The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-08
TO IMPROVE PARADE GROUND.
AND PLANT TREES IN SOUTHERN
SECTION, PARK COMMISSION
Frs PLAN.


mate of the Commission for Next
Year and Tells What 1t Wishes to
Do with the Money for which 1t
Has Asked COunciI-BuII Street Ex-
tended Should BE Made n Hand
some Avenue-COmmissIO Desires
Ground on the Line of Bolton
street-WOuId Like to Improve
Bay Street Green, Also.
The Park and Tree Commission, as stat
ed in the Morning News has asked the
City Council for $40, $50 for next years
work. This includes $1,000 for care of parks
and trees, and $3.50 for Laurel Grove GEM
etery. Both of these estimates viii proba-
bly, be allowed. The other items of the es-
innate are $4,000 for improving the Bay
street green, $500 for tree planting, $500
for clerk hire $500 for Estill Park, and S.
eco fer imp OF ement of the Park Extension.
The estimate is practically the same as
that made up by the commission a year
ago with The exec ption that 5000 was ask
cd for at that time for roadways and other
improvements in Laurel Grove. The ceme-
terry is now in very good condition and no
extra expenditures Tor improvements are
considered necessary this year.
The items of chief interest in the COM
missioners' estimate are the 5000 for the
Park Extension, $500 for tree planting
and 5000 for Bay street green. This last
item mas been twice before asked for and
is for the purpose of carrying out plans
prepared about three years ago, but for
which Council has never seen its way clean
to provide the means. Chairman Daffn
said yesterday that the plans of the COM
mission with regard TO Bay street green
are generally misunderstood, in spite of
the fact that they have been often ex-
planned.
ut is not simply proposed" he said, ITO
spend this amount of money in making a
little park near Bay and East Broad
streets. Our object is to improve the whole
stretch of green on the north side of Bay
street, between Abercorn and East Broad
streets, which is capable of being made
one of the handsomest parks in the city,
if properly reaTranged. Gravel walks
should be provided and the present un-
slightly footpaths done away More trees
are needed, of course. 1t is also intended
to include in the work the Improvement
in the grass plats near the city exchange"
The intentions of the commission with
regard to the Park Extension or parade
ground are of general interest. THE pa
rade ground needs a thorough overhaul
ing" said MIR. Daffin. For some time the
commission was in doubt as to its author
ity there, but an opinion was rendered by
the city attorney some time ago to the eff
feet that we had the authority to exercise
supervision over it. The ground should be
plowed up, narrowed and leveled, the
walks alongside the ground should be put
I'm better condition and a number of new
trees planted. In addition to this Ii is the
desire of the commission to lay a gravel
walk across the parade ground on the line
of Bolton street. Such walk would be
a great convenience to the large poDula-
ton living In the neighborhood of the pa
rade and Park. AS it is now the parade
is cut up with narrow footpaths reading
through the grass, which are not only
unsightly, but are a great source of dis
satisfaction to the hundreds of people who
pass through there daily, especially to
the ladies, whose dresses are so!led
by coming in contact with the grass
broad walk, ms cad of detracting from he
appearance Of the parade ground would
add to it greatly. The curbing could be
sunk level with the ground so a not to
interfere with the evolutions of the mill
tary. [ do not bel eve there would be any
objections from the military to such an
Improvement and l am satisfied that it
would be welcomed by the people living in
the vicinity of the parade"
Chairman DafIin is greatly in hopes that
Council will not make any material alter
alton in the estimate of the commission for
the reason that it is desHed TO do a large
amount of work in the southern section of
the city next year. The southside has been
neglected to a large extent by the com
mic ctr t1nf re-
lis needs, but because the annual appro-
priat!ons have been so small that they
were barely sufficient to continue the work
in TIE older sect'o Of the city.
"There is a great deal of work which
should be done south Of Anderson street"
said Mr.. Datfin. Bun street extended
should he converted into an avenue, with
live oaks, magnolias or some other suita-
bic tree its entire length. This work
should have Teen begun TWO years ago ami
doubtless would have teen, had the COM
mission had the means The trees would
now have had two years growth. AS it is
row every season which is al owed TO mass
without beginning the work is so much
valuable time lost. Bull street extended Of
fers q splendid opportunity for a desira Bile
public improvement ard one that would be
enjoyed and app eciated by the entire eli v.
The commission has never been able to
do anything for the parks south of An
of attention. There is Thomas Park,
Tiny Thompson Park and Wells Square all
of which are susceptible of great i'm
provement and which are entitled TO re-
ceive attention at our hands. There is a
great deal of tree planting which should
be done in the southern section, and we
will need every Cent of money for which
we have asked in order to make a fair
showing there next year"
Chairman Dafiin has had no intimations
as to what Council intends doing about
Estill Park. The city now has 81 500 in its
treasury to the credit of the park accord
ing to the agreement by which It holds the
park from the county, the $500 appropri
alton for last year and the $1,000 appropri-
alton for this year required by the terms
of the agreement having been withheld
until a sufficient sum should accumulate
70 be used to advantage. Under the
agreement the city Is required to add an
other $1,000 TO this fund this year.
Wedding ana Christmas Presents.
Fairy land presents no more enhancing