The record-union., 1896-03-19
State PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
The East Four Blocks Being Laid Out
and Planted.
In Place of a Barren Waste of Fallow
Land There Will be Flowers and
Grass, Trees and Shrubs.

State Gardener Dunn and his force
have done an immense quantity of
work in the State Capitol grounds this
winter, and the park has never pre-
sented as beautiful an appearance as
it will this summer
He is taking advantage of every hour
of the present fine weather and utiliz-
ing his force of men to it's utmost ca
pacity. The front terraces and grass
plots were all spaded up twenty inches
deep during the winter, and the
old sod buried in the bottom upside
down, in order to kill the Bermuda
grass and other undesirable plants that
had crept in. They were all reseeded
to blue grass, which is growing fast
and is already covering them with
| carpet of green. This work covers the
area between the Tenth and Eleventh
street entrances and will much improve
the appearance of the grounds this
summer. Secretary of State Brown has
taken great interest in the improve
ment, and has made many valuable
suggestions in relation to it.
Heretofore the four blocks between
Thirteenth and Fifteenth streets have
been plowed up or allowed to grow up to
! weeds, but it will be so no longer, and
Mr.. Dunn and his men are busily en-
gagged in laying it out for flowers, grass
and trees, and are making the best of
their time.
The path running down M street, or
what would be M street if projected
through the grounds, divides the new
plat into two equal parts. On the
L-street side Mr.. Dunn mas laid out
path with a reverse curve, running
diagonally from the Thirteenth-street
entrance to the corner of the open space
between the State Printing Office and
the Pavilion and connecting with a
path that runs along the north side of
the printing office lot to L street This
diagonal path will be bordered on both
sides with grass borders three feet
wide, and outside of these will be
flower beds running the whole length
of the path on each side.
Along the L-street fence will be grass
borders ten feet wide. Between this
and the curved path will be planted
catalpa trees, and in the corner near
the printing office will be planted
number of umbrella trees, under which,
in due time, will be placed seats. On
the north of the M-street path, toward
cannas, with a path around it and
grass border outside the path. This
will be accessible by short paths lead
ing to it from the M-street path and
the diagonal path. The remaining
space around the circular bed will be
filed with Towering shrubs, chrysan
themums and assorted Towering trees.
Along the middle. or M-street walk,
= !, E, Of faT
wide on each side with century plants
in it, down to the open space by the
Pavilion. On the west side of it will
be another curved walk, running diago-
nally from it at Thirteenth street to the
corner of the Pavilion on n street. This
will be bordered with grass borders
three feet wide, and they, in turn, by
flower beds. The open space between
the Pavilion and printing Office will be
devoted to teams that bring exhibits
to the Pavilion at State Fair time.
Back of the Pavilion will be planted
assorted trees. In the triangular space
north and east of the curved path will
be planted a circular bed of cacti, with
a path, on the outside of which will be
grass borders and with short, curved
paths leading to it.
In the space south and west of the
diagonal path will be a circular bed of
cannas, to correspond with the one on
the east Outside of the path around
this will be grass borders, and short,
curved paths will lead to it. The re-
rnainder of the triangle will be filled
with Towering shrubs, chrysanthemums
and assorted Towering trees. The
whole effect will be pleasing to the eye,
and an immense Improvement on the
fallow field that has for SO many years
lain idle. Secretary of State Brown
has worked energetically toward the Sc
curing of a sufficient appropriation for
the carrying out of this work, and de-
serves great credit for his efforts to
beautify the grounds. The plans, as
outlined, may be somewhat modified by
circumstances, but will be substan-
TALLY as stated, and in a short time the
whole park will be in a high state of
cultivation.