Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-05-28
LARGEST
WEEKLY CIRCULATION
IN CHICAGO.
AFFAIRS Of LINCOLN PARK.

AFFAIRS OF LINCOLN PARK.
The Lincoln Park Commissioners.
through their President. DIR. =. NJ.
Woodwork. have issued their report for
the fiscal year just ended. 1t Is as fol.
lows:
On assuming the management Of Lin.
coin Park at the beginning OF this
period, the present commissioners
found that with prospective revenue
smaller than for several years. they
had Inherited an Indebtedness Of over
$4,000. which had to he met from this
Deceased income. leaving u margin far
too small for the imperative necessl.
ties OF park maintenance. The ques.
ton Of continuing the former financial
policy by carrying the deficit forward
to another year or Of reducing eXpendl-
lures TO what OF income would remain
after the payment Of all debts, was de.
cided In favor Of the prudent and eco.
AMI keeping out Of II II possible. The
utmost care has been exercised In the
purchase Of supplies and employment
Of labor In order to cut down expenses
In such ways as would cause the least
possible amount Of permanent damage
TO the park. Therefore no extensive
record Of improvements carried out
can h. given here. and the making Of
repairs which Were needed most seri-
ousiy had to be regretfully given MP or
postponed. Financially the results Of
this rigid economy were more crafty.
Ing than was hoped for rs instead Of
deficit a small balance In the general
fund II shown.
The outlook for the coming year II
less discOuraging In one respect he
cause, although the appropriation IL
still further reduced. there Is no debt
hanging over the park and the entire
amount will be available for current
Use. There II serious encouragement.
however, for lovers Of Lincoln Park, In
the tendency Of the town officials who
make the tax levy to reduce their ap-
preparation on the ground Of economy.
The actual cost Of maintaining the park
In the manner to which the citizens and
taxpayers OF the Towns Of North Chi
cagO and Lake View are accustomed
Increases yearly. Extensions Of the
electric lighting plant. the acquisition
Of new territory for parks and streets
for bOulevards, the increased use OF
the park by a growing population, all
involve an Increase In the cost of main
tennnce. II Its income Is further re-
sluced. or Is not materially increased,
Ia. I...s
up. With nearly all the park drives In
had condition, with the lawns becOm-
ing more difficult ana expensive 10
maintain because Of the deterioration
Of the soil, with the quarters for the
parks fine and growing geological col
lection becoming yearly more painfully
inndeIuate-for these and many other
reasons there Is crying need for larger
revenue.
One OF the improvements which seem
cd most urgent during the past year,
hut had 10 be given up, was the build
ing Of barn for the park horses and
wagons. For several years the base
ment Of the plant propagating houses
has been forced into service as a sta
ble. Never intended for such a pur-
pose. II has proved most lily fitted for
IL. The excessive heat In winter, neces
sary for the proper cultivation of deli
cate plants, the lack Of ventilation and
the constant moisture caused by the
leakage Of water through the green
honse floor, make the basement I'M
healthy for horses.
Al the same time the best results IN
flower propagation. II has been found
cannot he obtained from greenhouses
elevated above the ground, and the
further fact that the stable-talnted mt
inOspherc seriously Injuries many
plants makes still more imperative the
,iIsassociation OF horses and flowers
The floors Of the propagating houses
are rotting. and 10 repair them perma'
nenfly would cost several thousand dol.
lars. The commissioners have, there
fore. appropriated $4,000 for the con
struction Of barn and advertised for
plans. The barn will be located north
Of Fullerton avenue extended, between
the North Pond and the Shore Drive,
on the site Of the present Toulouse,
While imposing architectural effect can
hardly De obtained at such figure, II