Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-23
HYS|AN PARK ASSURED,
Joint Meeting Of the Chamber
and Park Commissioners.
Twenty Thousand Dollars Will Give
Us Grand Park.
Property Necessary for ELY sian Park
VIII Be Acquired by the City at
Once--A Landscape Gardener
Will Be Secured.

The board of directors of the Chamber
of commerce met yesterday afternoon
iu regular session.
There we're present Directors Wells,
Forman, Breed. Klokke, Braun, Graft,
Hazard, Edwards and McGarvin. G.
M. Wells occupied the chair.
After the usual routine business was
transacted, the secretary was instructed
to have 1000 copies of the constitution
printed, and procure seal for the
chamber.
An election Of officers under the new
corporation being necessary, the former
officers were reelected to serve in the
new organization.
Mr.. N. G. Carter who was present
asked the board to provide him with
materials for exhibit to be used at east
ern fairs. On motion the matter was
referred to a committee consisting of
Directors McGarvin and Edwards and
Mr.. Virgins.
Mr.. Sutherland Hutton and Mayor
Hazard of the park commission, being
present in response to an invitation sent
by the board OF directors to the park
commissioners two weeks ago, the board
then proceeded to consider the matter
of the extension of Elysian and other
parks.
Mr.. Forman stated that he had pro-
posed this joint meeting because he was
desrous of seeing the subject of park
extension agitated and wished to have
the chamber of commerce do what it
could to forward the cause. He stated
that on recent visit to San Francisco
the park commissioners of that city had
asked him if they could have the assist
ance of Southern California in an effort
to raise the limit of the park tax levy,
and that for his part he was in favor of
such action. Mr.. Forman stated his
belief that the work could be materially
assisted if some landscape gardener of
to visit the coast during the
coming winter and make study of
our park system and to devise
general system under which all future
improvements could be made. He be-
lieved that the public would take hold
of the undertaking with more enthusi-
asm after it had received such an in
endorsement. Elysian park, for sex-
ample, could be made as handsome and
striking as any spot in the United
States. Mr.. Forman declared that very
few people have any conception of its
possible beauties. and he thought that
the, time had come when it was the duty
of those who take an interest in public
improvements to lend all possible assist
ance TO the efforts of the commissioners
to get more money for the parks.
Director Wells agreed with this view.
He stated that he had recently driven
over the new road to Elysian park and
had been astonished to find that the city
had such promising site for great
park. He thought that if road could
be made, good carriage drive, and the
approaches to lit arranged 30 that it
could be in common use, all our citizens
would favor the improvement of this
park. He noticed a large number of
forest trees growing in the park, and he
believed they should be steadily in
creased in number as forests in this
country were great attractions. He ex-
pressed the view that as far as possible
the improvements should be in the por-
ton OF the park which is nearest to the
car lines in order that it might be rem
dered convenient for the general public.
Director Breed stated that he thought
the work should be done under one gem
eral plan to accomplish the best ulti-
mate results. He said that he was
strongly in favor of the improvement of
Elysian park, and reminded the meeting
of the fact that he had been instru-
mental originally in having the tract set
aside for park purposes, and had given
it the name which it now bears.
Mr.. Hutton unrolled the map and
showed what the proposed extension
was and where the roads would run. He
stated that 10000 would complete the
road, put in number of trees and lay
the necessary foundations for wonder
full park.
Director Klokke gave it as bis convic-
tion that the efforts of the commission
ers should not be devoted to any one
particular undertaking but should be
put forth in the direction and improve
ment of all the parks. He instanced
Westlake park in particular, which, he
said, was rather more in need of extern
sion than Elysian, which was already
very large park. Mayor Hazard stated
that the commissioners took this view
of the case and he read communities
tion from DIR. j. s. Griffin regarding the
extension of the east side park, north to
the reservoir.
Director Graft offered the following
resolution, which was seconded by Mr..
McGarvin and carried unanimously:
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
meeting that the property necessary for
the completion Of Elysian park be ac-
.quired by the city at the earliest posi-
Bile moment, and that one of the most
eminent and experienced landscape
gardeners be employed to perfect plan
for the completion in Systematic man
ner OF Elysian and other city parks, and
that proper appropriation be made,
and, if necessary, special levy for park
purposes be added to our tax list, Huffi-
cient to perfect the plans and extend
the various parks of the city.
The board then adjourned.