The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-07
URBAN GASES.
Frank McCOppin Urges Increased
Public Grounds.
The Park and Garden Acreage of Other MUM
cipalities-The Wonderful Prog
ress Of Melbourne.

Frank McCODpn Iectured last evening al the
Real Estate Exchange on Gardens ana Parks"
A faig-sized audience, which included several OF
the prominent real estate men Of the city,
listened 60 the lecture.
"From the beginning" said Mr.. MeCOppin in
substance, "a love of the beautiful seems 10 have
been implanted In man, and, as a result OF this
feeling, man has planted gardens. Tie Greeks
and Romans developed this taste to a certain ex-
tent, but the former devoted themselves as a
race to national gymnastIe games and the latter
TO the bloody sports OF the amphitheater. The
garden, extended Into the park for the people, is
Of modern growth.
"In early England the parks we're the kings
game preserves, closed to the masses OF the
people. Modern London, however, is we'll pro-
vided with public recreation grounds. There
are more than 5000 acres OF public parks for the
use of the people in the heart OF London, and
5000 more acres Of common in the environ
ments are free to ali.
"Pans has the reputation OF being the best
supplied city in this respect, aud contains numeT-
Gus public parks. The Paris municipality have
expended large sums on streets and public
grounds.
LOVE OF THE BEAUTIFUL.
"The English race has shown genius for col
Onization and the eolOnsts have carried with
them their love OF the beautiful Australia has
some Of the finest gardens in the world. Sydney
and Melbourne, in addition to ordinary public
parks, possess magnificent botanical gardens
supported Oul Of the public treasury"
The lecturer hen adduced some facts pointing
TO the prosperity OF Melbourne, and said that
laud in Melbourne sold for as much as land in
the heart OF London, ana that Melbourne was
able tn 1888 10 borrow IN London Go, 100000 at
at the rate OF ) p per cent, aud could have b0r-
rOWed three times as much without difficulty.
Ia HOBg-KOng 100, the English occuDierS had
planted a beautiful garden for the people.
The garden, expanded into the park" Mr..
MeCOppln went on 10 say, " is OF comparatively
recent growth in America. The environments OF
the PuritaDs were not esthetic. Tie oldest park
10 America is Boston Common tract OF forty
five acres, bought from alr. Blackstone in 1884.
PROVISION FOR PUBLIC GROUNDS.
{" In laying OF Washington, good provision was
made for public grounds. New York, on the
other hand. IN 1893 was much the same as the
san Francisco of 1891, what Is now Central Park
at that time being occupied by tenement-hOuses,
ana Bowling Green then being the most con-
siderable open space IN the city. Most OF the
New York public grounds have been acquired
STAGE 1853.
San Francisco, am sorry to say is behind
every other city in the Union IN the matter of
public grounds. remedy for the local public
apathy Is needed. 4 liberal public spirit is
needed. In California everything Is In the raw"
After reference 10 the small numbers of pub
lie benefactors in the history OF the city, Mr..
McCOppin proceeded: 4" For the masses trip
to Del Monte TO the East, to Carlsbad, is not pos
sibe, and ride TO the park or the beach Is their
only means OF recreation"
HIS LADY-BUG.
Mr.. McCoppin then claimed that the importa-
ton Of the lady bug from Australia was not due
commission which represented California at the
Melbourne Exhibition. After description OF
tie lavish manner In which nature showers her
gifts upon man in the southern part Of tile State,
Mr.. McCoppin added: Here nature Is not SO
prolific as 10 tile south. The garden and the
PARK have to be created by the hand OF man."