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

M Crompton Park, S221S.20; North
Park, $1461.2S; East Park, $2i46.oS;
Dodge Park, $407S6; Lake Park,
$3002.77; general expenses, $5t793:
total, S22,695.40; unexpended bal
ance, $S.38; net expenditures, $22,-
1878.
During the building of the new city
hall, as much of the common as was
needed for building privileges and
conveniences was cheerfully granted to
The city hall commission by the park
commissioners. Large areas were given
up to the deposit of earth, stone and
other materials.
An impression prevailed among the
members of the city council, which was
also shared by the city hall commits
sion, that this balance of $4,000 of the
city hall fund would be sufficient 70
complete the work on the grounds sur
rounding the building construct the
walks and approaches, and still leave
money enough to clear up the common,
regrade the areas which had been ap-
propriated to building privileges, re-
store old paths wherever possible and
add such new ones as would contribute
to the public convenience.
Beginning with the grounds about the
city hall, several large trees had to be
cut down, and the Stumps, as well as a
lot of stone posts and old curbing, had
10 be removed, in order to properly pre-
pare the ground for the granolithic and
asphaltina pavements.
incidentally, it became necessary to
establish the line defining the east
boundary of that part of the common
taken by the city of Worcester under
legislative act, for the purposes of a
city hall. The city solicitors opinion,
which has been printed in The Spy, is
given in the report. The report goes
on:
From this opinion, it is a reasonable
inference that, all that part of the com
mon bounded by Main, Front and Park
streets, and lying west of the easterly
line of the new asphaltina mall, has
been taken by the city for the purposes
+ OF city hall, and is no longer under
the care or jurisdiction of the park
commissioners. All that part of the
common lying east of the easterly line
of the said mall still remains under the
care and within the jurisdiction OF
the park commissioners.
AT meeting of the city hall park
board, held November IA, 1898 it ap.
peared that less than $500 remained OF
the balance of $4,000, and, inasmuch as
the work around the city hall was not
then quite completed, it did not appear
certain that anything would be left tc
De expended on the rest of the com
mon,
In other words, while the members
OF uhe city hall park board acted in en-
tire harmony, circumstances seemed
TO make 1t necessary to spend the bal
ance OF the city hall construction fund
almost wholly upon the grounds about
the city hall building
Much remains that must he done
ana still more that might we'll be done,
certainly 1t seems reasonable that in
the coming spring, the city should
through the agency of the city hall
park board, and by special appropria-
tlon, put what is left of the common
IN as good condition as It was when
tne park commissioners practically
yielded it to the city hall commission
Tor their convenience during the cree
ton OF the municipal building. In their
own estimate for the common. for the
coming year, the park commissioners
nave simply included the expenses of a
caretaker, which will amount to about
$500.
In their last annual report the needs
OF the commission for more effective
service in different lines of work. was
plainly set forth. One of these desig-
mated was the need of a man to act
IN the capacity of city forester. In
February last Charles Greenwood OF
worcester was employed 70 take
charge of this work.
The devastating ice storm Of Fabr,,.
airy played sad havoc with the shade
trees, and many of the streets became
impossible for teams on account of the
wreckage of fallen trees.
As In former years, the ems sui
Tered worse than the naples, on ac.
count of the heavy accumulation OF
Ice in their rough bark and the long
slender hah Of
and branches.
mere have been planted during the
past year 400 Norway naples and 4O(
rock or sugar naples. These were useC
almost wholly on the streets, where tn,
curpstones had been set in previou.
years, and but very little was done il
tne way OF replacing dead trees on 9th
er streets
The streets on which trees were
k,anted are as follows: Burncoat
Rnattuck, Shafner, Washington avenue
RIhdsor, Harrington avenue, Gather
me, Hooper, Kendall, Salisbury. Tuck
eiInaIi Highland, Pleasant, Russell, Da
nj, luton, Murray avenue, Charlotte
,Wyman, Southbridge. Lewis. Wash
BURN, sigel, sufield, Perry avenue
Ledge. civ
40 other parks in the city are receiv
ing more and more attention in tn
way OF development, thus considerabl,
increasing the cost of their mainten
ance, u Is desirable to keep the annua
Iiptsiises OF TINS more finished parl
Wlthin reasonable limits.
Ch tne west side of Park avenue
from Highland street to the foot o
Elm street, and continuing on to tn
snu1i boundary, there has been con
ftructed pathway, which for Some dis
rance runs on the slope of Newton hill
n ,o iLlls Ieads the commission to add tina
IN the parks are needed at times to re
strain undue license, and to protec