The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-08

certainly IS the hlankest kind Of verse.
Yet how easily might this all be
changed. and IN the course Of few
years be made mot only a Joy forever.
but thing OF beauty and a source Of
pylde.
The first and perhaps the greatest
cost that would require an outlay OF
cash would be the expense Of having an
expert Landscape gardner make a plat
OF the ground. showing the drives.
walks, terraces, location of trees,
shrubbefy. fountains, etc.
After this had been wisely done. some
Of the trees could be set out and work
begun to divert the heavy rainfall from
wdshlns the gullies stu deeper. and
these, by methods known TO any ex-
pariaAeed farmer who has a hillside
field. could be filled and grass covered
In one or two seasons. The labor for
this work Is right at hand In the work
house at the head Of Seventh street
IN order that no vandal should injure
OF destroy any vegetation, the watch
man who looks after the water basin
could be made park keeper, with police
powers, at some slight additional cost.
and no Expectations would be commit
ted. With some rapidly growing trees,
Ike the Carolina poplar, It would be
but a short time until their shade would
make 1t an attractive place on \ hot
summer day
only Ave or six years ago the board
Of education, at my instance. planted
ten or twelve Carolina pOplars and
hardwood naples in the Lincoln school
yard, just adjoining the city commons,
and to-day they not only beautify this
formerly barren site. but make the
building and yard much more comfort
able and attractive.
on the crown Of the hill is ground
that could easily be leveled and tennis
courts and croquet grounds established.
or a music and speaking stand and
comfortable park benches for the peo-
pie who come to listen to either music
or buncombe.
/, at one time, had a wild dream of
using the walls Of the basin, and with
structural iron erect thereon an eleva-
ted auditorium for music and refresh
ments. something after the manner Of
the pleasure piers at the ocean resorts.
But fear that the winds would blow
aud carry OF my dream some dark
night: at least. such is the opinion of
my friend. Engineer White. and II you
Will all promise to help along the park
project, i will agree to give up my
cherished payIllion-at least, for the
present.
In case the city should care to ex-
tend the park limits beyond the city
commons, the adjacent ground could
certainly be had for low prices, as
much Of 1t can be earning nothing and
bids fair to-continue to do 30.
The city owns strip the width of
the basin on the eastern slope of the
hill, extending to the Wheeling & Elm
Grove railroad. This is too nearly
perpendicular for anything but goat,
or Hazlett and Russell to Chamber over,
yet by persistent effort grass may be
induced to cover over Its ugliness and
thus another green butterfly spring
from this hOmely grub,
So much for my designs upon Wheel
ing hill. I honestly believe the project
is not only feasible. but with the
proper amount of effort. can easily be
made an accomplished fact. But lest
the argument be used that It is too sec
tional and only convenient to the
dwellers above the creek. let US see
what can be done for the dweller on
the South Side. With this locality,
am not so familiar. yet have made
myself acquainted with few facts that
will aid in solving this difficulty.
The first available spot for our pur-
pose seems to be Chapline hill, which is
private property. but Of such eharsc-
ter that 1t must be source Of no profit
to its owner
1 believe Mr.. y. E. Whitaker is the
owner of at least a part Of 1t, and am
sure he would put no stumbling block
in the way Of its requirement by the
city for public purposes such as we are
considering.
Even In Its present condition, and
with road like Rocky mountain trail
leading up to 1t. 1t affords one Of the
finest views and best breathing spots
about the city. On It's broader and
more level top, extending back indef-
nitely, an ideal playground for chill
dren could be formed, Its too-steep
face could only be grassed and planted
With hardy shrubs and trees, but what
a difference that would mean! Like
converting one of the late Judge
Thompson's treatise on the category Of
the infinite into the mciodious verses Of
omar Khayyanis Rubalyat.
see that already the county commits
sloners have had the idea Of improving
the roadway leading to the top pre-
Sented to their distinguished considera-
tlon. Surely 1.-The world do novel
But there is another solution Of n
South side parK that could be carried
to It's contamination with little or no
expense and afford a convenient and
attractive resting place for the weary
employee anu mis- family Frun, aUUut
Thirty-eighth street to Forty-eiRhth
street Ia long. narrow strelcn of
ground. in some parts. as at BlOch's.
something like one hundred feet be-
tween the railroad and the river. and
at Forty-slghth street another piece Of