweeping from your 
sidewalk the sand distributed there by the city authorities on 
the icy days of last winter. 
Don’t rest under the delusion that the scraggly growth of 
grass and weeds which springs up just outside the curbstone 
contributes very largely to the attractive appearance of the 
street. 
Don’t forget that the rubbish tubs of the association have 
been repaired, painted and put in position to receive all torn 
up letters, shopping lists, wrapping paper, orange peel, banana 
skins, peach stones and like refuse with which the ordinary 
mortal is wont to adorn the sidewalk. 
* * 
The Business Men’s Association of Cohoes, N. Y., is offer- 
ing the following prizes for lawn improvement, improvement 
of factory sites and for the removal of billboards : $10 to the 
corporation, society, school, association, organization or occu- 
pant of a mill or factory site having the best lawn, garden or 
yard ; a blue badge will be given for honorable mention ; $5 
to the resident, owner or tenant, having the best appearing 
yard, front or rear; $3 for each of the three next best looking 
yards ; $2 for each of the three next best looking yards ; $i 
for each of the ten next best looking yards ; twenty-five 
badges to those having honorable mention ; a special prize of 
$5 to the best looking canal lock plot ; $3 for the next best 
looking lock. For billboards prizes of $5 and $3 are offered 
for the greatest improvement made by removing sign boards. 
Mr. William M. Goddard, one of the committee in charge of 
the work, says that the work is in its third year and has done 
much good in beautifying the town. The first year there 
were 25 entries, last year 130, and this year over 300 are ex- 
pected. Letters accompanied by entry blanks have been sent 
out, the entries closing July 15. 
* * * 
Plans for the first public playground in Los Angeles, Cal., 
have been prepared and work is being actively pushed toward 
the opening day. The tract is about 300 feet square, and 
has a fine growth of trees of several varieties. A cypress 
hedge cuts off one corner, which will be used as a site for 
the superintendent’s bungalow and the girls’ building. This 
part of the grounds was the old homestead of A. Turner, and 
the trees and shrubbery are seventeen years old. Besides the 
eucalyptus, which are plentifully distributed, there are some 
rare mulberry trees and healthy peach, apple, apricot and 
pear trees, and numerous ornamental shrubs and flowers. 
Near the superintendent’s cottage will be the lavatory for 
girls, lockers for their games, costumes, etc. An open-air 
gymnasium, with a canopy top supported by posts will be 
one of the main attractions, and in this will be installed 
gymnasium apparatus. There will be handball courts, basket- 
ball grounds, baseball and football grounds, runway and put- 
ting ground, single and double seesaws, merry-go-rounds, 
jumping-rope platform, and boxes, fish pond, and even a doll 
house for the little ones. Around the amusement grounds 
will be plots of a few feet each, divided up into individual 
gardens for the children. They will be encouraged to plant 
these with a diversity of seeds and to carry on many experi- 
ments. The plans for these improvements have been pre- 
pared by Hunt & Eager. The playground movement was 
started through the efforts of the Civic Federation and various 
local societies. The Children’s Playground Commission is 
composed of Mrs. Rodman as president; Miss Bessie Stod- 
dard, secretary; J. W. Fishburn, Emmett Wilson and J. M. 
Barstow. To their efforts is due the active work on the pro- 
posed children’s playground. It is proposed to established a 
similar playground in every ward in the city. 
