PARK AND CEMETERY. 
129 
be moisture proof and be in good 
condition even during the rainy sea- 
son. Walks along the top of the cliff 
should be protected by wire fences 
attached to trees or intermediate 
posts. 
The straight paths shown on the 
plan may at first seem out of place 
in a natural park, but there are sev- 
eral reasons for the decision to make 
them this way. First, they will have 
a distinct beauty that a curving path 
has not — the longer vista through the 
arching woods, which will in a way 
reproduce the beauty of the walk that 
was destroyed where the athletic 
field was cleared. Second, and very 
important, being policed and lighted 
with greater ease, they will be much 
safer. 
Steps should be avoided wherever 
possible, so that mounted police can 
more easily patrol them. Third, they 
will form more direct ways for pedes- 
trians to reach distant portions of 
the park. It is not the intention that 
these paths adhere absolutely to the 
lines we have indicated nor that they 
should be necessarily perfectly 
straight throughout their whole 
length. 
When steps are necessary, as they 
will be at various points, some desir- 
able and comfortable step, not too 
architectural in appearance, should be 
adopted. Concrete of sand and grav- 
el, being the cheapest material at 
hand, will be used where possible. 
Places for picnic grounds are in- 
dicated on the plan. These are of 
various sizes; for large and small 
gatherings. In clearing the picnic 
grounds or other places great care 
should be exercised, with the con- 
stant supervision of a trained man. 
As many of the larger trees depend 
upon the surrounding trees and shrub 
growth for their stability and life, it 
is unsafe to remove too much. 
Natural growth should never be re- 
moved from the steep slopes, as the 
root growth is the chief support and 
protection of these banks. Seattle 
has learned this lesson from unpleas- 
ant experiences, and the damage done 
will be hard, if not impossible, to 
repair. 
“A most essential feature for pres- 
ent consideration is fire protection,” 
says the report. “A reservoir located 
on the highest point of the park will 
store large quantities of water, which 
could be kept in reserve should the 
water works system at any time fail. 
Pipe lines of sufficient size to give 
fire pressure should be installed and 
hose connections located often 
enough that about 300 feet of hose 
would reach any point. As in the 
case of any fire speed of action is 
necessary, hose and apparatus should 
be handy to the various sections. A 
telephone system would also be of 
value in case of fire, as well as at 
other times. It would be wise, if 
possible, to prohibit smoking in the 
park, at least at certain seasons. This 
may seem very radical, but Swope 
Park, in Kansas City, Mo., has this 
year suffered from several damaging 
fires started by careless smokers, and 
one fire in your park would do more 
damage than could be repaired in 
many years, if ever. Camp fires 
should be allowed only in the fire- 
places provided and under proper 
regulations. Keeping the borders of 
roads and paths cleared of dead and 
dry material will lessen the danger 
of spreading flames.” 
Throughout the natural portions of 
the park the planting should be of the 
plants native to the district, with per- 
haps the addition of a very few orna- 
mental plants that will combine well 
and prolong the season of bloom. 
On the general plan is recommended 
the increasing of flower, fern, shrub 
and tree masses as. now growing, with 
the predominating variety in each, 
and the removal of such varieties as 
detract from or mar the group. 
The banks along the drives, left 
exposed by the grading and as yet 
unplanted, should be covered with 
vines and other plants. The borders 
of the entire road system should pre- 
sent a constantly changing floral dis- 
play. The lighting of this park is an- 
other important and difficult question. 
Of course, it will be impossible to 
light it thoroughly, but a reasonable 
distribution of lights should be made 
along the roads and walks. Electric 
LOOKING UP THE GULCH TOWARD PICNIC GROUND, POINT DEFIANCE PARK, TACOMA. 
