, 1876-12-17

/ Commission money whenever Lucy le4atseIH ~ !!
| It is but proper to let the world know that Chl
cago remembers her friends:
The denomination t'AIidway Plaisancen Is
objected to by the Commissioners, who desire
to alter it, "Centrnl boulevard'' would b.
appropriate. The short avenue joining Midway
Plaisancc and Bayard avenue is still unnamed
Since it passes between the Botanical Garden:
| and the nursery, and along the entire length Of
the former. it would be convenient to call it
''Dotanic Drive"
The two parks, taken as whole, are styled
the South Parks, but each division is open to q
! scpdrate appellation. The upper might be
called Grand Park, and the lower Lake Park,
but for the fact that there is already ut least
one park OF the latter name in Chicago.
The twentv-acre park ct the junction OF Pa
vi1iou boulevard nnul Western avenue Is appro-
priatelv named after MIR. George W. Gage.
whose recent decease deprived the city OF one OF
its most earnest and efficient Colnmissloncrs.
Tho southeast forty acres Of the West Park
has been appropriate ell for the botanical gardens,
one Of the most brlliant achievements Of the
Commissioners, and probably to scientists OF
The FIRST action taken towards the starting Of
these gardens was the request of tue Commits
| sion III December, 1874, that five gentlemen Of
Chicago and Hyde Park, members Of the Chi
eago Academy OF Scjences, should undertake
Tic Committee Immediately organized, and in
January. 1875, issued circulars to all the
PRINCIPAL BOTANIC GARDENS
] OF the world. Their proposition was received
with an interest exceeding the most sanguine
expectations, aud letters full OF congratulatlon
| and encouragement were received from every
country, accompanied by over 5000 packets Of
seeds and living plants. There are now 1000
| species and varieties in the ground and under
| glass. -Four propagating-hou we're erected in
1875, and this year q new one 60z30 feet was
added Among the attractions are many decid-
| uous aud other trees, and large numbers Of
| plants nrc still received from time to
| hnq baan
obtaining the services OF Prof Bab-
| cock and his associates, to whom
[ is due the perfect production Of one OF the
| rarcst and most useful works On the American
| gardens may bo obtained from the fact that, in
| spite Of their youth, the famous Kew Gardens,
| the pride Of London, has obtained thercfrom
over 900 varieties Of seeds not to be found in all
teal as well as an esthetic value. They fur
nish almost the eutire material for the embci-
Nshment OF the parks, as well as affording
pleasing attraction for visitors and an nnriyaiea
field for the labors and advancement Of science.
There arc fcw gardens Of this character in the
world, and but two In North America. That
Chicago should have one OF these Is but IN keep
ing with tue temperament OF her inhabitants
Connected with the Botanic Gardens is
nursery. The greater portion of the trees in
this are OF varieties known to be best adapted
to the sell aud climate. There are smaller
quantities Of the finer, hardy sorts. and also q
few which are being tried in an experimental
way, The success in these experiments aud in
transplantation have been so Unusual as to sur
prise the most yersed nurseryme1, who have
previously dccl2red the accomplishment to be
impossible. Th:s is especially the case in the
TRAEsPLASTING or LARGE TREES.
Up to this year several thousand naples, ash,
linden, aud other trees have been removed from
the nursery and planted along the park-Yays
and in various other places. A peculiar feature
Of the parks Is the construction Of q ramble in
han 1ff marx
sists OF thousands of vines and shrubs from
to Is feet high, planted in tasteful groups and
forms, covering about u acres. These are in
teyspersed with q perfect labyrinth OF paths,
children it Is perfect fairyland, aud even those
Of more sedate years ind quiet pleasure here. |
This year, besides other improvements pre-
viously mentioned, the nursery has been re- !
across the entire south end Of the West Park. |
BY this removal orcr 100000 trees we're trans
planted. Three OF four thousand trees have |
also been taken from the nursery aud places !
about the West PARK. The short drive connect
ing Bayard avenue and Midway Plaisance has
been thoroughly severed. Bayard avenue has
been severed from Fifty-ffth street to Sonth |
Park avenue. a box sewer has been built along
Midway Plaisance from Woodlawn to Cottage
Grove avenue, unu for about lalf this distance
the surface has been plowed up, preparatory to
eeediug in the spring.
Little has been done upon Grand and Drcxcl
bou1eyarls except planting few new trees
wIierc the first have died. The arrangement Of
flowers on the latter parkway has been grad
uallv improved. A1nny of the flowers have
been removed to the park greenhouses for the
winter: The roadway along South Park avenue
from Fifty-fifth street to siXtieth, aud thence
east to Cottage Grove avenue, has been graded.
Trees have been planted along both sides Of
Pavilion boulevard from Reuben to Western
avenue. The side roads Of the boulevard have
also been graded from State street to the Fort
WaYae Railroad crossing.
IN THE LOWER PAIR,
Fifty-nfnth street has been maca1amzcd to tho !
lake, and drinking fountain plnced at the cor
acr Of Stony Island avenue aid Midway Plais-
ninth to 9xty-scyonth streets, along the extreme
west Of the park, and passing the picnic grounds,
forming By its unusually hard bed an excellent !
road; and many other improvements in lakes,
lawns, trees, etc, have been made Next year |
special attention will be paid to this portion OF
.he parks.
Several fine residences are going up on Grand
md prexeI boulesasds, 3,:, md psonesty7pwnecs
AZ gas and ~ater-pipes to commence building
operations. 4 horticultural company has also
,rcctcd very complete set Of houses on the !
rest Of Graild boulevard, which both adds to !
Tho South Park Commissioners have been
hosen from our best citizens, and In spite Of t
he many and great obstacles which ocsct their :
1atAt 14Aft AESC1*EA ti8 11EAts ~ VIC ! !
,eoplc and the management Of the parks
u q most ingenious and profitable man
,cr. Yet they have suffered q perfect
trade of abuse from il1ibcral and narrow mind
ID persons, until patience almost ceased to be
'irtue- Very few men could or would have ! 8
,c1d out In their places, aud they deserve inf
'itcly mere praise than las been bestowed upon
KEN.
The amount Of work to be done next vear
gill be necessarily less, on account Of rednc~ :
ion Of S100, 900 ii the park tax. This reduction
s said to be necessary, owing to the hard times,
nut Tan hardly lie considered absolutely indis- |
>cnsabc, as it will scarcely make IS difference to
ny one taxpayer.
MICHIGAN AyENUE. |
Suggestions have been made that the South
'aTk Commission should assume control Of
iich1gan avenue, from Lake street to Thirty
inth or city limits; plant two rows OF fine trees
he entire length; remacadmize the roadbed,
nd thus furnish the long desired grand drive to
be parks. This proposition should immediate !
: enlist the attention and patronage OF the pub
c- It is fact to BE- regretted that there is now
70 proper connection With the parks and the !
1ty,-an evil which must be remedied sooner or |
ateT, Il the parks are to become popular resort
d the fullest sense Of the term. !
It hap also been suggested that the Lake |
'ront Park, from Van Buren, street to Park :