340 
PARK AND CEMRTERY 
confederation of such societies. He also reported 
that an exhibition had been arranged for at Turin, 
Italy. The total membership of the association was 
41 1, including 12 life members. 
( ). C. Simonds, of Chicago, treasurer, reported to- 
tal receipts - during the year, including a balance of 
$273.01 on hand, were $955.02. Expenditures, $600, 
leaving balance on hand of $355.02. 
The secretary of the auxiliary, IMiss Margrethe K. 
Christensen, of Louisville, Ky., reported that there had 
been an increase of 123 members during the year, 
making a total membership of 231. Five new branches 
had been started, at the following places : Louisville, 
New ( drleans, Pasadena, Los Angeles, and San Fran- 
cisco. The receipts of the year were $518.00, of 
which $259 was paid to the association ; the current 
e.xpenses were $103.26, leaving a balance on hand of 
$156.74. 
( 1 . A. Parker, of Hartford, Conn., chairman of 
committee on Park Census, submitted a roll of statis- 
tics without reading, and gave a brief but eloquent 
address on the progress of the work. He said in part ; 
“Fifty years ago no mnnicipalitv in the United 
States had purchased an acre of land for park pur- 
poses. But by last year's report from all but eleven of 
the cities of over 50,000 population, there were 2,360 
parks and squares enumerated, and while the areas 
are not as complete as the names, the total areas as 
given amount to 59.717 acres, at a valuation of $531.- 
571,947. The yearly expenses for construction pnr- 
])oses were $4,555,213, and for maintenance $4,849,- 
150. It is probably within the facts when it is stated 
that the cities of the United States have 75,000 acres 
of land in parks, and expend $11,000,000 annnallv in 
their imiirovements and maintenance.” 
The President called attention to the value of the 
work of Mr. Parker and the immense amount of valu- 
able material which he had collected, and suggested 
that the Census Bureau of the Lmited States Govern- 
ment might well avail themselves of it. 
At the afternoon session Dr. Charles W’. Eliot, Pres- 
ident of Harvard University, spoke on “Poixular Utili- 
zation of Public Reservations.” Extracts from his 
paper will be found on another page. 
Rev. J. N. Hallock, D. D., spoke on “The Influence 
of Beautiful Surroundings on Children.” At the con- 
clusion of the formal addresses. Col. Holden, of Cleve- 
land, O., thanked the speakers, especially Dr. Eliot. 
Mr. Foster, of Des Moines, Iowa, seconded the motion 
of Col. Holden. Mr. Charles M. Loring, of Minneap- 
olis, said he felt amply repaid for having traveled 
1,500 miles in the addresses of Dr. Eliot and Mr. Hal- 
lock. He said the surroundings of children had 
much to do with their character. They have a native 
love for flowers and plants. This is one of the marked 
dififerences between city and country bovs. He told 
of the city boy who asked where the trees grew that 
bore maple sugar, and when he saw a herd of cattle 
chewing their cud asked how the farmer ever got 
money enough to buy chewing gum for them. 
At the conclusion of Air. Loring’s address, the 
President announced the welcome new'S that the ladies 
of Boston would serve afternoon tea in the Exhibition 
Hall, and a motion to adjourn was quickly carried. 
At the evening session Miss Mira Loyd Dock spoke 
of the State F'orest Reservations. 
Dick J. Crosby, of the Department of Agriculture, 
introduced the subject of the "School Garden Move- 
ment” by an interesting paper on the subject. 
Mr. Albert Kelsey, of Philadelphia, gave an illus- 
trated talk on “Water an Effective Factor of Munici- 
pal Art.” 
Wednesday, August 6th, Morning Session, 
The session opened at 1 1 a. m. The experience 
meeting, according to the program, was opened by Dr. 
Josiah Strong, of New AMrk, President of the League 
of Social Service. He spoke briefly of the work of 
the League. 
Mrs. Francis R. Morse, of Boston, of the Society 
for the Preservation of Native Plants, reviewed the 
work of the society in Boston. Her remarks were 
l)refaced by the reading of the constitution of the 
National Society for the Preservation of Native Wild 
Flowers by Secretary Alanning. Her remarks were 
concluded with an eloquent plea for the preservation 
of native plants. She pleaded for help to make every- 
body protectors rather than destroyers of wild flowers. 
Clinton Rogers Woodruff, secretary of the National 
Municipal League, briefly outlined the development 
of the societies for municipal improvement, and advo- 
cated co-operation and federation of societies for bet- 
ter municipal government. 
The President suggested that it would be a good 
thing for some wealthy American to provide for the 
education of young men in municipal science. 
Mr. Frank (,lhapin Bray, treasurer of the American 
League for Civic Improvement, spoke of the work and 
growth of his society. It provides lecturers for vil- 
lage improvement societies, literature and pictures for 
those who want them, and in other ways assists people 
who are imbued with the spirit of improvement. 
The Architectural League of America was repre- 
sented by H. K. Bush-Brown, chairman of the INIuni- 
cipal Improvement Committee. He called attention to 
the financial advantages of art and beauty in a munici- 
pality, citing the large amount of money, running into 
millions of dollars, which are spent in Paris, Rome and 
other European countries, because of their art and 
heantv. The cities which are prosperous are those 
which have art attractions as an appreciation of the 
