PARK AND CEMETERY 
205 
Animal reports or extracts from them, historical sketches, 
descriptive circulars , photographs of improvements or dis- 
tinctive features are requested for use in this department . 
The accompanying illustration which appeared in a recent 
issue of the Boston Globe, shows a general view of the pro- 
posed improvement of the Charles River Basin, one of the 
great park undertakings in Boston’s Metropolitan System. In 
the foreground appears the proposed dam, which will take 
the place of the present Craigie bridge, and hold back the 
waters so as to form the basin beyond. The dam is to be 
traversed by a wide and beautiful driveway, and will be ioo 
feet wide on top. On the left or south side of the picture 
The park commissioners of Worcester, Mass., are endeavor- 
ing to secure the repeal of the statute law passed in 1882 pro- 
viding that no structure covering more than 600 square feet be 
erected on a park of less than 100 acres. The law has been 
repealed for Boston, Springfield and Quincy and the park 
commissioners of all three cities have commented favorably on 
the change. Secretary James Draper finds that the law is 
already violated in many of the city’s parks, and as there 
is but one park in Worcester in which a larger building can be 
constructed under the law the commission finds its work 
seriously impeded in the development of the twelve smaller 
parks under its care. 
* * * 
Plans are being formulated in Portland, Ore., to secure be- 
tween 40 and 45 acres of ground now being used as the Lewis 
and Clark Exposition grounds and Hawthorne Park as a part 
of the city park system. A committee from the Taxpayers’ 
League, consisting of J. Couch Flanders, Robert Livingstone 
and Paul Wessinger, was appointed to take up the matter of 
buying the property. A like committee was named by the 
Lewis and Clark Commission, consisting of W. D. Fenton and 
Rufus C. Mallory. The Exposition has landscaped the ground, 
there is a perfect sewer system installed, water mains have 
PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT OP CHARLES RIVER BASIN, BOSTON. 
appears the present Charles Bank, which extends from Lever- 
ett street to Cambridge and marks the beginning of the great 
Charles River improvement work. On the right or north 
side of the picture is that part of the Cambridge River Park, 
known as the “Front.” It is pierced at its easterly end by the 
Lechmere, and, further along, by the Broad canal. Extending 
across the center of the basin is shown the magnificent new 
West Boston bridge, joining Boston and Cambridge. Work 
on this bridge is now rapidly progressing, and the structure is 
to be opened for traffic next summer. This will be one of 
the finest and most artistic bridges of the modern world. 
The parkway will be continued from the Charles Bank 
southward and westward past the Union Boat Clubhouse, and 
along that part of the river on which the Beacon street man- 
sions abut. All of this section is to be filled in to a width 
of about 100 feet, and connected with the Back Bay fens near 
Massachusetts avenue. This splendid boulevard will be plant- 
ed with shade trees and shrubs, and will probably be con- 
nected with the West Boston bridge by a graceful sweep. 
* * * 
The City Club of New York has allied itself with other 
organizations to defend Bronx Park, against the proposed 
vandalism of the rapid transit commission, which is planning 
to build an elevated road extension through the city’s play- 
ground because it offers the straightest route to the populous 
Williamsbridge district. The City Club asserts the plan is 
illegal, for under the rapid transit act of 1891 no public park 
may be occupied by a corporation formed under the act. 
been laid, and two of the great buildings that are now on 
the grounds will be allowed to stand. These buildings are 
estimated to be worth $150,000, and have been constructed with 
a view to permanency. 
i'fi * * 
The executive committee of the American Association of 
Park Superintendents met in Springfield, Mass., Jan. 18. The 
business before the meeting was the selection of a meeting 
place for 1905, and Buffalo was chosen as the convention 
city, the dates being June 28-29-30 next. It was also decided 
to print the bulletins of the Association, which are becoming 
more and more valuable as the membership increases. Those 
attending the meeting were : W. S. Egerton, Albany ; J. F. 
Cowell, Buffalo ; J. A. Pettigrew and J. W. Duncan, Boston ; 
Byron Worthen, Manchester, N. H. ; G. X. Amrhyn, New 
Haven, Conn. ; C. E. Keith, Bridgeport, Conn. ; Theo. Wirth 
and G. A. Parker, Hartford, Conn., and James Draper, Wor- 
cester, Mass. 
* * * 
The Nebraska Park and Forestry Association held a well 
attended and enthusiastic meeting .Jan. 14th at the Agricul- 
tural College at Lincoln, Neb. C. S. Harrison, the president, 
was prevented from being present by a severe accident. Ad- 
dresses were made by Dr. Chas. Bessey, Prof. Miller, Pro- 
fessor of Forestry ; Prof. R. A. Emerson and Secretary Stitt- 
son and others. C. S. Harrison was re-elected president and 
L. D. Stittson secretary. Another pamphlet is to be pub- 
lished by the society on park, forest and home adornment. 
