The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1895-05-31

= ATHENA needs a park, some place
affording shade, where gatherings
like that of yesterday can be held.
Other towns Of importance have a
park or grove Of some kindH Here
is an opinion in regard to the mat
ter; take it for what it is worth.
An acre or two of ground could be
secured and set out in locust trees
in this way: Let q committee be
appointed, to be known as the park
committee, put both ladies and
gentlemen on it, and under their
supervision and direction, series
of socials, concerts, festivals and en-
tertainments can be given, the pro.
ceeds from them to go into a sink
ing fund to purchase the necessary
ground.
IF the committee is active, and
receives the undivided support Of
our citizens, it would only be a
short time until there will be
enough money on hand to pay for
the ground. Then each of us could
do our share of the labor in setting
out the trees, which should be 10.
Gust, from the fact that they ma
ture much earlier in this section
than any other variety. Besides
there are very few varieties of trees
that give more shade at maturity
than do the locust. With plenty
of water and proper cultivation, it
will be a matter of only two or
three years until the park would
afford sufficient shade to be used by
our people. The city would own it
and be greatly benefited by it.
y This thing of digging" up $40 to
$25 for grove every time we have
celebration or a picnic has be-
come an uphill business, BY
proper management in the above
mentioned way the constant drain
will be stopped, and the city own
its own park and have it paid for
without ''cramping" anyone.
All are interested in this matter.
The churches have their Sunday
school picnics, and the place they
hold them is under the cool and re-
freshing shade of friendly trees---to
us the most beautiful of all natures
handiworks--the churches of the
city will contribute their mite by
giving socials and festivals, and
send the proceeds spinning into the
fund with an alacrity that will
make you stare. The band, one of
the best in the state Of Oregon
even If we are a member of it--de-
rives much Of Its support from pic
MICS and celebrations, which, with
shade, are like a blooming rose in
a desert; consequently it is interest
ed, and no doubt will assist at con-
certs and entertainments. All can
contribute their mite, no matter
how small, and Athena, in short
while-much shorter than you
think-will have FREE shade and
plenty to spare.
BROTHER Hull, of the Milton
Eagle, takes exceptions to an item
that appeared recently in the Press
concerning the blight of the straw
berry crop in that community.
He says, There is hardly a word
of truth in the statement" and ac-
cuses us of being jealous Of Milton,
and considerable more such "bosh.nn
Our authority for the item was
not brother Hull, but the Hon. i.
J. Davis, manager of the Fruit
Growers Union at Milton. That
gentleman informed us that he had
personally inspected a number Of
patches from which large yield
had been expected, and he did not
think they would produce more
than fourth Of a crop, and that
he had been informed by Mr.. Will
cox, another prominent fruit ship.
per, that the some condition exist
ed as far as the State Line. Mr..
naxsfc alcn otataJ 4kat Ia ckA,.ll