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Sellersvillc, Pa., has received a donation of one thousand 
dollars for the erection of a fountain and watering place. 
* * * 
The town of Peppered, Mass. , is about to take formal ac- 
tion on the acceptance of a bequest of the late Charles F. Law- 
rence of Brooklyn, N. Y., for a Public Library. 
* * * 
The Soldiers’ Home at Grand Rapids', Mich., beautifully 
located on the Grand River, has been made a charming place. 
Besides its landscape features which include a lake, it hasgreen- 
houses, a zoological exhibit and a deer park, the latter a favorite 
addition. Ottawa County is to be congratulated. 
* * * 
In speaking of the demolition of the “Palisades” of the Hud- 
son now in progress the New York World says: “Indian Head,’’ 
the most notable landmark of the Palisades, was blown to bits 
recently in order that some speculators might sell its mutilated 
fragments for rubble-stone. What a shame it is that neither the 
New Jersey Legislature nor the Congress at Washington will lift 
a finger or spend a dollar to preserve the Palisades!” It rises to 
the level of a national disgrace. This sentiment will find an echo 
in every thinking mind. 
* * * 
The consummation of the magnificent Lake Front Park 
scheme of Chicago is likely to be delayed somewhat. The progres- 
sive and conservative elements in the Board of South Park 
Commissioners fought their quiet battle of ballots at their re- 
cent meeting, which resulted in the conservative element elect- 
ing their president, John B. Sherman. This gentlemen has 
since said that the policy of the board would be to expend the 
money at its disposal where it would do the most good, but that 
nothing further would be done in the direction of improving the 
Lake Front park until some money was obtained with which to 
pursue the work. 
* * * 
Denver, Colo., through its South Side Improvement Society 
is making great efforts to arouse public interest in the approach- 
ing Arbor Day. It is proposed that residents of South Denver 
shall plant 10,000 trees in the coming holidays. In this connec- 
tion the Denver Times says: In the breast of every man there 
is an inherent love of nature. This is shown by the rather ano- 
malous fact that families around whose home not a tree or shrub 
or flower may be seen will spend whole days in our city parks 
and esteem the experience a rare treat. If public parks are en- 
joyable, why not make every home lot a private park, where 
every day may be experienced the joys of a holiday outing? It 
can be done at little money expense. Care and attention is the 
principal expenditure. 
* * * 
The second annual report of the Board of Commissioners of 
the Essex County, N. J., Department of Parks, dated January 1, 
1898, gives the treasurers’ account of the receipts and expendi- 
tures in connection with that system. In 1895 the legislature 
passed laws enabling the county to raise $2,500,000. In the 
mean time from interest, rents and sale of old buildings and ma- 
terials, the fund reached the sum of $2,578,652.08. There has 
been expended for land and buildings $1,924,050.36 and for con- 
struction $167,705.42. Of the latter amount $126,519.70 has 
been spent on Branch Brook Park, and $29,886.25 on Eastside 
Park and smaller amounts have been used on other portions of 
the system and for materials and labor. The salaries have 
amounted to $21,783.65; legal expenses $26,029.73; landscape 
architects, engineering, etc., $64,958.35. Branch Brook Park, 
the principal park of the system, has cost $1,255,606.27. 
* * * 
The educational committee of the Civic Club of Pittsburgh 
are working up a plan to make a program for Arbor Day for the 
public schools which will practically and theoretically secure the 
greatest and most lasting benefits from this annual occasion. 
The idea is to have regular programs arranged, to be carried 
out in the public schools on Arbor Day, in connection with the 
planting of young trees and shrubs on the school grounds and 
throughout the city. The plan as outlined will be the prepar- 
ing of a program full of the spirit of the occasion, which the 
school directors will be asked to permit to be carried out by the 
different classes in the public schools in Pittsburg and Allegheny. 
The program will consist of music, readings and short talks by in- 
teresting speakers, and will also include a program to be con- 
ducted in connection with the planting of the trees by the chil- 
dren themselves. Arbor Day in Pennsylvania usually occurs on 
or about April 15 and is appointed by the governor. A second 
day is appointed in September. 
» * * 
The 26th annual report of the Board of Park Commissioners 
of San Francisco, for the year ending June 30, 1897, shows a 
steadily increasing popularity in Golden Gate Park, and a con- 
tinued effort on the part of the commissioners to improve and 
perfect it. A large amount of new work was carried out and the 
rehabilitation of the park after the Midwinter Fair almost com- 
pleted. Considerable progress has been made on the Arbore- 
tum in the effort to make this instructive feature of park work as 
complete as possible. The Park Museum opened in 1895 has 
grown to be a grand feature and has required an enlargement of 
the building to accommodate the valuable collections purchased 
and donated to the park. It contains a valuable picture gallery 
and a magnificent display of Japanese ivory carvings the gift of 
Mr. John L. Bardwell. The receipts for park purposes from 
July 1, 1896 to July 1, 1897 were $248,343.02 and the disburse- 
ments $249,660.55, of which latter the construction account con- 
sumed $124,607.60 and the maintenance $111,875 °°. 
* * * 
In an address before the Massachusetts Horticultural So- 
ciety, on the “National Flower Movement,” Mr. Frederick 
Leroy Sargent, president of the Columbine Association, related 
the progress of the movement and described the floral candidates 
already proposed with their various recommendations, and their 
number will soon be legion. The movement has grown rapidly 
with several branches, in which the Columbine Association occu- 
pies a leading place, its aim being “to bring about the final 
adoption of the Columbine as the National flower of the United 
States.” Its appropriateness was stated as follows: The Col- 
umbine, (Aquilegia) “is graceful in poise, under no circumstances 
becoming a noxious weed, wearing an air of prosperity as it swings 
its tiny bells from the crevices of bare rocks. It wears our Na- 
tional colors — red, white and blue — and grows in every section 
•of our country. The name Columbine is derived from the same 
Latin word as is the name of Columbus, the discoverer, and of 
Columbia, the name which our Nation rightly bears. That there 
are just 13 species ot Columbine indigenous to the United States 
is interesting as a coincidence in view of the thirteen stripes in 
our flag. The time of flowering for the whole country extends 
through the spring and early summer, making it available on our 
only National holiday — the Fourth of July. They are at their 
very best on Memorial Day, when we have most need of a Na- 
tional flower. From the point of view of decorative design the 
Columbine possesses great advantages from the fact that its Na- 
tional associations are expressed not only in the name but in the 
form and colors assumed by the various parts.” 
