The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-13
CARE OF PARKS AND TREES.
PARK COMMISSIONS ANNUAL RE
PORT TO THE MAYOR.
Condition of the Public Parks n Yea,

Condition of the Public Parks n Year
Ago and Novv-Features of Their
Improvemcnt-The Care of the
Trees-Necessity For Their PrOtec-
ton From the Scale.
The annual report of DR.. George H.
Stone as chairman of the Park and Tree
Commission was received yesterday by
Mayor Meldrim.
The report opens with an enumeration
of the public grounds, as follows: For
syth Park, 10 acres; Parade ground, "a;
Colonial Park, so; City Pound lot, q;
twenty-five squares, 21S; Oglethorue
green, S,44; Liberty green, 21S; Tiny
Thompson Park, IS; Lowell Park, A; Estill
Park, 275 acres; Laurel Grove Cemetery,
white. ST.; colored, CO.'S.
The financial statement is as follows:
Appropriation for the year, $12,50O; eX-
pended, $12, 497 .O5; balance $2.95; voucher,
approved by the commission, but not paid,
81, $50. 90.
Estill Park, balance from 1896, S6l5.17;
appropriation for 1887, $500; from tree
planting, $3.50; from rent of land, 50; in
terest on deposits, $3.50. Total, Sl,2Z7.47.
Expended $s4OO6; balance, $2S7.41
Laurel Grove cemetery appropriation,
$3.50; expended, $6US.Ss; overdrawn,
$685.
The improvement and remodeling of
Forsyth Park is rehearsed.
THE action of the commission last year
in removing the fence" says the report,
has been fully justified, and very few
persons can be found who would restore it
If they could. A great deal of thought
and labor was devoted to suitable plan
of improvement the result of which we
present to you with pardonabe pride. The
walks have been entirely remodeled and
very much amplif1ed increasing the area
to 1850 square yards. In making these
walks the surface was thoroughly rolled
with a ten-ton steam roller; upon this
surface three inches of Augusta gravel
was spread and then rolled until a very
hard surface was produced. This was
followed by thin layer of granite screen
ngs; when completed a superb walk was
then produced which we claim will be
durable and economical piece Of work.
The report states that but siXty-four
pines are left in the park, eleven having
died during the year. The early disap-
pearance of these stately trees from the
park was predicted in Dr. Stones last
report.
Mention is made of the drinking foun-
tain presented the city by Hon. Herman
Myers and placed in Forsyth Park. At
tention is also called to the need of more
lights in the park.
OF Colonial Park the report says: THE
appearance of this unique park fully JUS
titles the work of the commission. A
very difficult problem confronted the
commissioners when they attempted the
task of making park out of a cemetery
ures. Each separate tomb was treated IN
q manner that toned its glazing features
by covering it with vines and flowers
The combination of old tomb, trailing
vines and brilliant bloom is very pleas
ing to the eye and has excited the ad-
miration of every visitor. The fine walks
through this park attract hundreds of
people who use it daily I would earn
estly request that a policeman be sta
toned in this park permanently. During
the past year the pound lot was added
to the park, increasing its area Z of an
acre. This addition required regarding
at cost of S770.41 and additional walks,
costing $454.9S. Several thousand plants
and shrubs were added during the year"
The necessity of renewing the walks
around and through the parade ground
and making these uniform with the walks
around Forsyth Park is urged. This
work should be done by the street and
lane department, the report states.
The report adds that Columbia and Lib
erty squares have been greatly improved
by the Commissioner of Public Works
by the laying of new sidewalks. The need
of further improvements of this kind is
urged.
Placing the men of this commission in
uniform" the report states, has proved
d success, the men themselves taking
pride in the name of the Brownies, and
citizens generally realize that the uni
form is the badge of good workman"
The necessity of taking some steps to
check the spread of scale insects and
other enemies of tree life is dwelt upon.
No work has been done upon the trees to
prevent spread of the scale, owing to the
lack of funds.
The commission has met with wonderful
success in tree planting, with the excep-
ton of the palmetto.
Mention is made of the meeting of the
Georgia State horticultural Society in Sa-
vannah last August and the entertainment
of the society by the commission by re-
quest of the Mayor.
The artesian well in Estill Park has been
completed, giving a good flow at 404 feet
depth A good road across the park has
been nearly completed, the appropriation
not admitting of continuous work.
Attention is called to the need of drain
age in Laurel Grove Cemetery, in both
the white and colored portions