The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-29
THE IRON FENCE MUST GO
TIE PEOPLE ARE UNANIMOUS FOR ITS
5...s REMOVAL.
II Would Enhance the Beauty of the Square
100 Per Cent Prof. Massey
Writes.

The movement started recently in this
paper by State officials and public-spirit-
ed citizens of Raleigh for the removal
of the unsightly iron fence around Capt.
toll Square, has spread in popular favor
like wild-fire, until everybody is rising
up with one accord and saying amen.
If vote of the citizens Of Raleigh
were taken on the question l. believe il
would be practically unanimous in favor
of removal. AT any rate / have yet to
find a man or woman or child, who has
given the matter IL moments thought,
and who is not in favor Of tearing down
the fence and nicely terracing the square
All admit that it would enhance the
beauty of that part of the city hundred
per cent Prof. w. Il. Massey, of the
A. and NJ College, writing in regard to
the matter says:
Ever since ] have been citizen OF
Raleigh / have been hoping for IL public
sentiment that would insist on the remov'
al of the useless iron fence around the
Capitol Square. In all the larger cities
these enclosures have long since vanish
ed, ana the Improvement i'll every cas-
has been marked The fence does NJ
good but to break, in an unpleasant man
ner, the view of the grounds, and the
value of the iron could be well expended
in properly identifying the grounds il
they were i'll the hands of n competent
landscape gardner, and not the prey OF
incompetence.
a man who knows trees and plants
and loves them. if allowed to have his
own way, could make the square a
thing of real beauty. l fear that the
expensive pavementS are not going to
/ add to the beauty of the grounds. II
would have been far better to have mar
rowed the walks already too wide and
numerous and made thoroughly drained
gravel or asphalt walks. There are
many worthless trees that could be cut
out to advantage. and to the benefit OF
| fine trees that are incommoded by them
and well arranged groups of shrubbery
could well take the place of some of the
flower beds. Then if well-built conser
yatory was arranged for at Pullen Park
all the necessary propagation for the
park and the square could be done there
under the care of a competent gardner.
The experience of Northern cities j.
that the public can be soon trained tC
respect the floral decorations of squares
open to them. And then in these elite,
the public grounds are placed in the CARE
of men who have been trained to THEN
business"
Another correspondent writes: 'In
late issue You quote Or. Thompson
the Secretary Of State, as saying that
the removal Of the old fence around the
Capitol would greatly improve the
grounds, but that even with it Dr.
Burns had nearly gotten. into jail and
If it was removed he feared he would
get into the penitentiary. I write to say
that if that iron fence is all that stands
between Doctor Burns and the peniten-
tiary, the people say let us take away
the fence"
Another man remarked yesterday in
the same conversation, that 'To secure
the removal Of that eyesore Raleigh
would be resigned even to the loss of SO
purely ornamental an official as is Or
Burns