Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-06-18
Breathing Places for the AIiIlion-Parks I'm
Cincinnati. :


The Park fever as regularly afflicts our City
Council, at stated intervals, as does the ague
attack the denizens of the Black Swamp.
About twice year we are told that we must
have breathing-places, or contagiou, like the
London plague, would depopulate the place.
But the enthusiasm is usually too suddenly
kindled to result in any thing but talk; or, II
hasty to avail any thing. The Washington
Park, recently burying-ground, is a case in
point.
With a characteristic care for the preserya-
tion of the trees already growing, which were
large and beautiful, a great portion of the
fence around the lot was thrown down, all
kinds of stock running at large invited to
browse at leisure, carts and drays carefully
slowed away all over the lot for safe keeping,
and the small space not thus occupied, con-
verted into public laundry. All this was
supposed absolutely necessary to protect the
trees during the interval required for the
removal of the bodies inferred there; and so
admirably has this policy been adapted to the
end in view, that beautiful grove has been
converted into an irregular something, re-
sembling western clearing. Only $50 900
have been expended in securing this result,
and our City Fathersare triumphantly point
ing their constituents to it as an example of
economy. AE1lt ts
At a recent session of the Council an ap-
preparation of Sc, 900 was voted to rebuild the
fence torn down, and replace the trees de-
stroyed, and Commission to superintend
the work has been appointed by the Superior
Court. 1t has already organized, and the
members appear determined to. prosecute the
work with economy and dispatch; but the
appropriation is 80 small that no great ben
efits can be anticipated. Five thousand dol
lars more, to be expended under the direction
of the same Commission, have been appro-
priated to build fence around and adorn the
West End Park, and were it trebled the re-
suits would, no doubt, be advantageous; but
as 1t is, there is some doubt on the subject.
As this projected Park is on the line Of
street railroad, there is but one impediment
to its success, and that is, it is pet scheme of
Theodore Marsh, acircumstauce calculated to
give 1t avery unsayory odor; his friendship
always going farther toward killing any pro-
ject than the hostility of ten other men.
When the appropriations to which we have
adyerted were under consideration, Mr.. Eg-
gleston proposed an amendment, giving
$4,000 for the improvement of the Eighth
street Market-space, but as he was opposed
to throwing It open to the public, it was very
properly voted down. Ap amendment Of
Mr.. Hirst appropriating $1,000 for the i'm
proyement Of the park adjoining the reser-
voir, was likewise defeated, as it was entirely
under the control of the Water-works.
To large city Parks are necessity; Gin
cinnati is the third in the Union, and has
none, that can be used, except the Water
works Park, which is always closed when it
should be open, and is not under the control
of the city government There is no place in
the Union, of one-fourth the size, but is su-
perior in this respect to the Western Metrop-
olis-a fact which we record with regret, but
with the hope that the proper authorities
may be induced to alter it.