Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-24
THE PARKS.
They Are Visited by the Governor and
the Commission.

Promptly at 10 O'Clock yesterday
morning, as was announced in yester-
days papers, the park commission, con-
sisting of M. L. Wicks, Sutherland Hut
ton and S. C. Hubbell, met at the
Nadeau house, where they found Gov
ernor Waterman in waiting. The gov
ernor was most cordial in his reception
of the park commission, and after few
minutes conversation the commission,
accompanied by the governor, took car
riages in waiting for a visit to the city
parks. One of the carriages drove around
to the First National Bank and picked
up Hon. E. f. Spence, who was per-
suaded to take a seat with the governor;
and the other carriage drove to the city
hall, where Mayor Hazard, ex-officio
member OF the board, was found alb
sorbed in the duties of his office. The
mayor, being an enthusiast on the sub
ject of parks, was easily induced to join
the party. The day was absolutely per-
feet, the air was balmy and deliciously
cool and refreshing. The party were all
in good spirits, except possibly the
mayor, who was out the previous night
watching with friend and felt little
sleepy.
The first park visited was the Sixth
street park, where everything was found
in fine condition. The beautiful flowers
and shrubs scattered throughout the
park sending out their fragrance on the
morning air, the green grass, the song
of innumerable birds, the shady trees,
the rustic seats, were all very fascnat-
ing, and the party found it difficult to
leave the enchanted spot. These i'm
provements Hon. E. F. Spence caused
to be started while he was member of
the city council some years ago, and he
pleasure and satisfaction; and here, too,
the governor found barren waste
occupied only by squirrels and gophers in
1868, when he first visited Los Angeles,
and was delighted at the wonderful
change which had taken place.
The party next visited Westlake park,
driving out Orange street, which was
graded last winter and is now in fine
condition, except possibly in front of
Mr.. ShattO's place, who is now grading
his lot preparatory to building a 500 900
residence, and the continuous use of the
road has left it little dusty at that
point.
The beautiful sheet of fresh water,
which occupies a conspicuous place in
the park, could be seen number of
blocks ahead before the park was
reached. The streets surrounding the
Westlake park were also all graded last
winter, and are now almost perfect and
quite free from dust. The streets are
eighty and one hundred feet wide, and
make charming drive of nearly mile
around the park. There is also fine
street graded through the park around
the lake, of about half as long. The
green terraces OF grass going down to
the waters edge, the palm trees, shrub
berry, the flowers and creeping vines, the
beautiful lake and it's boats, presented a
delightful scene. 1t shows how much
can be accomplished in year and a
half, for when the park commission took
charge of the park at that time it was
one OF the most desolate and unattrac,
tive places in the city. 1t has already
become a place of great attraction, where
thousands go every week, and will
eventually be one of the most beautiful
small parks in the world.
Mr.. Spence, while he was mayor of
the city, was the first to call the atten-
ton OF the council to this forsaken tract
in his recommendations that it be dedi-
Gated as public park, and through his
influence with the council at that time
it was made a park. He was very
much gratified and delighted to see his
original conceptions being carried out.
The governor expressed himself as