120 
PARK AND CEMETERY, 
PARK NOTES. 
The appropriation for the improvement of League Island 
Park, Philadelphia, for this 3’ear is 75,000. 
* * » 
Rhinelander, Wis., recentlj’ vo'ed to set aside |io,ooo for a 
public park. This is a step in the right direction. 
* * 
The city fathers of LaSalle, 111 ., have appropriated 1 1000 
for the improvement of the city park, which is to be expendel 
b3’ the ladies, who will form an improvement association and 
undertake more extensive operations, 
Waukegan, 111 ., citizens are considering the organization of 
a park district to obtain the benefits of the new state law. A 
petition is being circulat'd asking County Judge Jones to call a 
special election to vote on the question. 
* * * 
The Jersey City, N. J., Board of Pinance has appropriated 
$35,000 to purchase land in the Italian eolon3', known as “Little 
Itah’,” for a park site. The city owns most of the land needed. 
The Boarl wdll also appropriate $65,000 for a site for a park in 
the Lafa3'ette section. 
* * * 
hlayor Jones of Toledo, O., assisted at the formal opening 
of the first children's playground in Buffalo, N. Y., recently: 
The playground is the result of efforts madeb3- the Liberal club 
of that city, before which Mr. Jones delivf red an address. He 
also made a donation fot the pla3’ground, which is modeled 
after his own Golden Rule park in Toledo. 
» * * 
If the report of an investigating committee on the destruc- 
tion of trees and the natural adornment about the Soldiers’ 
Home at Milfo'd, Xeb., 153’ the commandant of the Home be 
true, that official should be condemned to mount guard over his 
destruction for the bal nee of his da3’s. The absence of com- 
mon, ordinar3* sense in such a case proves the individual totally 
unfit for the office. 
* » * 
The West Park Commissioners, of Chicago, haye finally 
decided to accept the gift of the Gunther collection of war 
relics, pictures, historical papers, etc. This collection will be 
remembered by all visitors to Chicago at the World's Fair time. 
A building will be erected as a museum in which to displa3' file 
collection, for which designs have been prepared, and it will 
cost in the neighborhood of $150,000. 
* * * 
By a discussion in the Park Board of Detroit, Mich., in rela- 
tion to park wagons for the use of the public, attention has 
been called to the availability of electric vehicles. The argu- 
ment that there would be no expenses attached when not in use 
is an attractive one, and the park authorities in other places 
who maintain horse vehicles for the accommodation of the 
public, may yet have their prejudice against motor-cy'cles trans- 
formed in favor of such means of passenger service in the parks. 
* * * 
Some Boston experts who have been examining the parks of 
Cleveland, O., have severeh’ criticised certain features of im- 
provement. Much of the natural beauty in certain parts has 
been spoiled in the attempts to improve them. The custom of 
planting flow'ers, shrubbery or trees in places where it is neces- 
sary to water and look after them, in order to keep them alive, 
was condemned. The use of pine trees in soil and climate not 
adapted to their requirements was criticized. Such criticisms 
are probably well founded and are .suggestive as to “w'hat not 
to do.” 
* -x- * 
The parks, public squares and avenues of New' Orleans, 
La., are administered by separate commissions, nearly every 
avenue and square having its special board of commissioners. 
Excepting the commissioners for Audubon and City parks, 
these commissions are appointed by the ma3’or and confirmed 
b3’ the cit3’ council, and all appointments are honorar3'. In- 
cluding private parks and public resorts, the city has 847 acres 
of park area, divided as follows: Private parks, 209 acres; resi- 
dence parks, 75 acres; public resorts, ii acres; public parks, 
499 acres; public squares and places, 53.25 acres. Besides 
these the avenues embrace some 41 acres. Of the public parks, 
Audubon comprises 280 acres; New' Orleans Cit3' Park, 216 
acres; Metairie Park, 3 acres. 
X » * 
The Essex Count3’, N. J., park system, which has frequent- 
ly been noticed in the.se columns, was officially inspected tw the 
park commission and its guests last month. The S3'stem is a 
most comprehensive one and was provided for bv act of legis- 
lature, and upon which a large sim has been expended under 
judicious management and on expert plans. The parks in- 
cluded in this S3'stem are: Branch Brook Park, E’gle Rock 
Reservation, Llewell3’n, Orange and West Side parks, Weequa- 
hic reservation. East Side and Watsessing parks. These in- 
clude ever3' description of park scenery and development, and 
some of the sections are unequaled for romantic and inspiring 
landscape view's. When the S3'stem is connected by' parkways, 
as it must eventually' be, Essex countv will possess one of the 
finest park developments in the world. 
* * * 
The model lawn competition inaugurated in Kansas City 
by the A'ansas City Times in April last b>' the offer of a prize 
of $250 for the prettiest law'n of 25 feet and over, the prize to be 
awarded on July 4, marks, as Congressman Cowherd said when 
aw'arding the premiums, a new' era in the his'ory of the im- 
provement of Kansas City. A large number of prizes were also 
offered by other interests and the result was an enthusiastic 
effort on the part of the people to improve, jlhere w a* an im- 
mense gathering in the “Paseo” on the occasion of announcing 
the winners, and the general concensus of opinion is that the 
judges, who w'ere w'onien from other states and localities, 
thoroughly disinterested, had been wise in their awards. The 
effort of the Times, which has unquestionably been crow'ned 
with success, suggests similar movements in other cities. In 
Kansas City the young people were eminently successful and 
the lessons inculcated will be of lasting benefit. 
X • * 
What one man w'ith sturdy' enthusiasm can do to create and 
improve his surroundings is very emphatically' demonstrated by 
Bluff City, Kans .s. James Glover, who is now may'or, banker, 
postma ter, etc., of the town, settled on its site in 1886. He 
laid out the town on the bare prairie and has w'atched it grow. 
He has worked steadily' to improve and beautify the place and 
there is now a park of seven acres w'ith 2,000 trees in it adjoining 
the publ c school and the children use it as a playground. Mr. 
Glover has had enthusiastic helpft-s in Timothy' O’Connell a d 
C. O. Johnson. They had uphill work, but never falterel, and 
although the town has but 65 voters, and some 200 residents, 
every house has its law'ii mow'er, and the place is a beauty spot. 
It is situated in the midst of some 50,000 acres of wheat, and at 
the regular band concerts in the park the farmers from all round 
drive in to e ijoy themselves. Bluff City is a practical example 
of W’hat one or two leading spirits can do in a community to 
bring about ideal results, and it does not take many years to do 
it either. 
