The morning call., 1892-08-30
he WANTS A FOUN TAIN.
Superintendent McLaren On
the Worlds Parks.
SAN FRANCISCO's SHOWING.
An Interesting Chat About Peoples Breath
ing Places in Europe and in the East.
Chicago's Cheap. conveyaness-

Superintendent McLaren wants foun-
tain. No Insignificant little squirt OF water
out Of gaspipe, but-a fountain. Such
fountain as they have in the Princess-street
Garden Park in Edinburgh, Scotland. a
basin 100 feet in diameter. surrounded by
groups of-materially-brazen nymphs and
centered with q gigantic goddess in bronze,
towering 20 feet into the air, aiming, with
outstretched arm, column OF sparkling
diamonds into space.
81 don't know what IL cost" said the
Superintendent to q CALL reporter. but
l am getting pictures of it prepared TO
follow me out here, and / look TO some
wealthy citizen to donate US the necessary
funds for the erection of something similar
In our own park"
Mr. McLaren left San Francisco on the
1St of June 10 visit the parks OF Scotlanu.
England. France and the Unlted states,
with view To borrowing any ideas whlch
might be suitable for Golden Gate TaTk
purposes.
Hyde Park in London is. in my opinion
the finest park In the world, said Mr. Nc
Laren; 'the age and grandeur Of the mag
nlfcent trees; the marvellous collection OF
horses, eQuipages and humanity IN and
about Rotten Row driveway; and the
minute cultivation of every inch OF ground,
make it q sight TO be remembered.
There is, however. a dearth OF variety
and color in the European parks as COM
pared with ours.
"In France the cOlOrs are brighter than in
England. but there is a terrible lack OF hne
old trees. | am told they were all cut
down for fuel during the FTanco-German
war.
Il noticed that the sycamore occdentalis
or American sycamore succeeds better over
there than any other tree. Oaks, elms.
chestnuts, maple and sycamores do very
well, but the fir, spruce and pine families
do not succeed.
The best park In France. thought, was
the Monceau. In Paris.
Amusement for children Is not so well
provided for as with Us, aud think Golden
Gate Park is best provided IN that respect
OF any parks / have inspected.
The European parks are superior 10 ours
in cultivation and upkeep, but then they
have liberal appropriations and small areas.
I'VE have enormous areas 10 take care Of
and II requires time 10 get them into sDiek
and span order. Then. in variety and color,
we excel easily"
Mr.. McLaren visited the chief parks in
New York. Brooklyn. Boston, Washington
and Chicago.
al think Prospect Park in Brooklyn
struck my attention more than any other" "
"The lovely landscape arrangements, the
lake with all its beautiful nOoks and cor
preston on me.
I'm Chicago they have an excellent ar
Tangement. Well-appOinted cOnyeyances
are always in waiting TO take visitors for a
drive about the park. They run from four
finland coaches TO two-horse cOupes.
"The ride costs % cents a seat aud any one
can start coach by paying 81. the price of
four seats"
Commissioners Stow and Austen. who
were present at the interview. promptly
agreed to the excellence of the idea.
There are al present a few rattle:Tap
vehicles available for public use always
IN waiting outside the park Complaint
after complaint has been made TO the Com
missioners Of the tricks played upon tile
public. IL Is regular thing for driver 10
inveigle the conhding public into his vehl-
Gle with the offer of q ride 10 Strawberry
Hill for % cents. Arriving there they are
cast out into space unless they submit to
paying ST spot cash for the ride back, which
they usually do.
I'VE can do nothing In the matter" said
Commissioner stow. I'VE are most anx-
ous for some one with enterprise to come
forward and take up the Chicago system as
private enterprise. We would give
building ground for stables in
plainly advertised rates, civil uniformed
drivers and general supervision by
our park police, General Hammond tried
TO get five or six gentlemen TO subscribe
$1,000 apiece for the necessary OUTFIT, out the
scheme fell through. IL requires one or two
men to take Ii up their special business.
In The interests of the public we would give
them every assistance in our power"
However, in spite Of all things the trav-
eled Superintendent, while anxious TO add
many remarkable features seen in other
parks, is thoroughly satisfied that Golden
Gate Park, even as IL stands, is ready to
compare fay0Tably on the whole with any
thing he has seen. He would really like
that fountain copied here, thought