The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-05-24
OUR PROMENADES.
Mayor Buffers Work in Them.

Mayor Senter in his inaugural message pro-
posed a board of commissioners for Public
Grounds and the proposition commended it
self favorably to the judgment of our citizens
as was evinced by favorable comments made
thereon by many of them 1t was a PROPOSE
ton certainly wise, and one which should have
met with support from all members of the gov
eminent interested in identifying our city,
especially as the commissioners were not to be
salaried officers. Portland is SO admirably stu
ated that it ought to become favorite resort
in summer, and to encourage pleasure seekers
to stop here when on their way to the sea side
resorts beyond us, we should have our drives
and public grounds in at least respectable
condition. 1t is we'll understood that it will
not answer to suggest expense in any direction
at this time, as people are at present under the
influence of mania of economy, which will
not allow them to favor the expenditure OF
money for purposes actually necessary. 1t is
argued as matter of fashion almost, that we
cannot afford anything, apparently forgetting
that true economy goes hand in hand with
progress. 1t is, also, overlooked that the lives
of the present generation are passing rapidly by,
and that unless something is done to beautify
our public grounds now we shall get no bene-
fit from them.
People talk as though they were to live for
ever and say, sob, we cannot do anything for
ten years YETI, when perhaps, yes, probably,
two-.hirds of them ere that time has
elapsed, will have passed away. Now, it is
not wise, particularly in view of the increase of
faya thic fo opy hln
sum on public grounds. No good citizen would
advocate this, but we certainly ought to carry
out the wise plans which the late Mayor But
Ter began. 1t will be remembered that he
with wise foresight had plans made to beau
tify our promenades. Being, as all will agree,
sufficiently impressed with the necessity of
economy, he began a system of gradual i'm
provements which should extend through
series of years at comparatively no cost to
the city. The scrapings of the streets were de.
posted in convenient places, and the city Ia
borers were used when occasion offered, so
that during his administration, great deal of
work was accomplished at very little cost to
the city, and our promenades, the western in
particular, began to show what the
future would bring forth if the pol
icy of gradual improvement was pursued.
Unfortunately, the "Great Party of Reform"
were successful in electing one Chief Magis-
trate and the wheels of improvement sudden
| ly stopped. Since Mayor Buffers time moth
ing whatever has been done, and what he did
will soon be obliterated unless something is
done to prevent it. Mayor Butler was anxious
to have the purchase of the Oaks consum-
mated, and anti cipating their purchase he had
plan made for identifying them in the same
gradual way; doing a little every year SO that
the cost of improvement would not be felt. 1t
was to be hoped that Mayor Senter's recon-
mendation for the appointment of a board of
commissioners consisting of two or three citi-
zens of taste and good judgment, who might
| direct such improvements as they might deem
| necessary for the general interests, would meet
| with favorable action, and that Mayor Buffers
| good work might be continued; but, from pres
ent appearances, it would seem that the policy
| of inaction so ably begun by the administration
of seventy-nine is to be ably carried out by that
| of eighty. AS before said, no one having the
interest of the city at heart would advocate any
| extensive improvements either in the promen-
AIDES Or the new park, but the work on the pro-
menades ought to be continued in the same n-
expensive way which Mayer Butler laid out,
and the same plan could be adopted with re.
spect to the Oaks. This will be real economy.