PARK AND CEMETERY. 
87 
perience, knowledge and thought of 
so many progressive and practical 
men. 
A bulletin on a special topic is the 
most satisfactory for it treats one 
subject thoroughly, gathers in its 
course of circulation specific informa- 
tion on the same work carried on un- 
der different conditions, requirements 
and administrations in different parts 
of the country. Such special bul- 
letins are always of great value for 
later reference and the information 
they contain is always easily avail- 
able, more so than if the same in- 
formation was buried amongst a lot 
of other writings. We should see 
to it that the information so gath- 
ered and compiled is brought within 
reach of all that take interest and 
want to profit by our work. 
The publications of our association 
I think should be distributed to all 
members, free, also to the trade pa- 
pers and certain educational institu- 
tions and libraries. Otherwise a fair 
price should be charged in order to 
help us pay the expenses of these 
publications. 
I believe the best method to at- 
tract members of our craft to join 
us will be the proper distribution of 
our publications. It is what we ac- 
complish that must attract fellow 
craftsmen to join our ranks. Mem- 
bers so gained will become fellow 
workers and that is the blood we 
will have to depend on for heathful 
growth. The membership lists' of 
kindred associations of longer stand- 
ing show that the craft of the far 
West and South do not flock to the 
banner of their national associations 
so freely as those of the East and 
North. 
Our country it so large as to make 
it almost impossible for any organi- 
zation to cover the interests of all its 
members, working as they are under 
so many different conditions. The 
annual meeting places wherever they 
may be, are convenient for some and 
too far for others, and the attendance 
therefore is comparatively small. 
Our policy of the future must be 
as it was in the past, to help to up- 
lift park work, to meet the needs of 
the masses, to develop parks along 
ideas of up-to-date usefulness, sim- 
plicity and good taste, to endeavor 
by all honest means to free park 
work and administrations from poli- 
tical influences, interference and cor- 
ruption. 
Our field of work is a most prom- 
ising one. It is a beautiful garden in 
which there is no end to possible 
success. We are the gardeners, and 
through individual, faithful labor, the 
exchange of observations, thought and 
experience, and our combined efforts 
toward common interests, we must 
and will prove ourselves competent 
and trustworthy of the charge in our 
hands. This at least I know is the 
aim of us all. 
The demand for parks by all pro- 
gressive communities all over the 
country is growing amazingly, and 
to meet that demand is at least a 
partial obligation of our association. 
We can do so by willingly giving- 
suggestions and information to in- 
quiries that reach us individually, or 
our organization, from beginners who 
need helpful and unselfish advice. We 
can also do so by educating and as- 
sisting in a helpful practical man- 
ner young men that show ambition 
to become good parkmen. We must 
help them through teachings based 
upon our own practical experience 
and so assist to build up a class of 
park superintendents that are able to 
design and execute their own plans, 
and do it well. 
On the other hand it seems to me 
that considering the universally rec- 
onized value of parks to the wel- 
fare of all communities and the pub- 
lic in general, our National Govern- 
ment would do well in giving park 
matters some special attention by 
providing through its Census Bureau 
a home for park statistics, and 
through same create a source of in- 
formation which could be made use 
of by all those in search of such 
information to obtain which they are 
now obliged to write circular let- 
ters to park administrations all over 
the country. I think our organiza- 
The annual report of the park board 
of Springfield, Mass., for 1011, shows 
that the city has 48 parks, containing 
about 560 acres of land and valued at 
$3,398,400. Springfield, thanks to its 
public-spirited citizens, has been obliged 
to make only one bond issue of $125,- 
000 to purchase land. This was in con- 
nection with the Court square exten- 
sion. The total cost was about $225,- 
000. and $100,000 of this was raised 
through public subscription. The city’s 
four big playgrounds, the Emerson 
Wight playground, the Tapley play- 
ground, the Emily Bill playground that 
is to be, a recent gift of Mr. Nathan 
D. Bill, and Forest park, the biggest 
tion should take steps to bring this 
matter to the attention of the proper 
authorities and ask for the estab- 
lishment of a special bureau on park 
statistics and information. 
As we flock together year after 
year to our annual meetings and re- 
new friendship and acquaintances, we 
also meet and make new friends and 
we miss those that for one reason 
or another have been prevented from 
attending. Those missing ones we 
hope to meet another year, but alas 
there are some whom we can meet 
only in spirit, for they have de- 
parted from us to their rewards. 
CALCIUM. CHLORIDE ON 
DETROIT BOULEVARD. 
One mile of Grand Boulevard, De- 
troit, was treated to three applications 
of calcium chloride in 1908, as follows: 
June-22, 1,250 gals.; July 24, 940 gals.; 
Sept. 22, 625 gals.; total chloride 
2,815 gals. Added to this was water, 
4,221 gals., making a total for mix- 
ture of 7,036 gals. The solution was 
sprinkled with the aid of an ordinary 
sprinkling wagon and the only labor 
was that of team, teamster and two 
men to pump the chloride from tank 
car into wagon. 
We covered 6,600 sq. yards with the 
above, which was less than one-half 
gal. per sq. yard. 
The cost was about ($0.02) two 
cents per sq. yard. 
We have had a dustless road all sea- 
son and in many ways it has proven 
satisfactory. 
I cannot say, however, that it has 
cementing qualities and it does not 
serve as a binder as does oil with a 
strong asphaltic base. 
H. W. Busch, 
Gen. Supt. of Pks. 
playground and recreation spot in this 
section, all came to the city through 
the gifts of public-spirited citizens. 
These four together are valued at about 
$1,500,000. About $500,000 is repre- 
sented in small parks varying anywhere 
from .02 of an acre to three acres, 
which various residents from time to 
time have turned over to the city in 
order that they may be permanently 
retained as spots of beauty in the city’s 
streets. There have been occasional in- 
stances where the city spent small 
amounts of money in acquiring land but 
the Court square extension is the only 
instance where the city was obliged to 
make a bond issue. 
A YEAR IN SPRINGFIELD PARKS 
