The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-23
WHY NOT BEGIN NOW
To Beauty the Grounds Of the
State House?
BAD IMPRESSION MADE ON VISITORS
by Rubbish IA -. ps and Esnre Patches
or Clay-kzawAra Wiider's sugEes-

by Rubbish IA ps and Esnre Patches
or CIay-EaWara NiIder's suEEcs
tions.
Edward Wilder, treasurer of the Santa
Fe. is regarded ae one of the most ar
tistic men in this city, and special inter
est is always attached to any suggestions
he may offer in reference to particular
or general mprovem ents about the city.
The only thing that prevents many Of
MIR. Milder's suggestions from being put
into practice is that the money isn't al
ways to he had to do it with.
Mi Wilder is at present greatly inter
ested in the cor dition of the slate house
GROUNDS, and thinks that immediate steps
should be taken to Improve the capitol
square.
She c,niiiiou OF the state house
grounds" said Mr.. Wilder, "Has, in my
opinion. done more to lower the standard
of the community than anything else in
this city, as we cannot expect individuals
to keep themselves or their surroundings
neat and orderly when the example set
by the executive authority of this state
is SO directly opposite.
From a financial basis. also, the con-
dition of the grounds is detrimental, as
eastern capitalists visiting this city With
a view Of investing, invariably visit the
capitol building aud note the condition
of the grounds, and they would naturally
prefer TO invest in state where the ex-
ecutive standard was shown 10 be higher
by the pros porous and orderly appearance
OF The public buildings and grounds"
The grounds should be so well ar
ranged aud so neatly kept that every
citizen passing through them would be
i Ill
ment of his private parks and lawn"
Mr. Wilder believes that in the ar
rangement of the walks and driveways
in the capitol square, more attention
should be given TO the natural inclina-
ton of travel than to geometrical de-
signs, reasoning that if in haste,
person would walk across a
lawn in preference to going some die
lance out of their way, then let the walk
be made to follow the shortest cut.
If l were planning the arrangement
of the capitol square," said Alr. Wider,
81 would frs: obtain a map of the
grounds as they now exist, arranging the
walks and driveways in such manner
as to com ine gracefuness with the
least poss bic deviation from the natural
way Of travel. All deformed trees should
be removed, first planting others to take
their places, and waiting until the new
rees had a vigorous growth l am a
lover of trees. but not a tree worship per,
and as in this case it is simply ques ion
| of beauty, sha de not being really neces-
sary, l believe that only handsome and
we'll formed specimens should be allowed
to exist in the grounds.
THE lawns should be beautifed with
shrubs and towering plants, and the en-
tire square kept in condition that
would be credit, not only to this city,
but to the state of Kansas"
Mr.. Wilder says that Gov Morrill, takes
! great interest IN the question of improv-
| ing the grounds. and feels that they are
. disgrace to the state in their present
condition. Fer this reason he sent for
landscape artist Parce whose suggestion
| hat the grounds be made one large
| green lawn where the people of the city
| and state may enjoy the grass and shade,
| meets with the endorsement of all.
! Peerless Steam Laundry Peerless
| Steam Laundry.