The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-05-11

the oval. These occasions AIraee thl
fashionable, swagger set, chiefly composed
of the diplomatic representatives Of for
eign governments at this capital and thu
newly rich who come here to spend theiI
money. They have concluded, it is report
ed, that their convenicnce and enjoymen,
demand the erection Of pagoda in the cen
ter Of the lot, where a band may be sta
toned during their drives, and of q cafe On
one side, where they may find refreshmeni
to sustain them throughout the ordeal.
The issue OF this proposed incursion upon
one Of the most beautiful spots in the cap
ital will be watched for with interest.
Notable Parks.
Smithsonian Institution park, the old
est in the city, comprises an area of So
acres and contains the institution proper,
the National museum and the Army Med
lcal museum, whore it is popularity sup
posed the skeleton of Guiteau, the MUIR
derer of President Garfield, is on exhibit
ton. But 1t ism t there. Adjoining this
on the cast are Seaton and Henry parks,
divided by the Pennsylvania railroad
tracks and extending to the Botanical gar
dens, which lie at the foot Of Capitol hill
North and west Of the capitol, besides
the parks named, are Washington circle
Rawlins square, Dupont circle, Scott cir
Gle, Lafayette square, Franklin square,
FarraSut square, Mcpherson square,
Mount Vernon square, Iowa circle, Thorn
as circle, Judiciary square and a number
of smaller but highly improved reserva-
tons. Lafayette and Franklin squares are
tho a nd ,r,<s 30
located down town, almost in the business
portion of the city, and containing larger
number Of varieties Of trees than any other
equal area Of ground in the world. 1t is
TO be regretted that one of these trees, the
double Towering cherry in Franklin park,
one Of the sights Of the capitol when in
bloom, is rapidly decaying and will soon
be thing Of the past. Colonel Wilson,
however, hopes to perpetuate it through
100 slips which he has secured from the
boughs and is now training at the nursery.
East and south of the capitol are Lin
coin, Garfield, Folger, Stanton and Marion
parks or squares. The largest of these is
Garfield park, south of the capitol, con-
tanning % acres, in which one of the G. A.
r. camps was located in1s92. Lincoln park
contains the Emancipation statue, and it
attracts much attention. In addition to
these parks, there are in the eastern sec
ton Of the city 20 improved smaller public
spaces and 100 at the intersections of streets
and avenues yet unimproved.
Plenty of Breathing Places.
Altogether" said Colonel Wilson after
he had detailed the above and much more
There are 362 reservations in
the city, comprising a total of 404 acres.
OF these, Sc, with total area of 247 acres,
are highly cultivated; 40, covering 1O7
acres, partly improved, and 10, covering
40 acres, wholly unimproved. Six reserva-
tons of total area of six tenths of an
acre are occupied by railroads under acts
IF congress, and eight more occupied by
railroads and other trespassers without
right These parks contain Is statues.
Washington, General Jackson, Lincoln,
Scott, Farragut, Thomas, Dupont, Raw
ms, Mcpherson, Garfield, Henry and La
ayette''
The colonel talked enthusiastically of
he satisfactory results attending the i'm
of the reservations and the de- |
7elopment Of the park system, especially |
n view of the comparatively small expense !
involved. He said: THE expenditures for |
parks invariably repay the communities |
hat make them. In the case of Washing |
on increased revenues have been derived |
rom taxation caused by the rapid increase |
n value of adjacent lands and from the 1
handsome and costly buildings usually /
rected in the immediate vicinity of the |
arks. The effect upon the health and !!
MORALS of the people affected by these i'm
rovements has been of the most marked
nd beneficial character.
Projected Improvements.
''It is conceded that our parks, by the
hammer in which the improvements are
give evidence of moro care
han is generally exercised in such work,
kept when large expenditures are made.
{ is believed that a smaller amount per
ere is expended in their care and mainte-
ance than in any other city where park
ystems are maintained. But while this
a satisfactory condition of things in it
elf, continued the colonel, lit is to be
arnestly hoped that congress will evince
UGH an interest in our beautiful parks
hat they will give us sufficient funds to
ush to speedy completion projected and
ecessary Improvements in a manner COM
lensurate with their importance, not only
tizens of the country have Just pride,
ut to furnish an example of simple land
ape gardening and park ornamentation
lat will have direct influence in elevat-
lg the taste of all visitors, and may thus
lead to the transformation into
eautiful parks Of many pieces of waste
round adjacent to the cities of our coun-
y"
One of the projects which Colonel Will
N had in mind was the improvement of
lie reclaimed Potomac flats and uniting
lem by a grand boulevard through Rock
reek valley and the National park, al
ady established on the banks of that
ream, with the Soldiers home, north of
e city. The realization OF that dream
i'll give to Washington the grandest park
stem the world has ever known.
J. B. PARKE.