66 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
rnsR noTB. ^ 
The president is to issue a proclamation setting apart 136,- 
000 acres of land on the south side of Lake Tahoe, Cal , as a for- 
estry reserve and public park. 
* * * 
Mr. H. C. Frick so intimately connected with the Carnegie 
iron and steel interests, was recently in Homestead, Pa., to 
make the necessary arrangements toward the improvement of 
Homestead Park, according to his promise to the residents at 
the dedication of the Homestead Carnegie Library. 
* * * 
Experiments for laying dust were recently made with crude 
oil by superintendent Pettigrew of the Park Commission, Bos- 
ton, Mass, on portions of the parkway. Mr. Pettigrew is quoted 
as saying that so far it worked very well, and the fact that it has 
been extensively and effectively used by railroads augurs well 
for the success of the experiment in the parks. 
* » * 
A park association has been formed at Elyria, O. , and a 
constitution and by-laws adopted. Elyria has natural scenery 
a»d advantages which, if utilized in the direction of public parks? 
the association believes would redound to the welfare of the city. 
With this end in view, conditions of membership have been 
made very liberal, and all citizens are invited to join. 
* * * 
An act of the last Congress, appropriated I23.000 for the 
benefit of Rock Creek Park, Washington, D. C. , and extensive 
improvements are about to be undertaken by the Park Com- 
mission. It is expected that a road will be constructed through 
the entire length of the park while minor changes beautifying 
the surroundings are contemplated. 
* * n 
The Houston & Texas Central R. R., is falling into line in the 
way of improving its city and station grounds. At Corsicana, 
Texas, landscape gardeners hive been at work on the Houston 
and Texas Central park and the work done indicates that it will 
be one of the prettiest spots along the line of the road. Bulbs 
and plants have been planted in numerous beds, and the park 
has been cleared of all unsightly matter. 
Mayor Van Wyck of New York City has disapproved the 
Bulkley bill, passed by the Legislature, for planting trees in the 
streets of the city. In an interview the Mayor has said that the 
ideas embodied in the bill were good, but that its provisions al- 
lowed too much latitude to the Bureau of Forestry which was to 
be established under the supervision of the Park Department. 
Also the indiscriminate planting of trees in the public thorough- 
fares would do more harm than good. 
The following will be of interest: The old “Physic 
garden’’ at Chelsea, London, which was leased to the “Apoth- 
ecaries company” in 1673 and presented to it by Sir 
Hans Sloane in 1722, is to be placed under a committee 
of societies and the garden is to be maintained for promoting 
the study of botany, with special regard to the requirements of 
general education, scientific instruction and research in systema- 
tic botany, vegetable physiology and instruction in pharmacy, as 
concerns the culture of medicinal plants. New offices, lecture 
rooms and laboratories are to be provided. The old “Physic 
garden” was one of the oldest, if not the oldest, botanical gar- 
dens in the world and is of considerable historical importance. 
* * * 
A New Orleans daily prints the following: “In Minnesota 
a law just passed authorizes park boards in cities to plant tree^ 
when petitioned by property owners concerned, and to assess the 
cost, not exceeding 12 cents a front foot, on the property im- 
proved, this to include the expense of maintaining the trees for 
three years and replacing any that may die. The system is said 
to have been tested in Minneapolis for fifteen years, and 15 oco 
vigorous, well protected tiees along the streets prove its success. 
The outlay has been remarkably small. What a beautiful city 
New Orleans would be within ten years if live or water oaks 
were planted along its streets.” It is a sign of the times that 
such suggestions are found in the daily press. Keep agitating 
and working and the city will grow in beauty without a doubt. 
* * 
An official statement that has been prepared shows that the 
entire expenditures for improving the fine system of parks of the 
city of Milwaukee, Wis., has been $703,374 41. The total cost 
of the purchase of the entire park system is $1,055,644. The 
purchase price and the cost of improving and maintaining the 
parks on the various “sides’’ of the city is about the same. The 
cost per acre for improving and maintaining the various parks 
is fi, 754.05. Including the purchase price of the lands, the 
cost per acre for improving and maintaining the various parks is 
$4,384.08, The cost per acre for improving and maintaining 
East side lands, including purchase of the same is $4.250. 55. 
The cost per acre for improving and maintaining West side 
lands, including purchase of the same is $4,005 33. The cost 
per acre for improving and maintaining South side lands, in- 
cluding purchase of the same, is $4 000.36. 
» * * 
The Michigan Legislature is considering a bill which is to 
give Michigan one of the most extensive public parks in the 
country. The bill provides for setting apart a total of 738,560 
acres of land in the Counties of Lake, Newaygo, Oceana, Mason 
Wexford and Manistee. These lands are to be withdrawn from 
settlement and set apart and dedicated as a public park and 
pleasure ground forever. It is to be a place of public resort for 
the enjoyment of the people, and for the propagation and pre- 
servation of game, birds and fish, and also to preserve the grow- 
ing timber therein. The bill provides that the park shall be 
under the exclusive control of a commission of five members, to 
be appointed by the Governor, who shall make and publish such 
rules as it may deem necessary for the management of the park, 
and appoint a superintendent, who shall guard all the timber, 
mineral deposits, game, birds, fish, etc., from injury by fire, 
theft, or wanton destruction. 
* * * 
The terrace of Bushnell park, Hartford, Conn., is to be re- 
modeled in white marble, the commissioners having decided 
upon a plan that will make the foreground of this park most at- 
tractive at a minimum cost. This includes the making over of 
the terrace in marble, and on the front between the steps plac- 
ing a handsome recessed panel, commemorative of seme charac- 
teristic scene of colonial life. In the front will be the Corning 
fountain, then the terrace, then the state house — all being on 
the axis of the state house. The Corning fountain will be dec- 
orated with figures of Indians. The terrace will represent colo- 
nial times. The state house will give nineteenth century life 
and development. It is contemplated for the panel to take as 
the historic colonial incident the departure of the expedition 
against the Pequots. This will give opportunity to introduce 
Hooker, Stone, who went as chaplain. Colonel John Mason, the 
warrior, the Indian scout, the river, the canoes and the women 
of the period. Mr. J. Massey Rhind, sculptor, of New York has 
the matter in hand. 
