PARK AND CCnCTCRY 
177 
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PARK NOTES. 
Quite a number of native wild animals have been secured 
for the “Zoo” department of Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, l^a. 
I hey were collected by the Eaton Bros., of Custer Trail ranch, 
Medora, N. D. 
* * -a 
Two gentlemen, Messrs T, H. Boothby and R. K. Lathrop, 
have each donated an acre of land at Leeds, Me., for a park. 
The area of land is small but the public spirit cannot be meas- 
ured. The example should be catching. 
* * * 
The town of Nantucket, Mass., has formally taken possess- 
ion of that part of the island of Muskeget, not held by clear 
title, for the purposes of a public park. This amounts to some 
twenty one twenty eighths of the area of the island, and possess- 
ion was taken under an act of legislature of this year. 
* » * 
It is proposed to begin constructive work on a public park 
system for Indianapolis, Ind , early next spring. It is quite lime 
that this in many respects fine city, considered with some earn- 
estness, not only the desirability, but the necessity, of public 
parks for its people It has already been delayed too long, but 
earnest and devoted work with help to redeem some of the lost 
opportunities. 
* # * 
I he Essex Co., N. J., Park Commissioners have secured the 
shoA' place of the county, Eagle Rock, and land surrounding it, 
for a section of their park project. From this point the views 
are so diverse and enchanting that description would fail to re- 
veal their characteristics. It is said that from this rock five per 
cent of the homes of the population of the United States can be 
observed. It is wise to devote to public recreation and pleasure 
such spots in any locality. 
* * * 
The site of the Midwinter Fair in San Francisco, is now to 
be rapidly improved, the Park commissioners having decided to 
go ahead with the long contemplated work. An arena about the 
band stand is to be constructed capable of seating 15000 visiiois. 
Drives and tracks will be made for both vehicles and bicycles, 
the various avenues being intersected by tunnels beneath them. 
A roadway will be built specially for the use of wheel riders 
direct from Strawberry Hill to the Ocean. 
* If 
Work has been commenced at last on the proposed Lake 
Front Park, Chicago. The magnitude of this project and its 
value to the city, can only be appreciated as year by year the 
work progresses, and the design develops on the ground. The 
park system has always been a pride to Chicago, and its exten- 
tion the ambition of many progressive citizens. A project has 
been approved by the Park officials to construct an elevatedboul- 
evard or pleasure drive along Jackson street to meet Michigan 
boulevard; thus connecting the west side parks with the central 
part of the city. 
* * * 
The city of Mexico, in old Mexico, is sadly deficient in pub- 
lic park areas. It is true it has a few lovely spots in its midst, 
but they are small, and compared with the parks of cities of the 
United States of equal size, amount to very little. The Mexican 
Financier has devoted much attention to this question and has 
suggested to the Mexican government to acquire a great and 
beautiful estate, lying to the southwest of the city and close to 
Chapultepec, known as the Hacienda de la Condesa, for the 
creation of a magnificent park, to which it readily lends itself. 
This seems to be a growing idea. 
Owing to the construction of the Beaver River reservoir in 
the Adirondack region of New York state, some 80,000 acres of 
land belonging to Dr. W. Seward Webb, situated within the 
State Park boundaries in Hamilton and Herkimer counties, were 
damaged by an overflow, to the extent as claimed by Dr. Webb 
of $300,000. An act was passed by the last legi.slature provid- 
ing for the purchase of lands damaged by the construction of 
reservoirs for canal purposes by the state, which will probably 
lead to the purchase of the above property. In such a case 
Dr. Webb will drop all claims for damages. It is estimated that 
the expense to New York state of securing title to land damaged 
within the park will amount to about $500,000. 
* « » 
Preliminary work has begun on the New York Botanical 
Garden, Bronx Park. This was in the nursery for young trees 
and shrubs, in which considerable planting has already been 
done. The field work of the topographical survey, commenced 
September ist, has been completed and the resulting map will 
be of the utmost importance in the making of the garden. Upon 
this map the working committee in conjunction with the park 
board, and in connection with the suggestions of the scientific 
directors, will lay out the general features concluded upon, fix 
sites for buildings, and complete the design, so that work may be 
proceeded with without delay in the creation of what is hoped to 
be the largest and most complete botanical gardens in the 
world. Great public interest has been manifested in the pro- 
ject which is exceedingly gratifying to the committees and an in- 
centive to the best efforts. 
* * * 
The design of G. Moretti, sculptor of New York, for the 
proposed gateway at Highland Park, Pittsburgh, is thus describ- 
ed in the Leader of that city: It shows two granite pedestals 
surmounted by graceful bronze groups of three figuies of heroic 
size. The pedestals are set upon a base five feet high and each 
pedestal is made up of four round columns of polished granite, 
38 feet high. Set in the niche between the columns and facing 
each other across the driveway are two beautiful female figures 
in bronze. Their feet rest on the base . Each figure has one 
arm extended aloft at full arm length holding a drinking cup, 
the bodies erect and gracefull, with just little enough drapery to 
display the beautifully molded outlines, bust and shoulders. 
From the base of the pedestals there extends to the right and 
left a granite railing five feet high. Flach wing of the railing has 
a curve sweep of 30 feet. At the extreme ends there are small 
pedestals, each surmounted by a bronze eagle with wings out- 
spread. A bronze fountain to correspond with the entrance is 
included in the design. It is to be placed some distance within 
the entrance and in such a position as to be seen directly in 
front of the gateway. 
* * * 
The executors of the late Richard Smith of Philadelphia, 
Pa. , who left $500,000 for a memorial arch and $50,000 for a 
children’s play-house in Fairmount Park, have filed their ac- 
count. The sites of the proposed improvements in the Park 
have not yet been selected 
* * * 
Baron Rothschild recently purchased a collection of antiqui- 
ties found at Boscoreale on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, and 
has presented them to the Louvre, Pans. The cost was $100,000. 
It is believed that they were carried away in haste from Pompeii 
by some wealthy citizen to his country seat, but he was over- 
taken by the eruption. They consist of a number of beautifully 
chased silver vessels and gold jewelry. A number of handsome 
bronze objects found in the same place have been taken to 
Rome, among them tw'o large baths, one of simple design with- 
out decorations or handles, the other with four handles, in the 
shape of movable rings, two at each side. 
