Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-26
A MODEL SYSTEM OF PARKS.
The Many Beautiful Breathing
Places of st. Louis.
COST OF THEIR MAINTENANCE.
How They Were Secured by the City
and How They Are Managed
Munihcent Gifts of Pri-
vate individuals.
The City of Park a.

ST. LOUIS, May 23.-Special to THE BEE.
st. Louis has often been called the Park
City, on account of the thorough knowledge
her citizens have of the inestimable advan-
tages Of fresh air and the PRACTICAL way in
which they have followed up that knowledge
by a utilization of the almost uneaualed
natural advantages for park purposes.
Including the 200" and Shaw's garden,
both Of which are properly classed as arteries
of the city lungs, no less than twenty-four
parks and squares contribute TO the good
health aud natural beauty of the municipality.
An aggregate OF 2, ITO acres inside the city
limits is dedicated TO this purpose and there
is no talk Of ever reducing the area, though
the new mllon-dollar city hall may be built
in the center of Washington square, down.
town park of four acres.
COST or MAINTENANCE.
No city has been more fortunate in the
matter of parks than st. Louis, and no city
takes greater pride in such institutions.
Whero IL has been necessary to issue bonds,
as in the case of Forest, Fallon and Caronda-
let they have been made to run twenty years
and bear 6 per cent interest. The park bonds
Of st. Louis, payable in 1905, are considered
gilt-edged ectritics and never go under l23.
The bonds are In no case lien on the park
grounds 10 secure payment.
The chief expense, therefore, in connec-
ton with the parks is the cost of their care
and maintenance. The park commissioner,
who is ex otficia member of the board of
public improvements is selected by the mayor
aud holds his office four years, his salary be-
ing S2,00D per annum.
Every pari, down to the smallest has
keeper, who is appointed by the commission
ers subject to the approval OF the mayor.
The smallest salary paid a keeper is $3.50 per
annum, the largest (Forest Park Sl,SOO.
All the larger parks employ practical gar.
ueners.
The cost of maintaining these parks in 1888
was as follows:
Benton s2.66l.6S Carondalet i3, 3S, Carr
Square sS9303, Forest Park minimum al
lowed) $50, 900, Gamble Place S6S5.75 Ora
vols Place S654.44, Hyde Park S2092l2,
Lafayette Park s69l7S3, Lyon Park ST.
373.S2 O'Fallon Park S3,42907, ST. Louis
s1,74l77, st. Louis Place extension 81, ,499.53,
South st. Louis Square S494.S7, Tower
Grove $4,000, Washington Square Sl,2O1.43.
The total is considerably less than 500, 900,
rs will be seen. Add to this So, 242 cost Of
the park commissioners office and you have
one of the most extensive systems of parks
in the world for twelve months
Mr. e. G. Eggling, the general superin-
tendent of parks in St. Louis IS a botanist OF
extensive reputation and character. AT the
break of the war he was private gardener
in the family of Jefferson Davis eX president
of the confederacy.
APPRAISED VALUE
The value of st. Louis parks are, as ap-
praised 1882 as follows:
Forest Park 1871 acres, purchase price,
ti89,995 cost to August, 1877, Sl3, $50, 426. l6;
since 1877 $50, 600 per year has been appro-
priated for 1t. 1t is more of rural retreat
than place for botanical display.
Tower grove. ZIG acres, including land