The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-27
ABOUT OUR PARKS
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
BY ABBOT KINNEY

The condition of the pubic parks in
Los Angeles is a subject OF congratulate
tion for our citizens. The parks are we'll
kept and the Improvements are On broad
and omprehensive lines that will even
tuate in seiies of minor gems about
the great one in the Elysian hills. One
very Useful feature OF the present manage
ment is tie extensive flower propagating
work being done. This serves two pr
poses: FIRST preparation for the
planting uf series of brilliant flower
beds fer the pleasure and attraction of
park frequenters and especially of our
winter visitors; aud, second, 2 saving of
money for seeds and plants by the sub
stitution or exchange of surplus plants
in the parks with those Of other produ-
GERS, for the old method of purchase.
Nothing in the whole park manage
mont is more gratifying to our citizens
or more promising for the parks than the
elimination of practical political patron.
age from the labor force. This one thing
is great business achievement full of
good work. The bum and political hesler
are not now products of the parks, nor
are they nurtured there. SuperIntende Mt
Meserve takes an enthusiastic interest
in the work and has much practicalknow
ledge of both business and botany. He
is particularly in love with flowers, and
devotes great deal of attention to secur-
ing a regular succession of blooms, par
ticulariy in the winter months, when
they are most appreciated. But he has
lso large ana int lligent appreciation
..F AL f&I,a
gardening. Trees should harmonic with
each other and be so planted as to merge
here, contrast there and set off always
the site where they are situated. mix.
ture OF pines or or cypress among euca-
lyptus, for instance, is lot of high effect.
The com bination jars. And so it is
throughout. All trees are not suited to
all places, nor do different species always
look we'll together. In fact, ole kind of
tree may actually spoil the beauty of an
other, although beautiful in itself. 1t is
the same thing with brilliant flowers;
each kind lovely ir itself, may still be SO
upbapplly com bined as to become posi-
ticyly ugly. ColorS even in nature can
fall out and fight.
The park Icom mission must be made of
good men with broad patriotic views TO
appoint and stand by competent man
like Meserve. Mr.. Meserve has been in
his parK policy an agreeable surprise to
bereabouts. as we'll as to the plain, hard
headed citizens. We want fine parks both
Tor our personal pleasure and as strict
ly business proposition. A beautiful Sc
ries of public parks will do great deal
to attract to and retain among us the
most desirable class oil tourists and i'm
migrants.
AT present the East Side park is the
prettiest one we have. This park should
clearly be extended through the bottom
land beyond it to include the East Side
reservoir The land involved is small in
area and really too wet to ever make safe
residence lots, and besides lies directly
under the great bank of the reservoir.
But the grand opportunity of making
one of the superb pleasure grounds OF the
world stands ready for Los Angeles in
the Elysian hills.
This district contains accidented Soils
varying exposures, absolutely frostless
Sierra, of field and rich orchard, of villa,
village and city and of the blue Pacific
and its islands, even to the white line
of never resting breakers on the beach.
know OF no place in the world where a
wider range of vegetation will do well
than in the Elysian hills. Either partly
or.wholly within the present park boun is
there are several large and excellent res
ervoir sites. In these places should be
established lakes of winter stored water.
These will make beautiful hill-enclosed
water effects and will be both useful and
highly ornamental.
One of Superintendent Meserve"s ideas
is to take advantage of the unusual adj.
yantages of this park to obtain tropical
effects in its frostless parts. He also
proposes to mass his species and types.
This will make the plantation both more
effepctiye and more instructive. For in
slance, in one selected nook, we would
under this policy, find all the California
palms, in another q complete collection
of eucalyptus, etc. In some places several
types that look well togther could be H.
Illustrated at the same time, as pam boos
with palms, accacas with eupcalyptus-
that is, certainstypes OF each.
1t is also propose to carry out a sugges-
ton of long ago, that is to make show
ing of our own lovely California fora.
An l. of land that runs into Elysian
park belong to I. W. Hellman, the enor-
mously rich banker. 1t is said that this
is the piece he intends to present to the
city in fulfillment of his promise publicly
made to turn over to the city his part OF
the Briswalter inheritance.
The outlook for our parks is bright and
promising. The policy of merit in select
ing employees that made our public IL