The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-10

trees, shrubs and flowers, but no in
fluepce is so helpful in this direction
1 as that spirit of civic pride and APP
probation of public privileges, which
expresses itself in thoughtful, personal
example.
Considerable attention has been paid
to the boundary walks on Elm and Ag
rlcultural streets, and to the path on
Highland street, extending to Newton
square. By the construction of the new
sewer in Agricultural street, it is con-
templated to have two or three more
catch basins, SO that the street on the
park side may be relieved of standing
water after heavy rains and SHOWS
On Newton hill little has been done,
except to keep up the nursery of
trees, and to remove the growth of
grass, weeds and brush from the entire
surface of the hill, at the close of the
| season, as necessary protection
against the raVages of fire.
A new item of expense, which may
/ be included in the fixed charges, has
been added the past year, and it is this:
The expense of watering the streets, by
tho city, charged to the estates abut-
ting thereon. A park is treated like
an individual estate. Elm park is en-
! llrSiS SlIe6lS, WtiiSA oil Z
Walered By the city.
BY far the greater part of Newton
hill is in the same condition. Conse-
quentiy, the charge is an important
item { f expense, amounting in the case
of Elm 1ark and Newton hill to over
500 in 1928. Institute, University, East
and Cromptcn parks have less frontage
on watereG streets, while Lake, North
and Dodce parks have none at all.
The continued liberality of Stephen
Salisbury and his constant care and
supervision of Institute Park, make it
possible for the public to enjoy many
privileges which the park commission
ers could not possibly afford, from their
limited appropriation.
Last year it SO happened that he did
not make report Of his expenditures,
and therefore they are given now:
1S97-Laber and materials on park,
$9S204; work on fountains, S39o99;
trees and shrubs, S25; electric lighting,
$9S.SO Total, $15O1.S3
1S98-Expended by Mr.. Salisbury: La
Dor and materials on park, $1055.45;
lumber, $2422; trees and shrubs. $4S
i electric lighting, $7S.29. Total $12o5.96.
The expenditures on account of lnsti-
tute Park. by the park commissioners,
have been as follows: Manual labor,
S493.24; street watering, 1886, 1897,
$l425O; water pipe and labor for foun-
tain. $241.35. Total, $S77.09.
University Park has received many
additions to it's trees ana plants. BY
the generosity of many citizens resid-
ing in the vicinity of University Park,
a tall, handsome flag-pole was raised
on the summit Of the hill, and later q
beautiful flag was presented
During the season the largest amount
of work has been accomplished by the
filling in of some $500 loads of material,
for the purpose of bringing the low
grounds to a suitable grade. The Is
land has been raised four and one
half feet. By the generosity of L. D.
Thayer, 200 loads of fine gravel were
received, which We're used in covering
the bottom of the pond.
The bottom of the main pond has been
cleaned out, some 1900 loads being re-
moved. Some $50 feet of iron pipe have
been laid to perfect the supply and
drainage of the water system.
The larger portion of the stone steps
of the old city hall were removed to
University park, for the purpose OF be-
ing preserved as nearly as possible in
their original form. 1t is proposed to
use them as stepping stones to a con-
templated rustic bridge from the main
land to the island.
The work of enlargement of the new
wading pond in Crompton park has
been carried forward during the season
and the material obtained in the eXca-
walton utilized in filing and grading
for a second play field. The pond is
kept filled in a very simple and mex
pensive manner by using the overflow
from the new drinking fountain, which
) was located near the centre of the park
This new play field was greatly need
. ed and is appreciated, and its compile
ton more than anything else stimu-
lates the demand for another of the
same character. The commissioners
hope to be able to meet this want the
: coming year.
About two hundred trees have beer
planted the past year, which were tax
en- from the park nursery on Newton
, hill The collection is made up largely
of oaks, Norway and sugar NAPLES
larches, Norway spruce, Austrian and
; white pines.
| North Park, which but a few year.:
ago was pasture and farming land, is
| now gradually assuming the dignlfied
appearance of a public park.
The principal work on this park the
past season was the excavation of a
low, marshy half acre, containing a
copious living spring, and the trans
IOIIIllIlS VI the same TITO d BUl3II pOnu
west of the larger one, and immedi-
ately north of the main walk from the
Burneoat street entrance.
The work of excavation was attend
ed with many difficulties on account OF
the unexpected quantity of mud, which
in some places was found to be nine
feet in depth, and the constant flow
OF water from the spring.
The work on Dodge Park for the sea-
, son of 1898 has been the building Of
a rustic stone structure to cover and
protect the natural spring.
; The commission is again indebted to
. eX-Commissioner Martin Green who
; designed this covering, as well as the
rustic stone bridge near it. These COM
panlon pieces will be lasting monu-
| ments of his architectural skill
The work of filing and grading the
swamp land adjacent to Shrewsbury
street, which has engaged the atten-
: ton of the commission for nine success
: sive years, Is now practically complet-
! ed. The construction of a wadlng and
skating pond has been the most i'm
portant piece of work ever accom-
plished in this park
The completion of the work OF filing