174 
PARK AND CEMETERY 
grass plot to be planted with a row of trees. Next inside are 
two 24-foot roadways, leaving a 50-foot park space in the 
center. The greater portion of this central space will be 
left unplanted, and no high-growing trees are to be placed 
there. Mr. Simonds’ plan also shows a sketch for a bridge 
over the river. Under a law passed by the last Legislature 
this avenue may be improved at the expense of the adjoining 
property. 
The handsome new aquarium recently opened in Belle Isle 
Park, Detroit, is proving one of the most popular attractions 
for visitors in that city, and is drawing large numbers to the 
park even in the winter months. This aquarium is third in 
size in the world, and is said to be the most perfectly 
equipped of any similar structure. The pools are arranged 
behind glass in the walls of a long corridor lined with green 
enameled brick, in the center of which is a large circular open 
pool containing a fine display of the commoner fish. Labels 
giving the names of the fish and brief descriptions of their 
distribution, habits and uses, are placed before each pool. 
The collection includes specimens from the inland lakes and 
tributary streams, as well as salt water fish, crustaceans, 
mollusks, polyps and other interesting inhabitants of the deep. 
The salt water specimens require sea water, not ordinary salt 
water, and the commission has secured 30,000 gallons from 
Wood’s Hole, Mass. By aerating and filtering, this water 
can be used continuously for an indefinite period ; loss by 
evaporation is supplied by adding fresh water. 
The hickory trees in Belle Isle Park have been dying in 
great numbers for several years, and last year the park botan- 
ist, S. Alexander, made a careful examination of them and 
found the trouble due to the ravages of a hickory bark boring 
beetle, the Scolytus Quadrispinosus, and in accordance with 
the recommendations of a number of the authorities consulted, 
the trees affected were cut down and removed from the park. 
* * * 
The American Civic Association, through its Park Depart- 
ment, conducted by Mr. George A. Parker, of Hartford, 
Conn., issues a monthly bulletin, “Items of Park News,” which 
contains many notes and papers of interest to park men. It 
is the purpose to present in each number articles, addresses, 
and papers by authorities on park matters, together with news 
items from the local press throughout the country. The sec- 
ond bulletin, issued November 1st, contains an extract from 
an article on “Outer-Park Systems of America,” contributed 
to the Booklovers’ Magazine by Andrew Wright Crawford, 
Secretary of the Allied Organization for a Comprehensive 
Park Movement, of Philadelphia; “Parks for Small Cities,” 
an extract from an address by Frank H. Nutter before the 
Iowa Park and Forestry Association ; “The Parks of Greater 
New York,” a report by Nelson P. Lewis, chief engineer of 
the Board of Estimates and Apportionment of that city; and 
“Additional Park Areas,” an extract from Frederick Law 
Olmsted’s report to the Municipal Art Society of Baltimore. 
The following statistics of the parks of Greater New York 
are taken from this bulletin : Population, Board of Health 
estimate for 1904, 3,838,000; area in acres, 209,218; park area 
in acres, 6,997; total number of parks, 164; number of parks 
having an area of one acre and over, 90; average area of all 
parks per acre, 42.7 ; average area of parks having an area 
of one acre and over, 77.5 ; population per acre of total area, 
18.3 ; population per acre of park area, 549 ; park areas ex- 
pressed in per cent, of total area, 3.34; 1903 assessed valua- 
tion of real estate and special franchises (personal property 
excluded), $4,751,551,000; estimated value of parks, based 
upon values given by tax department, $297,680,000; valuation 
of park lands expressed in per cent, of assessed valuation of 
real estate and special franchises, 6.27 ; per capita investment 
in parks, $77.56. ' 
The association has also reprinted in pamphlet form the 
series of twelve articles on “The Grouping of Public Build- 
ings,” recently referred to in these columns, prepared by 
Frederick L. Ford and published in the daily press of Hart- 
ford. The European cities discussed are Berlin, Paris, Vienna 
and Moscow. The American cities discussed are Washing- 
ton, Cleveland, Providence, Springfield, Harvard College build- 
ings, and Hartford. Besides these, there are two general 
articles on the subject: one by J. C. Phelps Stokes, chairman 
of the Committee on Civic Centers of the Municipal Art So- 
ciety of New York City, and one by Charles Mulford Robin- 
son, the author of “Modern Civic Art,” and other books along 
similar lines. All of the contributors to the series are au- 
thorities on their subjects, and the pamphlet is one of the most 
valuable collections on this subject ever published. A limited 
number of the pamphlets may be had from Mr. Parker for 
six cents each, the cost of mailing. 
Mr. Parker is also sending out inquiries for information 
regarding encroachments on parks or public grounds, either 
by selling for private use, or by the location of buildings, 
public or semi-public, which are not in keeping with the pur- 
poses of the park. All who have any printed information or 
personal experience with park encroachments are requested 
to send the facts to him for use in a future bulletin of the 
Association. 
Reform in Convention cManagement. 
Editor Park and Cemetery : I shall feel obliged by your 
sparing me a little space in the official organ of the A. A. C. S. 
respecting the annual convention. 
In my opinion, which is shared by others, it would be just 
as well if the members were given an opportunity to openly 
discuss as to when and how the meetings can best be con- 
ducted. At present a committee is appointed, who take things 
into their own hands, and do just as they please. Good fel- 
lows all. The main idea is to make the convention as enjoy- 
able as possible. So far the executives have been too generous. 
Each has tried to go one better than the other fellow, and 
in this respect a little bit inclined to overlook the business end. 
This matter of entertaining makes it difficult for others to fol- 
low. Those who would like to have the A. A. C. S. meet in 
their cities do not feel justified in going to so much expense. 
Therefore no invitation. Is it not time so much entertaining 
was dropped, and the annual meetings held where they are 
likely to be profitable to that part of the country, and also gain 
new members for the association? 
The idea of holding sessions at cemeteries is commendable, 
affording, as it does, a combination of pleasure and business. 
But is it not a mistaken kindness driving us around on exhibi- 
tion, as it were? Returning home from the Chicago conven- 
tion, several of us came across a number of coaches laden with 
members of a similar organization to ours. My wife re- 
marked : “Oh, wad we could see ourselves as ithers see us,” 
and the joke was enjoyed by several of the cemetery men pres- 
ent. 
The late George Scott, at Cincinnati, was very outspoken on 
this subject, likening the members to a lot of school chil- 
dren, given an outing. There will be much to see at Washing- 
ton, and no doubt many would prefer being left to their own 
devices, instead of being taken around in a body. 
