The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-12

members of the park committee, os
select council, the park commissioners
and several city officials went through
the park yesterday afternoon in COM
pany with Architect Edgerton, Of
Philadelphia, who is supervising the
work, and thoroughly inspected every
thing.
Those who comprised the party were
Select Councilmen John T.. Roche,
Thomas G, Melvin d. w. Vaughan anI
John ]. Schneider Park Commission
ers A. p. Bedford, j. A. Scranton and
p. ]. Mccain; City Solicitor A. A.
Vosburg, city Engineer Joseph \.
Phillips. Architect Edgerton and Con-
tractor Peter Stipp.
The plan of the commissioners in ex.
pending the 100000 voted them a year
ago has been to permanently improve
a certain portion of the park first. in
stead of doing a little work here and
there. The plans prepared by Archi-
tect Edgerton for the improvement Of
the entire park provide for an outlay
of something like s75, 900. which sum is
not, of course, available as yet.
THE IMPROVEMENTS.
The part OF the park now being i'm
proved comprises about ten acres,
south of the Elmhurst boulevard, as II
enters the park from Arthur avenue.
1t is circular in shape, and is cncirc!ed
by a road running entirely around 1t.
This ten acres is nicely wooded, and
the work on it is being done by Con-
tractor Peter Stipp.
Around the southerly end of this plot
there has been erected a retaining wall,
about 100 feet long and varying in
hetghth from three to six feet. This
was necessary on account of the abrupt
drop of the land down TO the road.
The wall is constructed of dressed
white stone and the coping on the top
Is of dressed brOwnstone. The main
ground Is reached from the road by u
sweeping flight of stone steps.
At both ends of this wall there have
been erected substantial stone pleasure
pavIlions about sixty by thirty feet in
size and so constructed that they are
always In the shade. In the centre Of
this mall or concourse, as it is called
a beautiful stone band stand has been
built.
Running from this, as the spokes of
a wheel from the hub, eight and ten
feet wide, promenades are being laid
out, running to the outer edge which
is to be entirely surrounded by a still
wider promenade. These walks are of
a similar construction to the ones now
being laid down in the principal parks
of the country.
A layer of broken up rock about the
size of egg coal is first laid down and
when this has been rolled with steam
a M mi
with a peculiar kind of clay is put
down and this when also rolled, makes
a most solid and firm walk.
These pronenades will be lined with
trees, which are to be transplanted
from other portions of the park
Benches will be placed along on both
sides. The spaces between these
walks are now being graded and
when this is completed will be sown
with grass seed. Mr. Edgerton stat
ed yesterday that when the mall is
completed it will be able to accommo-
date between 5000 and 1000 persons
when band concerts are being given.
COST OF THE WORK.
The contract price for building the
retaining wall and doing the grading
was S7400 while the rest of the work
done and being done on this part of
the park will total up to about $4,000
The finishing of this part of the park
will entail the removal of the men
agerie to the other side of the park
beyond the bridge.
An excellent location has been found
for it about 100 feet to the left of the
bridge where natural bear pit is
ifrht nt hEn r1,A Ni.GS SfF1A
have had polar bear offered 70 them
and they viii accept it when the men
agerie is moved. The two lion cubs
are growing rapidly, one Of them now
being as big as a Newfoundland dog
and between them and the monkeys,
bears deer, etc, and the animals Of
fered, a really excellent little zoologi-
cal collection will soon bc on view.
1t is more than probable that work
of the long -talked-Of and much needed
swimming pool will be commenced in
the very near future. Mr.. McCann
has found a most desirable location
and Mr.. Edgerton has prepared plans
The spot selected is about 300 feet be-
low the band stand, which is now
used, and is on a sort of plateau over
looking the falls
Here for several acres Is q bed of
excellent sand, which will render the
work of excavation easy, and which
can be sold as taken out, to defray a
large portion of the expense. Mr.
Edgerton's plans provide for a pool
75X3O feet In size, with a capacity of
so, 900 gallons. 1t will range in depth
from three and a half to six feet and
Will be construct "A OF masonry and
timber. with dressing rooms for 200
The estimated cost is $1,000.
An artificial lake Is 10 be construct
ed III the near future above this point
and it is planned to use the overflow
from this for the swimming pool, with
provisions for direc. piping to it for
the present. The commissioners are
at work on w. w. Scranton endeavOr-
both the pool and lake in perpetuity.
A me citing Of the commissioner will
be held some time this week to act
upon the question.
NINE AT THE PARK.
The visitors were also shown
through the surface vein of the
Brooks mine, which has been fitted
up by r. 4. Brooks & Co., at an eN-
pense Of 81 500, and donated to the
city. It is to be lighted by electricity
and by going tn 'ough it the visitor to
the city may inspect the workings of
a mine absolutely free from danger.
Architect Edgerton expects that the
work Of improving the southerly end
of the park viii be finished in two
months. He stated yesterday that