, 1880-07-18
CHICAGO PARKS.

| with this.
CHICAGO PARKS.
What Is Being Done for the Improve
ment of the Parks In the West DlrI-
xion-A Visit to Douglas, Central, and
Humboldt-T The Lakes, DrIveways,
aud Lnntiscape-suracn1n. Resorts
That Are Beginning. to Ee Apprec1-
| a3el.
The park and boulevard system Of Chicago
is yet in Its infancy. though its fame is
already worldwide. The North Division
boasts It's Lincoln Park and Lake-Shore drive,
| the park being the easiest of approach from
the business centre and the boulevard being
unescclled for its beauty and location. The
! South Parks are in state of in
completion, but , are being laid out
| with taste, and are approached BY
| a system Of drives that has no superior any
| where. But these parks are provided with
| liberal amount Of money. The North Chica-
go Park Board has an income in the neigh
borhood Of 100000 and the South Park
about $500 900 per annum, and hence there is
a better chance for an artistic and substantial
Developments. It is not so on the West
| Side. The West Park Board has control
of the West Side boulevards and the three
| parks, including Douglas, Central, and
Humboldt. They comprise very broad
and comprehensive system. But IN act Of
| the Legislature creating the West Park
Board limits its income to 100000 per all
nnm for park purposes and the park tax to
course, greatly rat1ras improvements, Since
tenn 'ats IS tie lie West II soRE"sas siGs las inausa
rated at least s45,ooo to pay the
<,E +t,r
boaimen, mechanics, water: wster-carts,
sprinklln&. repairs, etc, OF, course, this
leaves but little money to make permanent
Improvements with. In Douglas Park there
Central Park Only has forty-e{ght acres i'm
proved in it, and Humboldt 100 acres. It the
parl1-tax was doubled, or made five mills,
the income Of the Park Board would be dou-
years be perfected and elaborated. This
matter is now being seriously discussed by
some of the largest and Wealthiest taxpayers
of the West Division.
A TRIBUNE reporter yesterday afternoon
wards in company with Mr.. Sextus n. VIII
coz, President Of the West Park Board. In
this connection it might be stated TINT he is
giving his services free and attending to all
mnortant matters pGrsonGfaI drive o.. qh
street-car route, brings one within q compar-
atively short distance of Douglas Park, but
the Railway Company ought certainly
to extend its lines to the park, and it would
commodate the public for which it was char
tered.
The approach to the park BY way of the
drive OIL Twelfth street, west OF Ashland ay- |
to Ogden avenue, which,, It is stipulated, |
shall also be kept open to the same width |
through, the park and clear to Riverside.
Douglas Park IS 4 beautiful spot, and once |
s.rs g. sn%r- f$,-r1 %1r-lkIn
moved from TUG noise, the dust, and fhe heat
OF the city. It is neatly and tastefully laid
out. The 102 acres under cultivation have |
planted thereon 81, ,0o9 trees. Unfortunately,
some :, 900 trees have been set out. There
have also been added two new anu yery
handsome police stations. Douglas Park
boasts OF sixteen acres OF very pretty !aSsi
supplied by an arteslan well l:SV
the water flow Is Diminishing. A new green,
house., having a trout Of twenty-five feet and
depth Ut seVentI-lfe teot, was completea
this year. IN It are banana-trees with trult
pa pals ase and "S very ne i COLLECTION M % Of ferns:
There is a strikingl display OF
flowers made il bettS, c!rcles, eIc.. under L}e
supervision OF John Sell, the gardener, WHO
has control Of the greenllouses- There are
feet wide mud 100 feet deep There are over
400 rose-bushes III plQom,: represent,
ing a.. great variety. Ihe bouieyarA
is being. constructed. It will BE- go fset wide
aud Il 80 feet long. Central Park lies three
folrths OF mile West OF Doaglas fark,
and the connecting boulevard H. INTENDED 20
DC a somewhaG eoullterpart o1 o onreSel. nniI
upon more elapoInH sc.tie' !AetE Y ~ W
two drivewaYs, each sixty feet III width, and
frequent breaks IN II, So Us TO a1lor1 chance
to cross from one slpe 70 tIle otner. Ihe
boulevard VIII pe completeo Dy tne Isl ni
October neELy WEen LlG CnreE PARKS Will |