Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-18
ROADS ANb PARKS IN sILEsIA.
The Finest Promenade in Europe
Surrounds Breslau.

Surrounds Breslau.
United States cAnsul c. w. Erdman
writes to the State Department from Bres-
lau, Germany: II
1.-THE roads in BresIau are kept in good
condition. In fact, what is said to be the
finest promenade of Europe surrounds the
old city, beside Ia stream of water known
as the Stadtgrahen the former fertilization
ditch, which has been beautifully improved
and which is aboutfpoO feet wide. This is
supplied with water from the River Oder
and is we'll stocked with fish, which are
sold at auction by the city administration
once year and bring good revenue,
which Is used to keep the promenade in
repair.
1.-THE promenade is from 100 to $50 feet
wide and about 1900 feet long, and is
well supplied with benches for seating pur-
poses. The small parks of 400 to LOCO feet
square, through which the promenade runs,
have flowers, fountains, etc. Numerous
parks are scattered over the city. At inter-
sections of streets small strips or iand,
from 200 to LOCO feet square, are planted
with fine shade trees and provided with
benches.
'"rhere are also other parks which the
city has made from abandoned graVeyards
the law being tina. when graveyard IS
full and has not been used for the term
of forty years for burying purposes, 1t
becomes a public park. As they are plant
ed with all kinds of shade trees, the apan.
doned graveyards make splendid parks at
once.
1.-THE turnpilxes through the province OF
Silesia are about 100 feet wide. Three,
fourths of the width is macadamlzed ana
one-fourth is natural dirt road. The ROADS
are kept in better condition than good
many macadamized streets that L have
seen in the United States. A good reason
for this is that the fellies and tires of the
wheels are never less than inches, and
sometimes 8 inches wide, and the gauge OF
all wagons. whether carriage, truck or farm
wagon, must be 11a meters t4.92 feeO. ms
law in regard to the width of the gauge
and the tires of the wagons is strictly en-
forced The fellies and tires or all farm
wagons must be not less than 4 inches;
of rock and heavy freight wagons, from
to 8 riches.
THE roads are kept in order by men who
have charge of certain sections, under the
supervision of the roadmaster. Inc man
who keeps his section of the road in the
best order during the year receives COM
mendatiop from the roadmaster for per-
Torrance of faithful service, which testl-
monial is looked upon by the laborer as a
great honor.
pathways for foot passengers, which are
kept in good condition. Along the inside of
the footways and outside of the road are
trees. planted about thirty feet apart; most
of them are black, white and red cherry
trees, of very fine quality, and plum trees,
known in the United States as the blue egg
plum. These trees not only give excellent
shade, but also return considerable revenue
to the treasury of the various counties.
the fruit being sold at auction, so much per
tree for a term Of five years, the buyer
binding himself to keep the trees we'll
trimmed and free from insects, and white
wash the same in spring up to the first
limb.
Stones are placed along the roadside, to
keep the hubs of wagons from damaging
the trees. The law against defacing or
nv frsaa oh no Iic
highways Is strictly enforced. AS soon as
caterpillars make their appearance they
are burnt out with cotton balls saturated
with coal oil.
There is no toll collected on any of the
public roads, either for vehicles or foot pas
sengers, excepting when a new bridge is
constructed Then a toll of 10 pfennigs
equal to 2.3S cents per horse is collected
until the construction is paid for
The roads and bridges are kept in repair
by the county, which obtains revenue for
this purpose from taxation of the realty ad-
joining the highway"