PARK AND CEMETERY. 
241 
PARK NOTES. 
INIayor Smith of Macon, (ia., recently inaugurated a tree 
])lanting scheme to mature on Thanksgiving Da)' and set the 
mark at 100 trees. It was a popular move and as the cost was 
])Ut at a comparatively nominal figure, his 100 mark was 
largely exceeded. Quite an interest was developed on the 
(piestion of thus improving the streets. 
->!•** 
'ITie governor of New Ilamjjshire in a recent letter to a 
gentleman in New York, who had protested against the dese- 
cration of scenery in the White Mountains with advertising 
signs, said that he is greatly interested in this question and that 
he intends to introduce a bill in the next legislature to prohibit 
the advertising nuisance. 
* * * 
The results of the work of the Village Improvement Associa- 
tion of Sag Harbor, L. I., which was organized ia iSSS, has 
demonstrated what can be done towards improving conditions 
in small towns. The cemetery has been transformed, streets 
improved, old buildings and walls removed, a park created 
about the soldiers’ and sailors' monument and good roads made 
a leading feature of their activity. 
* * * 
The tourist in Scotland often overlooks objects of interest, 
among which very much slighted, is the celebrated beech 
hedge. This beech hedge is by no means a small object of 
interest for it stands over ico feet high. It is the property of 
the Marquis of hansdowne, at Meiklour, Perthshire, and was 
planted in or about the year 1745 by a party of Highlanders 
encamped there for a few days while on their way to join the 
pretender, Prince Charlie. This mammoth hedge, which in- 
deed deserves the name of beir g one of the modern wonders of 
the world, is a fitting monument to commemorate the pre- 
tender's defeat at Culloden, the last battle ever fought on Eng- 
lish soil. 
.\n important improvement is being developed in Warsaw, 
Poland, of which Mr. W. Arnd of that city, writes as follows to 
the Manufactn'-cr's Record: “The city of Warsaw is at this 
moment engaged in the work of developing a project to build 
boulevards along the river ^'istula which flows at the foot of 
the citv. The proposed work will cost about 2,000,000 or 
3.000. 000 rubles. As indemnification to the contractor who 
undertakes the work the city offers a portion of the ground and 
territory which may be recovered through encroachment on 
the river and straightening of its banks. The ground thus 
recovered is worth, according to the present values, about 
6.000. 000 roubles. Here is a most valuable opportunity for 
American capital.’’ 
» !» * 
Of the improvements in Bronx Park, New York City, the 
propagating houses in the botanical section will probably be 
finished by the first of January. The houses will be the nurs- 
ery for the botanical gardens and in them experimenfs will be 
made and plants will be raised from seeds which have been 
obtained by exchange with florists and botanists throughout 
the world. Through the liberality of friends of the museum, 
additions are constantly being made to the collection in the 
greenhouses. Several hundred men have been engaged on the 
roads through the park. When the system of highways has 
been completed, a drive of fifty miles over sj^lendid roads will 
be opened. The rottte will be as follows: Eift) -ninth street to 
Central Park, to 'West Seventy -second .street, to Riverside 
Drive, to Boulevard Lafayette, to VanCortlandt Park, to Mosh- 
olu parkway, to Bronx Park, to Pelham Bay Park and return. 
* * a 
The matter of providing a more generous entertainment in 
the way of music in cur public parks is now becoming a niattcr 
of serious consideration by park authorities. At a recent meet- 
ing of the park board of Toledo, O , the matter of illuminating 
the greenhou.se at Walbridge Park and of giving band concerts 
there was taken up, and it was decided to have a s])ecial display 
and a band concert Thank.sgiving night. The members of the 
board expressed themselves as being desirous of having con- 
certs at the greenhouse as often as twice each week, but the 
finances of the board will not permit of such a plan being car- 
I'ied out. The board would like, however, to have some public- 
spirited citizens render some financial aid, as great gcod is 
being accomplished by them, e.specially for the poor of the citv. 
It was decided that the greenhouse at Walbridge Park .should 
be illuminated one evening each week and it was decided that 
Wednesday evening should be set apart for that purpc.se. 
•* * * 
Prof. Samuel B. Green, of the department of horticultui'e 
and forestry, I'niversity of Minnesota, has gone into the finan- 
cial pro.spects of the proposed national park in Northern l\Iin- 
nesota, and concludes from careful calculations that undej- 
proper fore.stry regulations the reserve may be made a first- 
class paying investment in a very few years. He closes bv 
saying: “If the above figures are correct, the proposed park, 
merely as a financial venture, will take care of itself. As an 
example in gootl forestry and a place for recreation for our 
people it ought to be worth very much. Besides, from the 
purely economical standpoint, the establi.shment of this park 
would have the- effect on the surrounding country that the 
establishment of any great permanent manufacturing concern 
has and would undoubtedly result in much improvement in the 
way of cutting timber in this .state which so often has left a 
trail of stagnation behind it. Why not try such a plan as this? 
Surely the government can well afford to do so and it cannot 
possibly be any worse than the plan of selling all the limber to 
the highest bidder, without any regard to the rights of pos- 
terity.’' 
* * -:i:- 
Euless the W'hite uniform charter enacted by the New 
York legislature for cities of the .second class such as Roches- 
ter, Syracuse, Albany and Troy, is amended at the coming ses- 
sion, the present Rochester park commission of twentv-one 
members will pass out of existence at the end of 1901 and the 
control and management of the p irks, boulevards, city squares 
and street shade trees will revert to the commissioner of jmblic 
works, who, in addition to his other duties, will manage those 
affairs, although he will do it through a superintendent of his 
own selection. The only power now wielded by the park-com- 
mission which will not be delegated to the commissioner and 
his superintendent is that of juirchasing land for park pur- 
poses. Ihider the new charter the common council b\' a three- 
fourths affirmative vote may direct the purcha.se of additional 
park land. The policing of the parks of this city, which was 
originally under the control of the park commission, passed to 
that of the commissioner of public .safety, by special legislative 
enactment, last winter. The parks of Rochester, con.sisting of 
some 600 acres, have been brought to their present excellent 
conditions under the commi.ssion, and there is a disposition on 
the part of the peoifle to secure an amendment to the law 
exempting Rochester from such provisions as rnav le inimical 
to the best interests of the jtark system. Rochester has three 
large parks and a nunibtr of small ones. 
