2T 
PARK AND 
The commissioners of Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, 
have accepted an offer of Claus Spreckels to erect a marble and 
granite music stand to cost not less than $60,000. 
» * * 
The Melrose, Mass., park commission has taken by right of 
eminent domain for a public park, 25 acres of land on the north 
shore of Eel pond in the centre of the town. This improvement 
is deemed one of the most important ever undertaken by the 
town. 
* * * 
The Ladies’ Cemetery Association of Akron, O., propose to 
purchase a large piece of land lying on both sides of Glendale 
avenue at the entrance of the Akron rural cemetery. This land 
will be turned into a park and made essentially a part of the 
cemetery, although it will not be used for burial purposes. 
» * » 
In thinking of our own progress in certain departments we 
are apt to overlook the fact that we are behind other countries. 
This fact should stir us to more effective effort. For instance 
France has some 3,362 schools of agriculture, 78 experiment 
stations, and agriculture is taught in 79 000 primary schools. 
* * * 
Connecticut has come into line on the subject of birds as 
well as trees, and has recently passed a bill providing for the ob- 
servation of Bird day in conjunction with Arbor Day, and the 
press generally is urging an effective observation of the day. 
This recognition of the birds is enlarging the field of nature 
study for the public school children, and giving it an effect 
which only official recognition can impart. 
* « * 
Miss Olga Nethersole, the English actress, visited Tower 
Grove Park, which her countryman, Henry Shaw, beciueathed 
to St. Louis, and under official auspices planted a young En- 
glish elm tree near the statue of William Shakspeare. The 
spot selected was in close proximity to the mulberry tree planted 
by Adelaide Neilson in 1880, and also to the trees planted last 
year to the memory of Edwin Booth and Lawrence Barrett. 
* » * 
In the competition of plans for the improvement of League 
Island Park, Philadelphia, the prizes were awarded on March 
ist. by the Council’s committee. The first prize of $730 was 
awarded to Samuel Parsons, Jr., of Parsons & Pentecost, of New 
York, and the second prize of $250 to R. Ulrich, also of New 
York. Honorable mention was made of the plans submitted by 
Nathan F. Barret, of Philadelphia. Under the rules of the 
contest the successful plans become the property of the city. 
Seven designs were submitted by New York men and five by 
Philadelphians. The successful plans will be utilized by Chief 
Eisenhower in the improvement of the park, a selection of the 
best points in each being made. 
^ it * 
“The love of wayside trees is strong among Americans. It 
has a practical as well as a sentimental side. A city or village in 
which the street trees are numerous, well kept and beautiful, is 
more attractive to investors, to desirable residents, and to loca- 
ting manufacturers, than a treeless town, or one in which the 
trees are neglected.” The foregoing is a quotation by a writer 
in a S. Framingham, Mass., paper, who discusses the injury done 
to the trees of this locality overhead by the electric and telephone 
wires and fastenings and underground by the leakage in the gas 
CEMETERY. 
miins. From this communication it appears that Framingham 
is fast losing its trees from such causes, and as it was highly fav- 
ored in this respect, it behooves the authorities to heed the warn- 
ing and take radical measures to put remedies in operation. 
» % 5|e 
A Park and Forest Association for the State ol Nebraska 
has been organized at Lincoln, Neb., a constitution adopted 
and Rev. C. S. Harrison, of York, elected president. The other 
officers are: G. T. Stephens, Crete, First V. P.; A. J. Brown, 
Geneva, Secretary; George A. Marshall, Treasurer. Directors: 
Hon. J. Sterling Morton, Dr. C. E. Bessey, Peter Youngers, Jr. 
Nebraska was the birthplace of Arbor Day and this worthy move- 
ment was prompted by a realization of prospective necessities. 
Out door life is a requirement of health both in the individual 
and the community, and the resources for such life will be 
chiefly found in parks and such like resorts, and in connection 
with this forest growth is well said to be a prime factor. This 
movement is a sign of healthy progress. 
* » * 
Mr. Cornelius B. Mitchell, Vice-president of the New York 
Tree Planting Association has given the following open letter to 
the press, which has been widely copied: “It may not be gen- 
erally known that trees can be successfully planted in our streets 
from now until next May; after which time, when the sap is flow- 
ing, transplanting from a nursery to our streets should not be 
undertaken. The interest shown by the public in the effort to 
embellish our city, our streets, and our homes, would indicate 
that many trees will be set out in the spring. To secure the 
best results, orders for trees should be placed early. This asso- 
ciation will send free of charge a list of trees recommended by 
experts, together with the names of nurserymen, who do the 
completed work, and their charges for the same — including iron 
tree protectors — on application, by mail only, to the office. No. 
64 White street. New York City.” 
» * » 
Arbor Day has had a remarkable effect in concentrating 
public attention on the advantages of landscape improvements. 
Even the railroad companies whose lines pass through dilapidated 
districts are becoming aware of the elevating influences of the 
day, and are awakening to the business which might follow the 
improvement of the villages and towns on their route. Mr. 
John T. Patrick, chief industrial agent of the Seaboard Air Line, 
takes a lively interest in the observance of Arbor Day, March 15th, 
in North Carolina. He has sent out pictures illustrating the re- 
sulting benefits of tree planting in the appearance of the school 
houses. These pictures show a pretty school house surrounded 
by graceful trees with grateful shade and yards and with well 
kept flower beds. Mr. Patrick shows his wisdom in beginning 
with the school house. It is the centre from which will radiate, 
not only more refined but more permanent results. 
* * * 
In a circular issued by Mr. E. J. Parker, president of the 
Quincy, 111 ., Boulevard and Park Association, suggesting the 
acquisition of more park property, speaking of the help that the 
small tax assessed for park purposes has been in the development 
of parks. He says: “A one mill tax for the purchase of park 
sites and their improvement and which yields less than $5,000 
annually, is, for a city of over 40,000 inhabitants, a very small 
tax; and this tax has been collected only since 1896.” But it has 
not realized enough to meet all the necessities of the case, and 
the park system of Quincy owes much to the liberality of its 
citizens. Quincy leads all the cities of Illinois, except Chicago 
and Peoria in park improvements, yet her indebtedness for this 
purpose only amounts to $8,437.50. The association stands as 
an example of what a body of interested citizens can do to im- 
prove the city, and its efforts and success may well invite the 
study of all communities lacking in park facilities. 
