PARK AND CEMETERY, 
243 
| ■& PARK NOTES. •$£ 
Is. 
a 
Vi 
y 
J ^ 
McKeesport, Pa., is looking up Park matters. The City 
Council has appointed a committee to select a suitable tract for 
park requirements. 
* * * 
Utica, N. Y., proposes to expend some $110,000 for land in 
New Hartford and Utica, five acres in area for park purposes. 
In addition to this 150,000 is to be spent on improvements. 
* * * 
A tree planting organization has been effected in Kansas 
City, Mo., with Dr. Brummell Jones, president, and Col. H. j. 
Latshaw as secretary. Like many other cities Kansas City has 
suffered both by the neglect of this important feature of munici- 
pal economies, and the abuse of the standing trees in existence. 
The report of the preliminary committee, was a very thorough 
discussion of the leading points of the subject, and could not fat* 
to impart a clearer idea of the duties of the proposed organiza- 
tion and the broad field of work open to its influence. 
* * * 
A large meeting of prominent Baltimore citizens was held 
last month to elect officers and adopt a charter for a Municipal 
Art Society, which is to be similar to organizations of like name 
in Boston, New York and Philadelphia. Theobjectis to provide 
sculptural and pictorial decorations for the public buildings and 
parks. Those interested think that at least 2,000 members can 
be enlisted, who would furnish an annual revenue of $10,000, an 
amount sufficient for several years, or until the sum grew large 
enough for the purchase of some highly artistic decoration. 
* * * 
At the recent meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Fair- 
mount Park Art Association, Philadelphia, Pa., the following 
officers were elected to serve for the current year: President, 
John H. Converse: Vice-presidents, Joel J. Baily, Frank Thom- 
son, Dr. Charles C. Harrison, William W. Justice; Treasurer, 
James W. Paul, Jr.; Secretary, Colonel Charles H. Howell; 
Counselor, James M. Beck. The committee on Grant Memor- 
ial is perfecting arrangements for the unveiling of the equestrian 
monument in Fairmount Park on General Grant’s birthday 
April 27 next. 
* * * 
It is interesting to note that as we break into the year the 
subject of trees in our cities is receiving very marked attention, 
in a certain sense throughout the country. Quite a stir has been 
made in Atlanta, Ga. , over the despoliation of the shade and or- 
namental trees of that city by the telephone and telegraph line 
men. These men as a rule have no consideration whatever for 
tne tree and break and break aw r ay, regardless of appearance or 
consequences, any parts which may either momentarily or per 
manently interfere with their operations. The Council is inves. 
tigating and as that body is deeply interested some corrective 
legislation will be enacted. 
* * * 
Riverside Park, Hartford, Conn., which was dedicated last 
fall, is a park for the poorer people of the city. It extends along 
the Connecticut river within easy distance of the tenement dis- 
tricts. and the women and children who cannot get out of the 
city in midsummer will find within its attractive limits a real 
breathing-spot, with plenty of trees, comfortable benches and a 
shady pavilion, from which a good view of the river can be ob- 
tained. It is intended that the park shall not be one of the 
“keep-off-the-grass-kind” and the children will be permitted to 
roam over lawns at will, and the smaller ones to paddle around 
and sail their miniature ships in a shallow pond, an acre or two 
in ex t ent, where the water is never more than fifteen inches deep, 
an I the b >ttom has ' en roveied with clean sand. This is some 
what of a dr p irttire in the line m city parks, but will have to be 
repeate 1 in degree in every cit . wheie the working classes have 
been overloi ked in su h righteou- cl; ims. 
* * * 
Salt Lak ■ City, I 'tah. has n"t progressed as other cities in 
the matter of its parks. Mr. A. Schulthess, superintendent, in- 
forms us that the city has only one park of importance, called 
“Liberty Park,” which is a level tract occupying ten square 
blocks, an area of 105 acres. In the early 50’s Brigham Young, 
the owner of the land, raised a large patch of locust, part of 
which he sold and allowed the rest to remain. Some Box Elders 
were also planted and the rest was used as a farm. In 1882 
work was commenced tn laying out the grounds as a park. The 
City only spends on park work some $3,000 a year. The park 
has some 5 acres of lawn, and a number of flower beds. There 
have been planted out some shrubbery, and evergreen and other 
trees; a pond has been created and a good-sized greenhouse con- 
structed. The superintendents have been changed with the pol- 
itids of the administration. Mr. Schulthess had charge from 
1882 until 1891, while from 1891 to 1898, four different men oc- 
cupied the position, and in 1898 Mr. Schulthess was again ap- 
pointed. Another block of ten acres near the center of the city 
has been set apart for park purposes on which work will be be- 
gun this spring. Although the law provides for park commis- 
sioners none have as yet been selected. 
* * * 
Tacoma, Wash., prides itself on its park possibilities. Be- 
sides Wright Park, in the town proper, it possesses a natural 
park comprised by a peninsula, Point Defiance, of 740 acres 
which juts into the bay north of the city, and which is covered 
with the magnificent conifers for which Washington is famous. 
Its shores alternate with level, shingly beaches and wave-beaten 
cliffs facing the open Sound. The greater part of this woodland 
is still in its primeval picturesqueness, but for a long distance 
along the shore and approach nearest the city it has been im- 
proved and paths made from the water’s edge back into the 
green recesses of the forest. The scenery is very varied as may 
be surmised and all the shrubs for which Washington is noted 
grow in riotous confusion. The Tacoma Daily Ledger says the 
exquisite tasseled flowers of the white “Spirea” fill the entire for- 
est, and white syrmgia grows wild along the banks. Wild cora" 
honeysuckles and snowy flakes of dogwood blossom form part of 
her summer offering, and she has given the sowers of fern seed 
“carte blanche.” It is reached by the City Park car line, which 
makes half-hourly trips from the city, six miles distant, and ex- 
cursion steamers ply along the shore. Almost in the center of 
the citv, is Wright Park, a garden of delights. The grounds, 
twelve blocks in area were given to the city by the late C. B. 
Wright, of Philadelphia, and were laid out by E. O. Schwagerl 
the well-known landscape gardener. On one side a high ten ace 
extends the full length of the park, commanding a brr ad view 
of the green slopes below and the residence district of the city 
beyond. These heights are imposingly planted out with ever- 
greens and other material. On a bold promontory overhangir g 
the lawns stands a winged Mercury, the gift of Col. C. P. Ferryl 
who also donated the colossal lions which guard the entrance of 
the carriage drive from Sixth avenue. These figures are copies 
of the famous lions of Brussels. At the other end of the drive 
Canova's dancing girls welcome the visitor. The lower mead- 
ows of the park are docted here and there with groups of trees 
and ornamental shrubs in endless variety, and from early March 
until December there are bright flowers in the beds, and in the 
spring the slopes are all afire with the golden Scottish broom. 
In the center are two little lakes peopled with flocks of ducks 
and snowy swans and a rustic bridges pans the strait between the 
two lakes.” 
