Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-12

little relaxation. There has been less money
spent in its ornamentation than upon any
other according to size. Nature has done
and is doing every year wonders for 1t.
There it no sacred spot in it, and the foot
of age and of childhood is alike free to 60
anywhere within its borders. Picnics
abound within it in the pleasant weather
and bright, happy family parties are seen
everywhere. There are many laby-
rinthian paths and roads through
it, but the grass and soft sod are
more grateful to tired hot feet, and it is
delightful to roll on the grass under the
shade of its beautiful groves of grand old
forest trees. The bright Schuylkill river,
covered with boats, separates the East from
the West park, which are connectedIby the
beautiful GIrard avenue bridge. 1t is
great convenience that the park can be
reached at almost any point by street car or
steam transportation. The Wissahickon
creek, flowing through picturesque rocky
glen, through forests of beautiful old native
trees and climbing vines, is favOrite and a
very romantic drive for all ages and condi-
tions.
BoSToN's OLD ENGLISH ELMs.
Boston Common and the Public Garden
occupy together nearly 20 acres. The old
English elms contained in them are as old
as the city itself and are supposed to be the
finest of their kind in this country. The
common is free to all, but its neighbor, the
Botanical Garden, is rather reserved and
particular. 1t contains small lake, con-
servatory and some very fine statues. There
are great many small parks throughout
Boston. Commonwealth avenue is beauti-
ful park itself, being one mile and half
long and 240 feet wide, having in the center
Il Of nd lx be
through shrubbery and flowers.
The park system of Chicago was not COM
menced until after 1864. The plan was
quite extensive and is being annually
pushed to completion. There are six parks
Of 2JO acres each, extending around the city
on the north, west and south. These six
parks are connected by parkways which
are 20 miles in length and $50 feet wide, con-
tanning fine roadways and elegantly ar
ranged shrubbery and flower beds. The
trees have all to be grown, but they are
making rapid progress The park contains
about 300 acres, including the parkways.
Cleveland is called the Forest City on
account of the beauty of her streets or park
ways. She has four central parks, beauti-
fully ornamented and tastefully kept
Many of her streets are very wide and we'll
shaded. Euclid avenue is a splendid park
way, lined with elegant residences and rows
o. beautiful shade trees.
San Francisco has had hard battle with
the winds from the Pacific, which under
mime the grass on the sandbanks of which
her park is composed. Patience and con-
slant watchfulnesS, planting grass seed and
many times replanting it, have conquered
at last. and now she has a sod and trees
started which promise to make fine park.
Golden Gate Park contains 200 acres, and
wherever skill and energy are shown a
beautiful return repays the labor.
Cincinnati has several fine parks. Bur-
nett Wood has 40 acres, much of which is
rough ground, containing considerable
virgin forest and a lake. Eden Park,
which lies on the highlands along the Ohio
river, contains about 200 acres of very
inely-kept grounds. on which much money
has been spent, and which has well repaid
the efforts made in Its behalf.
IN THE OLD WORLD.
In London the vast population requires a
large area of park room or breathing space
for her overcrowded population. There are
seven great parks and many smaller ones.
But in very few of them are carriages and
horses allowed, there being no roadways
made for them excepting in two or three,
Hyde Park being one of them. The most
of the space is devoted to pedestrians
Several have botanical gardens connected
with them, the Kew Gardens being cele-
brated all over the world.
Paris is blessed with a beautiful park and
with. especially, many lovely parkways or
grand promenade avenues, which no people
know how to, and do enjoy like the French
people. The great Bois de Boulogne was
-. q
acres, much of which was of original growth
of timber. 1t was in its glory when the war
of 1870 commenced and the fine ancient
forest was ruthlessly slaughtered to accom-
modate the army OF defense with a view of
the Germans. 1t is fast coming back again
to its old beauty. Carriage drives and
lovely promenades are laid out through it
IN every direction, while four beautiful
artificial lakes are charming attraction.
the ButJes Chaumont is a new park of 81
acres, which was cut, dug and leveled out
of most unpromising old stone quarry,a and
is now one of the most beautiful parks in
the world. The Park Monceaux and the
Luxembourg and Tuilleries Gardens are
very popular with the Parisians, who
swarm over them on Sundays and HOLIDAYS
like bees. There are many other parks
throughout the city. In the neighborhood
of Paris are st. Cloud, Vincennes, Fon-
tainebleau, and. last but most glorious,
Versailles, the Beautiful. Nowhere in the
world is such a magnificent park and gar
den combined.
Vienna has park all around the CITY. on
the site of the old city walls. The Govern
ment, in order to surround it with beautiful
residences, offered freedom from taxation
for ten years to anyone who would build a
house OF certain value along it. The plan
worked admirably.
PHGNIx PARK IN DUBLIN.
And Phoenix Park in Dublin. What Irish
mans heart does not tingle and throb at that
name dear to his early memories and the
traditions of his native landi 'Phaynix"
Park has within it 1000 acres, much of it
in original forest and large part of it in
lawn or turf on which the Queens birthday
is celebrated every year on the 18th of May
in grand style, by all of the troops in that
vicinity, who fight a sham battle and are
then reviewed by the Lord Lieutenant
of Ireland. The land in some
places is quite rough and we'll
derful Irish sod is apparently made to be
tramped on by the multitude, and we'll do
they avail themselves Of their privilege
There are many beautiful groves, among
which are to be seen great herds OF deer and
other animals, which lend an additional
charm to one of the finest parks in the world.
In the parts nearest the city there has been
much attention paid to Horticulture. and the
walks and drives are rendered very beauti-
full. Dublin has many public parks or
squares which are very well kept and re-
freshing to the sight.
And SO we could 90 on with short his
tories and descriptions of parks all over the
world. Parks have a tendency to get
smaller or else larger. The high rates of
taxation in these days constrain people who
have beautiful private parks to either give
them away, or sell them in small plots as
building lots, and our method Of dividing
properties upon the death of the owner, in
lew generations destroys all traces of what
were once beautiful private parks of time
honored ancestors. If city governments
would offer inducements like Vienna to those
who beautify their private residences and
grounds, instead Of taxing them to death for
each additional ornsmentation, there would
be far more green spots and delightful
sights to rest the eyes upon in our suburbs,
and people would strive to outdo each other
10 the loEeliness Of their residences.