The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-07
YEAR WITH PARKS. AND TREES.
CHAIRMAN STONES FIRST ANNUAL
REPORT TO THE MAYOR.


The Commission Ends the Year With
Two Cents to Its Credit-A State
ment of What the Commission Has
Done in the Way of Improving the
Parks and Squares, With Some
Idea of What 1t Expects to Do in
the Future-SOme Interesting In
formation Given Concerning Sa-
Vannahs Trees.
The annual report of DR.. George il.
Stone, chairman of the park and tree
commission, has been received by Mayor
Myers. The report is very interesting
one. The commission is composed of Ave
members appointed by the mayor and
confirmed by council. The terms of office
of the present board, which was appoint
ed Jan. l. 1896, are two for six years, two
for four years and one for two years. DR..
George H. Stone and Mr.. G.. ]. Baldwin
were appointed for six years, MIR. w. W.
Gordon. Jr, and Mr.. P. D. Dafhn for four
years, and Mr.. c. S. Ellis for two years
DR.. Stone is chairman, Mr.. Baldwin vice
chairman and Mr.. Gordon secretary and
treasurer.
The public grounds under control of the
commission are as follows: Forsyth park,
10 acres; parade ground, q acres; Colonial
park, SO acres; twenty-five squares, 2S
acres Tiny Thompson park, acres, and
Estill park 275 acres, making total of
334. 10 acres. The commission also has con-
troll of all grass plats and trees. Its ex-
penditures during the year. exclusive of
Estin park, were $12,027.02, leaving bal
ance of ? cents from the appropriation.
The Estill park funds amounted to $1,5292O
and the expenditures were $91403, leav
ing an unexpended balance of $615,E.
The cyclone of Sept. 20 did great damage
to the trees, 639 being blown down, while
at least $500 were torn and twisted. The
destruction in Forsyth park alone was 919
/ trees broken off and uprooted, including
many of the choicest varieties. The re-
/ moval of the fence around Forsyth park
| is mentioned and the reasons given. Dur
/ ing the year 100 new benches were provided
! for the park and the old ones repaired.
/ lowing to a conflict of opinion as to our
powers and jurisdiction over the parade
| ground" the chairman says, very little
| work has been done except to cut the grass
| and clear the ground of distractions. In
/
have called for and obtained meeting be-
| tween the commission and the military,
and hope to come to a mutual agreement
upon the question which it is proposed to
submit to council for approval"
Upon the subject of the squares the chair
man says:
1T has been the experience of the COM
mission that no permanent improvement
of a square can be made until the walks
are properly graz ed and Hurbed, we sug-
! gest that if we can only improve one
square a year it be done in atthorough
manner. During the year nearly all of
| the, squares have been ploughed and plant
ed with bermuda grass, which we claim
has produced a decided improvement. We
! have also introduced carpet bedding
around the monuments in the Bull street
| squares, adding materially to their APP
| pearance. We have adopted a standard
tree box, a sample of which can be seen
in Wright square. We feel that Thomas
place. Wells square and Tiny Thompson
park, situated in the southern portion of
the city. should secure attention They
| should be curbed and trees planted as a
| start towards a more extensive improve
ment We recognize the fact that years
must elapse before our work can be COM
! plete. if it is ever complete, but we desire
| to place such imprint of systematic scien-
tific treatment that it can never be effaced
and if the commission in future years but
follow up the work, each year will add
fresh beauty to an already lovely city"
The work and plans of the commission
as to the trees of the city is explained:
1.-The care of trees is a subject to which
the commission has devoted great deal
of thought To select proper varieties for
| different places, to give to the flora of
Savannah a, distinct characteristic pecu-
liar to this section, has been the frequent
! subject matter of discussion. We believe
| that the magnificent trio of eVergreens,
the majestic live oak, the grandifiora
magnolia and the picturesque palmetto
to be the distinct characteristics features
Of our flora and should appear in every
point of vantage. We have a fine variety,
each of which possess many features to be
| commended, and it is the desire of the
| commission to so distribute them that
| they may enhance the beauty of the city,
| while holding to the main characteristic
! of this section. In the past the water oak
| has met with much more favor than the
| live oak, there being twice as many in
| the city Of the former, but we have de-
cided that the live oak is much to be pre-
| ferred and the reasons are: That the live
oaks life runs into the hundreds, while
| the water oak begins to decay at 40 years,
as both require the same care to cult
vate, we have a vast difference in the re-
suits obtained. Again, the live oak being
the hardest of the two, heals better after
| trimming, and is much less liable to de-
cay. The water oak suffers to greater
| extent from the lowering of the water
| stratum by reasons of the sewers
"It was noticed by all observers of the
| late storm that the palmettos suffered
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