, 1888-07-25
THE CITY PARK.
to be a Beauty Spot
UnrivaIled.
What Has Been Done There, and
Why.
Chairman Altman of the Park Com,
mittee at Work.

Yesterday the local of THE LEADER
took a stroll through the city park for the
purpose of seeing the sights there and
for the reason that the conference being
over and the murder trial tapering down,
there is a little more space which can be
devoted to other purposes. But a few
years ago-and many remember the time
what is now the city park was naught
but a waste place, where not a tree MOI a
flower, and scarcely a patch of buffalo
grass grew. To-day it is like a garden
spot, and reminds one of the lines:
Where the clematis climbed on the window
pane
And the heilotrope grew by the garden fence.
Several years ago a few enterprising
citizens and a large number of school
children concluded that it would be a good
thing to have an unofficial 'Arbor Day."
and in pursuance of this idea a lot of
young trees were procured and set out on
the barren patch of ground which on the
maps had been designated as the city
park" Among those who set out trees
OIL that well remembered day were Fl.
Altman and Abe Idelman, who planted
their trees in a circle near tie southwest
corner of the park, and they are growing
there to-day-being the largest and most
prominent of any Of the 1000 trees now
thriving within the enclosure. From this
beginning, on which occasion a large num-
Der of trees were planted, many of which
died, the municipal authorities turned
their attention to the place, and eventually
it was not only fenced but hundreds of
trees were set out. Later on it was de-
termined that the park should receive
some degree of attention from the city
every year, and thus the park was kept in
existence and a portion of the city funds
were applied to that purpose. Still,
however, the park did not amount TO
much until about two years ago H.. Alt
man, who had been elected to the city
council, was made chairman of the COM
mitteeI on public parks and buildings,
and always having had a great desire to
see the park improved, he pulled off his
coat (fguratively speaking) and went to
work.
Although the appropriations have not
been adequate to the needs of the park
they have been faithfully and iu~diciously
applied, mainly under the supervision OF
MI. Altman, where they would do the
most good.
Without following this line of the sub
ject farther, it may be said that the park
is now indeed a beauty spot. There are
nearly 1000 trees growing there and
when it is remembered that the park, in.
Guiding the streets and drives, comprises
less than ten acres of land, it will readily
be seep hat they make an excellent
showing. Some of these trees are now of
good size, and not unfrequently one will
stumble upon a tree eight inches in diam
eter while strolling through the park. A
fine substantial wire fence has been built
around it, and where there was once
nought but barrenness, is now found lux
uriant grass which not only covers the
ground completely but grows SO fast hat
it has had to be cut four times already
during the present summer.
Since Mr.. Altman had charge finely
graveled walks have been laid out all
through the enclosure and a large number
of flower beds have been established
wherein there are now growing thousands
~ Iao,t.(,1 Ao-nrs nr auary no1nr opl
hue and the best to be found or seen any
where outside of a well regulated green
house. Seats have been provided SO that
there are now portions of the park where
one can sit down and rest under the
shade of the trees and there is nov such
an abundance of water that can be drawn
from the park hydrants that everything
is kept cool and fresh through the long
summer days.
Mr.. Altman has two men assisting at
the park-one of them Special Policeman
Hamish and the other Henry Peterson,
the horticultural, who has charge of the
flowers and flower beds, and most eff
GENTLY and intelligentlY do these men dis
charge the duties incumbent upon them
the former not only being on duty all day
but part of the night as well.
Altogether the park is now a credit to
the city and lying as it does close to the
territorial capitol and near the convent it
should be pointed out to every stranger
who comes within our gates.
Markham NeuuA-