The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-07-29
PARKS AND PARK BUILDINGS.
cBY John n. KERR.

tBY JOHN n. KERRD
The following paper on "Pnrkr aad Park
Buildings in Texas was addressed 10 the
state Horticultural society 10y John
Kerr Of sherman:
Parks are the product Of advanced ,Jyii
zaton mark Of transition from rho
pioneer unitarian period TO the moro rul
! tured and esthetc An evidence Of cul
| ture. refinement and wealth, with liberal
uplifting purpose and planning toward
those Of the commoner walks Of life
Every loyal Texan has come to believe
in the oft repeated boast that Texas is
tmphaticnlly leader. in area. In dl,ersl
fed resources in cattle. In cotton. In grain
in hay. In rice, in fruits. In melons in
| public educational endowment. IN chprcbcs
in colleges. in navigation, in deep water
III railroads, in minerals, in oil in womanly
woman. In manly men, and we'll may W,
he proud Of all these and much more.
! Texas has long since laid aside tho swad
ding bands Of her infant Statehood. Vic
tortous over all opposing clements 10 her
rapid progress and development. she now
appears the Queen of the Southwest. beau
tiful, symmetrical unrivaled powerful ana
vet rich and unlimited in undeyeloped 70
sources and possibilities. Having laid well
the foundation stone of her substantial
greatness. she is now ready to take step
further. not alone to promote the useful
and necessary requirements, but the beauti
ful and Ornamental as we'll We see this
ltglirit ,manlfesling itself In fine houses and
| furnishings, beautiful well.kcpf wards. 1ne
tuinCu and every embellishments of mind
ara body hut where are our public parks
lhey are somewhat lacking. The rnp ia
| rlne-park building is in order
IN inc old world immense estates are
neld and maintained by prlncely lords of
thar country, and are monuments Of beauty
Kept for private uses, but In America large
estates are either bequeathed hy puhlic-
spirited men or are. secured By municlpall-
ties, near large cities and richly adorned
aud owned by and held sacred TO the uses
of the public.
Take, for instance Chicago with her two
principal park and boulevard systems The
report of park commissioners OF the Lin.
coin park system from its inception IN
IeOV 10 lSis, for ten years shows total
provemcnts and maintenance for the ten
years S1,734 661.S 81 Since then large sums
have have, been spent In improvements; Chi,
cHgos West side system Of parks and
houlevards which have separate set OF
commissioners. comprises about 900 acres.
nj an outlay for purchases aud mainten.
Of S4T56. 1870.
To us in the new West these reports
show lavish waste of the peoples money
raised by bond issues and by ad yalorum
taxation, and we naturally ask what the
people have TO show fot this vast ex-
Ip.SIdh ,,., First, they have the land,
sea walls, by grading, bridging, cause
waving, treeplanting soddlng. etc, ami
by the rnpid spread of the elites limits
valuc an hundred fold. Not only have they
tho land thus enhanced, brit have It beau
tined Ia the most artistic manner and
shared equally by rich and poor alike.
The dividends from these parks are FREQ
"a all and big enough for rich share of
pleasure and health Ia every man AMI child.
In the city Is there any better Kind of
dividend2
Take a smaller city Toledo, Ohio Tho
report of the park commissioners for 1900
shows that all Of Toledo's parks and con
Meeting houleYards amount 10 SiS acres:
the report does not show what the land
cost but shows that the running expenses
for 1900 amounted to S26,77i.60. raised by
over 100000 people visited and enjoyed
Toedo's parks during 1900. from which the
lug handsome dividends. aud Is a source OF
pleasure and pride among all the people;
That the American people DO nothing by
halves is certainly eXempllfied in their park
building. In the older States no city that
is worthy the name but has made liberal
prSNyissiopp for PHIhIITG 9 Pgn ~ rpvAsq
Much In every way, 1t means that wis,
dom points out that every Texas city OF
approximately 5000 or more should set
about TO secure suitable tracts Of land
ccssfble and comparatively cheap. Hav-
Ing secured the land the improvement can
be accomplished at will. Adjacent To most
~ our towns are tracts Of land possessing
natural park features of timber and wafer.
hills and valleys, that Should be pres ,rvtd
from the axe, and powshare. and made 20
serve better purpose of public pleasure
and comfort for alf time to come by util
izing and improving their natural beauties,
81 pIlemented by artificial planting.
Besides these larger tracts adjacent TO
our cities which usually must be reached
by street cars or other vehicles. each city
should have one or more near by, uptown
retreats, accessible by the many. without
the expense OF street car or other convey
ance These may consist OF small central
trtcts Of a block or even less. laid out with
walks, clumps OF trees. flower beds. ear
pet beds a fountain, an aquarium and bits
nf lawn grass, with rustic seats here and
II means to us of Texas also that our
grand State boasting almost buundess
area should set apart by legislative enact
meut certain suitable tracts of public do
main to he held as State park reserva-
Our grand forests are fast passing away
coming generations will never know Of our
GIANT FORESTS OF long.leafcd pins unless
4 reservation In held by the State. There
are many features ~ natural beauty and
Of historic interest 10 various localities that
should be secured, preserved and main.
tnined by our state. notably the battle field
AZ SAN 1aeinfo and others.
AS 70 park building Ia Texas there e no
room Tor doubt OF its practicsbility, There
are abundant practical demonstrations az