St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-05-17
THE CITY,S PARKS.
They Are Being Beautified for the
Eks Gaming Summer

IS Coming Summer.
A visit yesterday to several of the city's
parks by,a GLOBE representative. and also
an inter view with Aid. Van Slyke, revealed
quite satisfactory condition of affairs
The park. occupying the square be-
tween Fifth and Sixth streets and Sibley
and Wacouta, is being neatly sodded down,
and will. by the close of this week, present
an attractive spot of green. There were
set out in this park siXty-four fine, healthy
maple and Elm trees, and Aid. Van Slyke
says that the trees all promise to live
and grow rapidly, and he says by planting
older trees the city will have the advantage
of from six to ten years growth and as
shade trees they will be valuable so much
earlier He says the small and young trees
set out last fall in Central park by local
nurserymen appear to be dying and he
thinks at the present time fully third
OF them are dead. He now believes the
wiser course is to set out older trees to
secure healthy growth and quick shade. In
the matter of trees he has listened to the
advice of old and experienced citizens and
believes the people of st. Paul, inter-
ested in the city's parks. will
have no cause for complaint but
will, on the contrary, be well satisfied with
the results.
Mr.. Van Slyke has had set out in all, in
the various parks about, 600 fine trees, en-
bracing maple. elm and Eastwood, and the
large majority of them promise exceedingly
well. The committee expect to have at
least six of the principal parks in excellent
shape by the first or tenth of June All
are being thoroughly cleaned up, flowers
started, the walks put in fine condition,
and everything necessary to beauty and at
Effectiveness. They will also, this spring.
erect in Smith park rustic
stone fountain built with the
attractive and romantic appearing
stone fonnd near Shakopee. The fountain
will be forty feet in diameter and arranged
artificially with artificial waterfalls, and
will have places for the growing of ever
greens, flowers, etc., the idea being to give
it as much of natural rustic appearance as
possible. The only seats in the park will
be rustic ones arranged around the fount-
aih. A fine flag-stone promenade is being
put down entirely around the park. 1t is
sixteen feet in width. In reply to the
question as to what he knew of the APP
pointment of special park commission,
Mr.. Van Slyke stated that he knew nothing
more of the matter than the report, and
that he did not know how it originated.
SUNDAY IN THE PARKS.
At Rice park but few of the settles or
rustic benches were unoccupied during the
day, especially during the afternoon. The
inviting shade OF the trees and the invigor-
ating color of the well kept grass plats i'll
yited rest, and people rested there. The
occupants were largely of the sterner sex,
but the gentler was not unrepresented, as
was shown by the baby carriages wheeled
about to give infant heirs an airing and the
occasional glimpse of an Easter hat in close
proximity to the shoulder of a tourists
jacket. Children accompanied by their
mothers in Sunday clothes walked Sc
dately about the grass platS and kicked
pebbles from the gravel walks. apparently
half impressed with the idea that they
must neither soil their clothes nor make
much noise, and also that their elders were
only making pretense of watching them.
Gamins in every day soiled garments and
of very tender ages scrupulously avoided
the clearly dressed ones and performed
gymnastics on the iron ratings, about the
trunks of the trees and the border of the
park. A glance about the park was as
good as an hours rest. for the quiet and
contentment of everybody visible seemed
to be both contagious and satisfactory. To
be sure the little marble pipeman elevated
above the fountain basi looked aloft in vain
for water scientifically squirted from the
throat OF his supporting swan, but the air
was cool and his audience had no use for
the swans services yesterday
At Irvine park gang of about twenty
little boys and girls hung about the foun-
tain basin filled by the overflow from the
century plant pot poured through the noses
of a flock of sheep all with horns. They
Systematically tormented the solitary occu-
pant Of the pool. defenseless frog, until