PARK AND CEMETERY. 
3 
in grading and obviating the necessity of 
buying or hauling material from elsewhere. 
A point of hill partially divided the prop- 
erty and required to be removed, at the 
same time affording the necessary material 
for grading the athletic field. About 10,000 
cubic yards of the hill was cut away for 
the purpose of making a field 650 feet long 
and 250 feet wide along the river for base- 
ball, football and running track. 
Beyond this field a dam has been built 
in the river and over 5,000 cubic yards of 
dirt excavated to make a lake of over an 
acre in extent and four feet deep, with 
bathing beach on one side. 
This material was mostly fine gravel and 
cobblestone and is being used to construct 
the park drives. 
Along the shore of the lake is located 
the children’s playground, with full equip- 
ment of apparatus, swings, see-saws, giant 
strides, children’s slides and sand gardens. 
A 65-foot flagstaff has been erected on a 
high point midway of the park. 
The cost of development so far carried 
out has amounted to $13,000, and a steel 
bridge, already ordered by Mr. Mason for 
the main entrance drive over the river, will 
cost $2,500 more. 
Shrubs and trees to the amount of about 
$1,000 will be planted this fall on the com- 
pleted areas. 
Further improvements to be made next 
year will include bath houses and field 
house for the children’s playground, dress- 
ing room for the athletic field and a casino 
or refectory situated in a beautiful locust 
grove existing on opposite side of lake 
from the playground. 
The acquirement of this park is a splen- 
did acquisition to Akron’s park system, 
located, as it is, in a large section of homes 
of the working class, and benefits the fami- 
lies and children who of all most need such 
privileges and pleasures. 
OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS 
AND CONTRIBUTIONS 
JAMES B. SHEA, Boston, Mass., President 
J. J. LEVISON, Brooklyn, N.Y., Sec.-Treas. 
ASSOCIATION EMPLOYMENT BUREAU 
The Secretary’s office has been notified 
of several worthy park men who are look- 
ing for opportunities to better themselves. 
These men are well recommended by mem- 
bers of this association. Those looking for 
positions in park work or those wanting re- 
liable men may find the Secretary’s office 
as a medium, and this “Employment Bu- 
reau - ’ is to be a regular feature of this de- 
partment. Communications regarding va- 
cancies open or positions wanted are in- 
vited for this Bureau : 
“I am looking for a florist to work in 
the three glass houses, 20x50 each, do the 
propagating, planting out the bedding 
plants, keep the place in order, and do 
such work necessary on public grounds. I 
would prefer a man of 30 years or over, 
who has received his training in Europe. 
The glass houses are in Gage Park, outside 
of the city. The position pays $2 per day 
and is open now.” 
E. F. A. Reinisch, 
Topeka, Kan. Supt. of Parks. 
(1) Applicant desires a position as city 
forester. Is about to graduate from a tech- 
nical school of forestry of high standing. 
(2) Applicant desires a position to do 
tree work. Is at present in charge of a 
cemetery near Philadelphia claims to be 
a landscape engineer of long experience, 
having executed plans prepared by Olm- 
sted Brothers and others and having 
worked for several firms in the vicinity of 
Philadelphia. 
(3) Applicant is at present employed 
by a forestry firm of the East; has been 
working for the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. 
and is a graduate of a technical school of 
forestry. Desires employment in the care 
and planting of trees. 
THE ASSOCIATION QUESTION BOX 
For Better Horticultural Education. 
J. J. Levison, Secretary, American Asso- 
ciation of Park Superintendents, Brook- 
lyn, N. Y. 
Dear Sir : — Referring to your communi- 
cation regarding topics under discussion in 
our paper, I suggest the following : 
That the matter be brought up of ar- 
ranging for better horticultural and flori- 
cultural education . in our states. It has 
been observed, and is a well admitted fact, 
that in employing help and also in the ap- 
pointments of superintendents, for private 
or municipal purposes, chances have been 
taken in the selection of such persons. In 
a great many instances politics and per- 
sonal favoritism play a more important 
role than qualification. 
Where florists and professional garden- 
ers are to be employed, it is usually the 
most importunate man that gets the posi- 
tion sooner than the more modest applicant 
who knows his business. 
The results are that entirely unprofes- 
sional men are filling the places which 
rightly belong to the competent gardener. 
Such conditions are a detriment to the vo- 
cation and an insult to the professional 
man. 
In my opinion our association should 
act as a Board of "Qualification and issue 
certificates for efficiency by examinations. 
The best men of our association should 
be named as examiners and hold regular 
sessions for this purpose, being compen- 
sated either by the state or government. 
A decided service could be rendered to the 
country and an elevating influence that 
would honor our profession 
Municipalities and private parties would 
then insist upon the applicant being quali- 
fied by the Board of Examiners and many 
disappointments would be averted and po- 
litical influence would be eliminated. 
I hope 3^011 may find place in your 
paper for these suggestions, and still more 
I hope that such plans may be speedily 
realized. N. Byhower, 
Supt. of Parks. 
Salt Lake City, Utah. 
Dates for Denver Convention. 
At the meeting of the Executive Board 
of the association, held February 19, the 
principal business was the setting of the 
date for the next meeting of the associa- 
tion at Denver, Colo. It will take place 
on August 25, 26 and 1 27. In selecting these 
dates we have taken special notice of the 
meeting of the florists at Minneapolis, 
which is to be held during the week pre- 
vious, and we selected our dates so as to 
give the members interested in the other 
a chance to visit both without interference. 
Other business of marked importance in- 
cluded the consideration of new appli- 
cants wishing to join our association and 
the consideration of minor details in con- 
nection with the meeting at Denver. 
The Eastern members also met at the 
same time and selected Mr. Hermann Mer- 
kel, of the Bronx Zoological Garden, as 
the presiding officer for the afternoon. 
President James B. Shea presided at the 
meeting. J. J. Levison, Sec. 
