Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-05-28

lOliOW1uX year tne prOpagntlug HOUSES
can he rebuilt and extended so that the
flowers and plants Of Lincoln Park
may still continue to he one Of its chief
glorics and the pride Of North Side resi-
dents.
Most of the park drives. neglected for
several years. are uneven. rough and
sadly in need of repairs. II Is estimat-
cd that an expenditure of $4,000 would
he necessary to resurface them all with
granite and put them In first-class con.
dition to meet the requirements Of the
tens of thousands who throng the
drives. in carriages or on bicycles, dur
ing the summer months. No money
was available for this purpose during
the fiscal year just ended. and little
can be set apart for 1t during the com
ing year.
The question of renewing the lawns
of Lincoln Park from year to year.
ever perplcxing. is growing more trOu
blesome. The thin layer of good soil
originally spread over the sand dunes
out of which the park has grown is
gradually being washed through the
sand and constantly growing thinner.
Almost continual watering is necessary
to keep the grass in passable condition.
| and the sod ought to he removed from
all the older portions of the park and
at least six inches of good soil put
down.
This and other improvements Of vital
Importance. really coming under the
head of maintenance. wait on the rec.
ognition of their necessity by the tax
ing authorities of the towns In which
the park IL located.
| Chief among the new work carried
out In the park the past year was that
of filling ana sodding the new lawn
about the north boat house and the
construction of the bicycle path north
Of that pavilion.
The artesian well at the North Pond.
which ran dry over year ago, was
cleaned and deepened during the sum-
wer. mt a cost vi several thousand dol
lars. until n new flow was secured.
This spot, always an attractive one for
bicyclists. will renew It's destinations
next summer. after one barren season.
Early In the season II was found that
children playing near the lagoon were
In constant danger, because the steep
banks would make their escape almost
impossible In the event Of their falling
In. A strong wire fence was. therefore.
constructed entirely around the open
part of the lagoon, n distance Of 3,11G
feet, ut cost of $j1S.
For the double purpose Of cleaning
the bottom Of the South Pond and get
ting rid Of the carp which were de-
stroying the young gold fish, the water
was drained from the pond ut the close
of the boating season ana the bottom
Of the pond thoroughly dredged and
cleaned, the scrapings being used to
fll up a narrow channel east Of the
pond. which was full Of stagnant
water.
No efforts were spared during the
summer season to keep the lawn tennis
courts and baseball diamonds In good
condition for players, and permits for
,405 tennis games and 3Oj baseball
games were issued from May to OctO.
Der. No money was available for the
purchase Of new row boats for the
park ponds, but the old fleets were put
In repair and were generously patron.
lied. 21,Oi1 persons renting them for
hour or half hour rides. The skating
season was short and unsatisfactory,
owing to the heavy fall OF snow, but
the Ice ON the two ponds was kept In
good condition for skating whenever
possible.
The lake storms caused considerable
damage during the year to the sea wall
along the Lake Shore drive and the
paved beach from North avenue north
to the Inlet bridge. Repairs costing
nearly $4,000 had to bc made. but they
We're patch work merely. The sea wall
II In danger Of being ripped from it,
foundations by any severe storm, caus'
Ing incalculable damage. The paved
beach IL In equal danger. TO pern,a,
nently protect them. and save posi-
ble loss Of hundreds Of thousands OF
dollars, II may be necessary to drive
down sheeting along the entire front Of
the sea wall and beach, ut an estimated
expense Of about $4,000. During the
summer 175 feet Of breakwater was
driven down on the east line Of the
Sheridan road from Belmont avenue
to protect the drive. The necessity OF
such protection Is fully apparent az al
the time OF this writing the shifting
sand east Of the drive has been entire
~ washed away along the entire length
OF the protection. 1t alone saved thu
drive from the force Of the lake and til,
breakwater will have 10 he extended
farther south the coming year.
One Of the economies Of the past sea
son consisted In cutting of large mum
her Of electric lights In the park durini
, the winter months. This course wa
adopted with regret, but was unavOid
able. A large extension Of the electric
light plant made two years ago had In
, creased the cost Of operation, and II thu
public IL to derive the benefit from THU
!, expenditure to which II Is entitled, thu
revenues of the park for maintenance
!. should be increased rather than re
duced. 1t would be economy to extent
the electric light plant still further, 81
that the Sheridan road, from BelmOn
avenue to Byron street, could be light
|, ed by the park plant instead Of by prl
yate contract, as under the present ar