The Indianapolis journal., 1894-10-06
THE NEED OF PARKS
COMMERCIAL CLUB DINERS THINK
THE TINE RIPE FOR A SYSTEM.
MIR. f.. f. ClaypooI Comes Forward
with n Generous Proposal to
Raise a Fund.

dial feature of the October dinner given
by the Commercial Club last night. Fifty
gentlemen, members of the club and their
friends, sat down to the tables at $50
O'Clock. An hour was occupied in the
joyment of the several courses provided.
Colonel Lilly president of the club. an
nounced the purpose of the dinner and in
troduced the toastmaster, DR.. j. y. Hurty.
''The Park Movement in America" was
the subject delegated to A. f. Potts. who
spoke at length upon the park question.
He referred to the famous parks Of the
great cities. and gave brief history of
their organization. One of the most strik-
ing social phenomena in the United States
OF recent years, he said, the sudden
creation of public parks and Fairgrounds,
constructed and maintained at the expense
of the public. He believed at the bottom
or this movement was the desire Of the
people to procure increasing means of
health and happiness. Continuing, he said:
'The popular demand for parks and the
appreciation Of them is well shown by the
universal use of those opened to the peo-
pie through the enterprise of our street.
railroad company, where we crowd and
elbow each other, giving one eye to nature
and the other to the merrygo-round. Yet
to the opening Of these little parks we
owe the discovery of the picturesque effects
which lie along the streams within our
borders. We talk of equal rights and op-
portunities, and yet we know there is a
submerged portion of our people, for whom
must provide against the avarfce which
would inclose forever from their use the
garden lands Of Cod"
Rev. NJ. l.. Haines discussed THE Rela-
ton of Parks to City Life" He deprecated
the fact that Indianapolis sadly lacks the
essential hygienic element in the life OF
city-public parks and play grounds for
children. He insisted that the question of
parks was not one Of sentiment, but
question of life and death. He held that
they were healthful in a moral as we'll as
a physical way and should serve, when
as pr Ranes Thought
public parks were a necessity because they
help to make life brighter for the great
of life. Many children, he feared. die ev-
cry year for want Of sufficient fresh air.
To keep the death rate down, he held, was
important for every city, because the public
scanned the figures, and the city that
shows the highest death rate could not
hope to offer an inducement to persons look
open spaces are to the congested portions
of a great city the same as ventilators to
a crowded hall. Dr. Haines hoped that the
John A. Finch talked about the parks
ing some pretty ideas of what could be done
In the city of indianapolis in the way of
resting places for & the public 6.,l He had Wis;
and Scotland and had seen the beauties OF
pature in the hearts of the great cities OF
foreign countries. but he knew of none so
compelled to admit that Indianapolis could
lay little claim to being a park city, he
n~1Is~ I, ffxx.n bad -IAr, fIr
city must adopt park system. The SIM
plest way to give the people parks he
thought would be for the city to begin
public.
Charles E. Coffin responded to the
toast, ''The Material Benefits" He felt
that it was a matter of lamentation that
the city had neglected many rare opportu-
mites in the last twenty years to purchase
the city of parks was always the progress
sive city; that the apathy of the people of
this city was alone responsible for the alb
From statistics Mr.. Coffin showed that
New York has 1,10O acres Of parks; Boston
SSs acres; Chicago, 2.S75 acres; ST Louis.
2,332 acres. The city of Paris has over 100,-
600 acres and London has 1900 acres. Mr.
Coffin was convinced that did Indianapolis
bene would BE- e ali over the city bS
an increase of building In all lines. He
hoped that the city government would i'm
mediately begin to improve and beautify
Military and Garfield parks
III. Clay Allen addressed the guests, ad-
vanciDg some valuable suggestions as to a
park system in Indianapolis From Cliff
ford avenue northeast there is yet time to
secure grounds for park" said Mr.. AL
len. land am told that within the last
for about $1,000 The broken ground along
Pogue's run, with the hills about the head
Of the stream already, covered with ma
tive forest trees, could with little
pense. be converted into delightful grove.
The same can be said of Pleasant run.
from irvington to Garfield field Park, and If
along the east bank of Fall creek from
Twenty-second street to the State fair
to convert about two hundred acres OF
land into beautiful park. The vacant
grounds belonging. to the State south OF
the reformatory will never be sold, and the
city should get the privilege of beautifying
them If the capital we now have in the
city and the general public cannot be in
important that the public should be edu-
Gated and public sentiment created in the
city, so that the next generation will
Messrs. ID. p Erwin. Frank a. Maus, E.
F. Claypool. G. A. Kenyon Ferd l.. Mayer
movement to secure park system in
Indianapolis Mr. Erwin advised the ap-
pointment of n commission composed of
men broad enough TO comprehend the inter-
est of the city and all of its people, He be-
lieved that the first steps in the direction
of public parks should be perspective OF
the city. Surveys, plats, maps and draw
ings. he thought would not cost more than
5000 and would give the people an idea of
the plan.
E. F. Claypool came forward with an
offer to be one of fifty men who would do
nate $4,000 to the city of indianapolis to
be expended on the Improvement of its
small parks or in purchasing larger ones.
Mayor Denny felt interest in the move
ment as a citizen and an official. He re-
| gretted that a constitutional limit placed
| upon the Indebtedness of the city had pre-
vented any practical demonstration in this
| line, but he thought the time about at
| hand when parks could be made. He dis
| couraged the plan Of shouldering more
pense on the city at this time AMI insisted
| that it would be impossible for the city to
| issue bonds for park purposes. In 1897, he
| said. the Belt railroad bonds would be paid
| off and ne would not advise the contempla-
| ton of a purchase until that time. He was
not inclined TO the belief that the people
| would take kindly TO an increase of taxes
| and feared that some other plan must be
devised to secure the coveted parks.
REV. DIR. JENCKES A METHODIST.