The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1900-05-10
Nem Parks On Rock Island.

New Parks On Rock Island.
Happily the railway managers of
the present day are not converts of
Ruskin's s IDEA Of the little importance
of the oruamentation of the railway
station We're his theories in
practic operation in modern
IA aetho61s Of railroadiDg, the station,
which is now made SO alluring to the
eye of the traveller, would present
anything but an inviting appearance
In his ssSeyen Lamps Of Architect
ure" written over half century ago,
Ruskin touches very frankly on the
'ecvil tendencies Of decorating rail
way stations. While he doubtless
had an eve for the beautiful in things
architectural, there could be no mis-
take IN saying that he did not believe
in extending it to 50 cornmo monplace
structure as a railway station. He
says:
"Anothsr Of the strange and evil
tendencies of the present day is to
the decoration Of the railroad station
Now, if there be any place in the
world in which people are deprived
Of that portion of temper and discre-
ton which are necessary to the con-
temptation Of beauty, it ie there. It
IS the very temple of discomfort, and
the only charity the builder can ex-
tend US is to show Us, plenty as may
be. how soonest to escape it. The
whole system of railroad travelling is
addressed to people who, being in n
hurry, are therefore, for the time be-
ing, miserable
No one would travel in that man
ner who could help it, who had them
to go 1e1surely over hills and between
hedges, instead of through tunnels
and between banks; at least those
ii Of
SO acute that we need to consult il at
stations Tho railroad in all of it's
relations is matter of earnest busi-
ness, to be got through as soon as
possible. 1t transmutes a man from
a traveller to a living parcel For
the time he parted with the nobler
characteristics of his humanity for Of
planetary power of locomotion-
Do not ask him to admire anything.
You might as well ask the wind
Carry HIM safely, dismiss him soon;
he viii thank you for nothing else"
It Is a pleasure to note that he
does not criticise the ornamentation
of station grounds, but doubtless
such methods in railway matters
fifty years ago were is modern for
that age as his objection to station
fermentation is antiquated for the
pr esent day.
There is no race of people who de-
manded and enjoy greater rapidity
in travelling than Americans, and
none whose requirements are so
nearly complied with as that afforded
by railroads, yet, they havo hardly
become imbued with the desire to
assume the role of a living PARCEL
for a ssplane etary power Of LOGON otion !"
or surrender their ffcharacteristics Of
humanity to simply q business pro-
position, 50 much so, as to blind
themselves to the growing efforts of
railways to beautily their stations
and surroundings to please their
patrons.
The Identifying OF station grounds
has become special feature of many
railways, and probably one of the
most extensive preparations in this
direction is that recently outlined by
the management of the Rock Island.
Every station on its line is to be
designed parks, ornamented with
fountains where water service is
available The care of the station
grounds Will be in charge of the
station employees and maintained at
the expense of the company. Flow
ers, foliage plants and shrubbery
will be set out in artistic ihape, and
each other improvements made as
local conditions suggest. Many of
the stations are already supplied with
parks, which can by improved and
make attractive with a small outlay
of labor and expense. While at
other stations new grounds will be
laid out and beautified.
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