PARK AND CEMETERY. 
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1 •& PARK NOTES. * 
The science of gardening has been taught in Russia since 
1 8 1 2. It was instituted in the Crimea for the purpose of culti- 
vating southern plants, but there are now many courses in the 
various provinces. 
* * * 
The lands held by the Uni red States Government for forest 
reservations, and which are permanently withdrawn from settle- 
ment for the purpose of preserving the timbers and protecting 
the sources of the streams, are situated in the following states 
and territories: Arizona, 1,861.760 acres; California, 8,51 1,794; 
Colorado, 4,103.360; Idaho, Montana and Washington, 16,818,- 
720; New Mexico, 431,040; Oregon, 4,653440; South Dakota, 
967,680; Utah, 875.520; Wyoming, 3,196, 
y * * * 
At a recent meeting of the Municipal committee of the 
Civic federation of Chicago a committee was appointed to in- 
vestigate the subject of public comfort stations, which it is pro- 
posed to establish throughout the city, as is the custom in the 
principal cities of Europe, and which are already in operation 
as an experiment'd! Boston and New York. This is an impor- 
tant matter — one in which our large American cities have been 
behind European municipalities of like extent, and strange to 
say many years behind. 
* * * 
The commissioners of Lincoln Park, Chicago, have practi- 
cally decided upon improvements and additions to that park 
which will involve an expenditure of from $3,000,000 to $5,000,- 
000. It has long been contemplated to increase the area of the 
park by extending it into Lake Michigan, and the recent se- 
vere storms which created havoc on the sea wall and protective 
works of the shore, necessitating a large outlay for reconstruction 
and repairs, makes the extension scheme of practical considera- 
tion. By the plans already prepared a square mile of territory 
will be added to the park domain, which will afford attractive 
features in driveways and promenades unexcelled anywhere. 
Detail plans and estimates are now being prepared and pros- 
pects appear bright for the early inauguration of work upon this 
fine improvement. 
* * * 
No southern state appears to be doing more progressive 
work on modern lines than South Carolina, as the following 
item will serve in a measure to show: The State Federation of 
Woman’s Clubs, in its convention last June, adopted village im. 
provement as an important branch, and as a result many clubs 
heretofore working mainly on literary lines are taking up this 
department. The seaboard Air Line Railroad, in addition to 
sending out traveling libraries to towns on its line desiring them, 
is also offering encouragement to village improvement by do- 
nating plants, etc., to such associations. Information relative to 
the above can be obtained by addressing Mrs. J. W. Lunny, 
chairman village improvement committee, Seneca, S. C. Mrs. 
W. W. Coleman, of Seneca, is president of the Federation of 
Woman’s Clubs. 
* * * 
Cincinnati, like nearly every other city in the Union has 
suffered from hard times and park improvement has been com- 
paratively dormant, the available funds being mainly employed 
for maintenance. The total receipts for the park system for 
1897 was $49,360.36 which the expenditures consumed. Con- 
siderable planting was however done as the expenditures in- 
clude the item of $1,435.43 for plants, trees, shrubs and seeds. 
Mr. R. H. Warder, the superintendent, makes an excellent point 
in a paragraph of his report, not only from the truth conveyed, 
but from the studied suggestion— politics tabooed. He sa^s: 
“The fact has been too much overlooked that the proper execu- 
tion of park work can not be intrusted with safety to ordinary 
laborers. In all respects this work is very different from that 
performed by men employed in street-cleaning and like occupa- 
tions. Every member of the force should be more or less well 
acquainted with the commonest kinds of grass, weeds, plants and 
trees, should be interested in his occupation, and realize that he 
holds his place through good behavior. All experiments in 
changes among park workmen for so called political reasons 
have invariably been attended by disastrous results and losses 
to the public service.” 
* * * 
The campus of Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Inch, is be- 
ing in a measure transformed into an arboretum after plans sug- 
gested by Mr. Kern, the late park superintendent of Toledo, 
O. In a communication on the subject, Prof. Mason B. Thomas 
of that institution says: “Our campus was covered with a very 
dense growth of large trees, many of them dead and all in need 
of trimming. We have cleared the ground of all the bad trees 
and trimmed the good ones, until the campus looks like a park 
of a very acceptable order. We then put on the ground all of 
the walks and drives outlined in the original plan. The classes 
have given us a fine fountain and entrance steps. We are now 
working on the plans for planting shrubs and trees to correspond 
with the outline of Mr. Kern. Our campus has about 30 acres 
and by these substantial improvements along a definite line, 
will make a fine place to carry out my original idea, that the en- 
vironments of an educational institution should represent the 
very best story of the national relationship of the members of 
the plant kingdom. Every group of plants will mean something 
and the story of evolution will be told by the plants themselves.” 
This is an example which might well be followed at very many of 
our educational institutions. 
* * * 
The 27th annual report of the Fairniount-Park Art Asso- 
ciation was presented at the meeting held in Philadelphia, 
November 29. The association has now a total membership of 
1,321 and the total balance in hand is $79,135.51. An explana- 
tion of the postponements of the unveiling of the Grant monu- 
ment in Fairmount Park is given, with the announcement that 
the affair is now settled for April 27, 1899. An account of a 
symposium, arranged by Miss Pendleton. Chairman of the En- 
tertainment Committee, held at the Drexel Institute, March 26, 
1898, shows the trend of the addresses to have been towards the 
improvement of parks and gardens, their desirability in large 
cities, and the general advantages that would accrue to Phila- 
delphia should the improvement of the west bank of the Schuyl- 
kill River, from Chestnut street south ever become an accom- 
plished fact. The report also included that of the committee 
on the Smith Memorial, the latter report explaining the methods 
and conclusions of said committee, and also their recommenda- 
tions concerning the sculpture for the monument on which there 
has been considerable criticism. The recommendations were 
adopted. The Board expresses its usual desire and anxiety to 
bring the permanent fund up to at least $100,000 so that 
the interest on the principal may be made available for artistic 
purposes in the line of the work of the association. The mem- 
bership does not increase with the rapidity that is desired, and 
the Board makes an earnest appeal at the present time, when 
civic pride is uppermost in the minds and thoughts of Philadel- 
phians, for their active interest and support in this excellent 
work. Philadelphia has been largely benefited by the work of 
the association. The retiring trustees were re-elected. 
