PARK AND CEMETERY, 
147 
i * PARK NOTES. * § 
d - 3 
A special commission, created for that purpose, has planted 
and nourished more than 1,000 shade trees in the streets of 
Charleston, S. C., within the past four years. 
* * * 
J. Howard Nichols of Boston, treasurer of the Dwight manu- 
facturing company, proposes to present Kingston, N. H., with 
a fio,ooo library as a memorial of his father and mother. 
# * * 
The City of Los Gatos, Cal., recently dedicated what its 
people call Bunker Hill Park. Soil from the historic hill at Bos- 
ton was scattered in the air at the dedication ceremony. 
* * # 
Traugott Schmidt, recently deceased, left $10,000 to be ex- 
pended in Belle Isle Park, Detroit, Mich., either in the erection 
of a monument or in some other way as may be agreed upon. 
* * * 
In memory of his son, Mr. Spalding, a wealthy lumberman 
of Chicago, has given $20,000 for a historical and free library 
building at Athens, Pa., his native town. The corner stone was 
laid on August nth by the Grand Lodge of Masons with impos- 
ing ceremonies, several prominent personages being present. 
» * * 
A laudable example has been set by the employes of the D. 
C. Cook Publishing Co., at Elgin, 111 ., who undertook to provide 
a fountain to embellish Lord’s park of that city. The park it- 
self was the gift of Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Lord. The occasion of 
the presentation of the fountain to the park commissioners was 
attended with many pleasant features. 
* * * 
Canton, O., is working upon the addition of another park to 
its recreative features. It already possesses Nimissilla park at 
the east end, and Water Works park on the west side. The new 
tract on the south known as Meyer’s woods is very eligible prop- 
erty for park purposes, comprising 30 acres of hill and dale, well 
wooded, with a natural creek flowing through it. 
* * * 
The Park Commissioners of Peoria, 111 ., recently decided to 
expend an annual sum of $10,000 on Laura Bradley Park, pro- 
vided Mrs. Bradley will vacate a lease now held by her for pas- 
ture privileges on a certain part of the park. # Mrs. Bradley has 
promised to comply. An appropriation of $87,000 is asked for 
park purposes for the fiscal year ending May 31st, 1898. 
* * * 
The State flower of Minnesota is the moccasin flower. The 
favorite of New Jersey is the white clover. The golden rod is 
the favorite in Alabama; the magnolia in Georgia and the peach 
blossom in Delaware. Two New England States only have ex- 
pressed a preference for any flower: Vermont for the red clover, 
by act of the Legislature, and Rhode Island by vote of its school 
children, for the violet. 
* * * 
John Jacob Astor has made a grand investment for his future 
good name in providing the means for the purchase of James 
Russell Lowell’s Cambridge home, Elmwood, for the purpose of 
a memorial park. The amount was $18,000. Mr. Astor is said 
to have learned of the effort to purchase Elmwood while he was 
cruising in New England waters and as he was always a keen ad- 
mirer of Lowell, the impulse followed. Elmwood will accord- 
ingly be thrown open to the public in Boston. 
* * * 
During the month of June there were 12,837 visitors to the 
top of the Washington monument at Washington, D. C., of 
whom 10,130 made the ascent in the elevator, and 2,707 by the 
stairway, making 1,409,822 persons who have visited the top since 
the shaft was opened to the public Oct. 9, 1888. Two acts of 
vandalism were recently committed at the monument by un- 
known persons, resulting in the defacement of two tablets in the 
interior. 
* * « 
The State of Michigan having found itself unable to properly 
take care of the island of Mackinac and maintain it as a public 
park, steps are being taken to return it to the general govern- 
ment. Under the circumstances this is perhaps the best course. 
The natural beauty of the place and its rich historical associa- 
tions, have made it a very popular resort, and visitors reach it 
from all parts of the country. It is meet that the government 
should enact laws to preserve it and maintain it in beauty and 
security for all time. No place in the country so lends itself to the 
purpose of an instructive beauty spot, and its limited area and 
modest financial requirements should ensure immediate action. 
* * » 
On July loth the Board of Park Commissioners of Hartford, 
Conn., formally received from the executors of the will of the 
late Charles M. Pond the property left by him for public uses by 
the city. Mr. Pond died in 1894 and the executors have just 
completed their duties. The gift to the city comprises the 
homestead, ninety acres of land of the conservative value of 
$100,000 and half of the residue of his estate approximating 
$180,000, for the purpose of improving and fitting the premises 
to accomplish the object of the gifts and for the purchase of ad- 
ditional land for the same purpose. The donor expressed a wish 
that in some way the name of his wife might be associated with 
the property, and in consonance therewith the park was form- 
ally named Elizabeth Park. The munificence of the gift and 
the liberal ideas expressed by the donor will keep his memory 
affectionately in honor. 
* * * 
Wisconsin is setting a splendid example in the direction of 
endeavor to make good the depredations of the lumberman. 
Much of the northern part of the state has been reduced to bar- 
renness and the C. & N. W. , C. M. & St. P. and the W. C. 
railroads are joining hands with the State Forestry Commission 
with a view to retimbering the denuded sections. So much in- 
terest has been worked up that some of the prominent owners of 
pine lands will co-operate. The railroads have been giving 
much attention to the subject, carrying out their investigations 
in a thoroughly scientific way. The deterioration of the lumber 
business has also suggested the necessity of rehabilitating busi- 
ness resources, with the result that industrial schemes have been 
seriously studied, and the problem of encouraging the establish- 
ment of large industries where raw material as well as facilities 
are most available is being worked out. 
* * * 
In appointing October 29th as Arbor Day for the State of 
Indiana, Governor Mount included the following in his proclama- 
tion message: “It seems eminently wise and proper that a day 
be designated which the people of our commonwealth should be 
urged to observe by the planting of trees, vines and floweis. 
Homes should be made more attractive through the beauty of 
these natural adornments, to which is added the pleasure of re- 
freshing shade. Fruit trees and vines should be cultivated, both 
for their beauty and their fruit. Towns and cities should lay 
the foundation of future beauty and attractiveness through the 
location of parks and the planting of trees, shrubs and vines. 
The children of the public schools, by appropriate exercises, 
should observe the day in thus beautifying school grounds. Many 
barren spots in the country may be made attractive and the 
basis of future profit by putting into effect practical examples of 
this honored custom.” 
