The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-23
GREAT NEED OF
PUBLIC PARKS
Improvement OF Health and Citizenship
Not the Only Gains.
ENHANCES VALUE OF PROPERTY
Statistics from the Assessment Books
Various Cities Made an Interest,".
ing study. .Backwardnes OF Scran.
ton in Beautiiying the Parks II
Owns and in Making Provisions to
Secure Others.


He was only a hot, prespiring citizen
who sat down yesterday for a few
minutes beneath one Of the trees of
the Court House square and indus
triously mopped his steaming brow with
his kerchief, but he was thoroughly
posted on the necessity of parks in all
cities and the needs Of Scranton in
particular in that way.
After Il passing reference to the
weather when accosted by Tribune
reporter he ignored the tariff and
money questions. the future course of
Mayor Bailey and all of the other in
tricate questions that usually form the
hot weather subjects of discussion be-
tween. men and after commencing the
liberality of the government in sod
ding the plot about the Federal build
ing and remarking that the public
should be grateful for Court House
square, even If it is small. entered upon
a lengthy dissertation ON the subject of
parks fortifying his arguments by ref
erence to numerous clippings he car
ried with him. He made out strong
case for public parks as will be seen
by reference to a portion VI his dis
sertation, which follows:
NEED OF PUBLIC PARKS.
Much has been written and said
about Scranton's need of parks. 1t Is
an unquestionable fact that public
parks and Fairgrounds are one of the
most important factors in the real prac-
tical development Of cities. Commu-
Mon with nature is always elevating
and the good done to the overworked
denizens of crowded city streets I'm wan
derjng through green pastures and be-
side still waters Is incalculable. The
mind is purified. the eye Is educated,
the heart delighted ana the tired body
refreshed. Innocent pleasure and
healthful exercise are combined in
pure and bracing air, and it can be
truly said that park is the heart free
beating, the lungs free breathing of
city.
NO further argument Is needed to
prove the paucity of parks In this
city than to state that only a COM
parative few acres are now devoted to
such uses, less than many cities of
like size. The pecuniary benefit of
parks to surrounding property is clear
ly demonstrated. New York city with
its magnificent and expensive Central
park, IS good example. In 1856 the
assessed valuation of the three wards
adjoining the park was $40, 429. 500. In
1873 It had increased to $236. .OSl .5l5.
gain in seventeen years Of S2l5.G5l,95O.
SOME INTERESTING FIGURES.
THE natural average increase of
three other wards in the city. when all
the wards had been averaged, was $5S,-
OOO. .OOO making the earning capacity Of
the park for that period $lS3,0Sl.5l5.
Now in these figures our city fathers
can get little horse sense in making
their appropriations for our own city
park purposes. You say. oh. what
comparison has New York city with
other cities or vice versa" We Will see.
In Brooklyn. in 1864, when Prospect
park, with it's five hundred and fifteen
acres of land was acquired, the as
sessed valuation of the three neighbor-
ing wards was $l9,94y.Ssj, and at the
end of three years the valuation had
risen thirty-eight per cent. or over 81
OOO, 900. which, by the way. was twice
the cost of the land which had been
parked.
The same can already be said of
Woodlawn park of our city. With the
adjoining lots but half sold the income
to the city by the influence of this
park will far exceed any outlay the
city has made and with the valuation
of the property adjoining this park go
ing up, as it is bound to, then much
revenue will be realized. Nay Aug
park Is rapidly bringing the same result
TO the city's credit. Why not then In
the name Of common sense and busi-
ness principles do more for the parks?
Connell's park is the oldest in the city
and yet 1t is not a quarter Of a score
years since the first appropriation Of
meager 81, 900 year was made. New
ertheless is being transformed into
beauty and attractiveness.
BOSTON STATISTICS CITED.
"The eleventh annual report of the
park commission of Boston contains
a comprehensive and exhaustive exhib-
it Of the increase of valuation result
ing from the Back Bay improvement.
L SHOWS AL IHtItaSt vi Nuiuc hichi
1877 to 1885 of $11 1875, 449 and an increase
in revenue of $l52.773. The value of
new buildings erected upon this terri
tory in the same period was S9,996,9o0
from which in 1885 the city derived an
income of Sl2I 1850, making a total in
crease revenue Of taxes land cores
ponding value of landD Of $3.50 134.
In Brookline, Mass. town Of 13.OO0
inhabitants, the pecuniary advantage
Of parks is thus spoken of by the secre-
tary of the park board of that town:
Beacon street was widened into park
way (similar to our Woodlawn park.
which cost our city nothing) at "a cost Of
SGl5.OOO In six years the Increase In
assessed values of land on each side Of
the street, throughout its entire length
and for an approximate distance of only
500 foet from the side line. IL "a, 330. 400
with no allowance for any increase in
other property that was naturally bene
fitted by the incident thereto. Beacon
parkway Is, therefore. paying for itself
long before its most Jealous advocates
thought 1t would. and Is a striking
proof that well considered plans for
large public improvements of this kind
are profitable ventures
THEY ARE NECESSITIES.
"Tbeca facts ara hepotninp- ypnpa ayi.