Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-31
PARKS FOR pITTSBURG.
A Citizen Points Out One Of Onr Greatest
Needs-Some SuGgesfions Worthy Of


Citizen Points Out One Of Our Greatest
Needs-Some suSseslfons Worthy Of
The Attention Of Every Piffsburger.
Mr.. Alexander Murdoch. Of this city. who
has been at Buffalo the past week in attend
ance at the Florists National Convention, is
enthusiastic over the reception there given to
the 500 delegates of this important industry.
Mr.. Murdoch said to the writer: "Our conven-
tion this year was by far the most interesting
we have ever held. The good people of Buffalo
treated the delegates to continued ovation,
and the recollection of the few days 1
spent there will stay with me as one
OF the pleasant events of the past
In many respects Buffalo is far in the lead Of
our own city. Particularly do they lead us in
the matter OF parks and drives. There are in
the city of Buffalo 20 miles of asphalt pave
ment and many more miles will be added this
season. The committee of entertainment, in
one day provided lO0 carriages for the dele
gates. and We were permitted to roll along the
pleasant boulevards until we were tired out,
and at the end discovered, as the Queen of
sheba did when she visited Solomon, that the
half had not been told. could not but con-
trast in my mind the streets of my own city
with the grand thoroughfares of New Yorks
western metropolis
Al INC Hdtter VI parks pne COntrast Wss stiil
greater. Some five miles from the heart of
Buffalo is park of 800 or 400 acres. which could
be reached by the electric road in a few min
utes at cost of cents, and there the people
of all ages and conditions are having a good
time every day at this season of the year.
"Hammocks, swings. tables and seats were
provided in this park, and little clusters of
friends were to be seen everywhere making the
best OF the opportunities for enjoyment afford
ed. Not a day passed which did not find a
multitude of Buffalo's families making the most
OF the advantages furnished by their park The
old patriarch with his little prattling grand
children was there. and as strolled about and
looked upon the pleasant knots could not but
lament the want of such a delightful retreat in
my own city.
Thousands of Pittsburgers who cannot afford
the trip to the mountains or the sea shore
would gladly embrace the opportunity of tax.
ing their families to park on Squirrel Hill or
some other East End suburb. such a resort
would have been a fact long ago if there had
been sufficient amount of enterprise on the
part of our citizens
"On the lake shore in Buffalo, where the fort
stood in the olden time, is a smaller park, but
this has not the hold on the public which the
larger, more woody and country-like retreat at
IA distance has gained.
'.If there is one thing which Pittsburg needs
above all else to-day it is large public park to
which the people who are unable to get out of
town may 60 with their families during the dog
days. Buffalo people feel that they never made
"a better investment than when they provided
this retreat for the multitude from the heat and
Nlust of the city. Would that my own city had
p similar resting place for the toilIng Masses"
! -
As the day cf rapid transit has come. and
cable cars will ere long be ready to convey
people in all directions, five miles or more, it is
certainly high time that Pittsburg should
have public park. The objections to such a
retreat for the masses, which held good a few
years ago. are now removed by the improved
methods of locomotlon which have come into
vogue.
1t is safeto say that no great city of the
land to-day Is SO utterly destitute of park privi-
Ieges as our own. Who will make the move,
and press 1t to a conclusion, for a suburban
park, where the masses may picnic on summer
days ]. II. YOUNG.