Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1901-10-17
LONDON BREATHING SPOTS.
some of the Modern Public Gardens
and Fairgrounds I'm the Eng
lIsh Capital.
GRAND CONCERT COMFANY.

About the year 1870 the need for
gardens and Fairgrounds in the crowd
ed districts of London was becoming
very urgent. The churchyards and
burial grounds had been closed for in
terments for nearly 20 years. over
100 had been built upon, but more than
800 remained, and it was felt that these
grounds, at any rate, might be made of
some use, says the Humanitarian
During the next few years the move
ment for converting the closed grave
yards into open gardens gradually
made progress, and there is one gar
den in London, the churehyard of st.
George's-in-the-E East, which has been
In daily use for upward OF 25 years.
Toward the close OF 1882 efforts were
made to gather together those who
were interested in open space and TO
collect funds for dealing in larger
and more concentrated manner with
the provision of breathing grounds in
London. This was the beginning OF the
Metropolitan Public Gardens associa-
tion.
The association has carried through
over 100 successful undertakings, in
cluding the entire or partial laying out
OF 1875 recreation grounds in London.
II has placed thousands of seats in
public sites and planted thousands OF
trees. 1t has given grants TO 80 gym
nasia, has erected about 80 drinking
OF ornamental fountains, has pro-
NOTED schemes for acquiring large
open spaces on every side Of the me-
tropolis, most of which schemes in
volved the collection Of many thou
sand pounds; has promoted and OPP
posed bills in parliament, and is rec
ognized ms the chief center for the diff
fusion Of ofinformation relating 70 open
space matters by the public press, and
by the public bodies in London, in the
provinces, on the continent and in the
colonies.
There are now in London and its I'M
mediate neighborhood 800 public rec
reation grounds, varying in size from
Epplng forest, which, with Wanstead
| fats, Is over 5000 acres in extent, "a
little city gardens and Fairgrounds
measuring an eighth or tenth OF an
/ acre lutht AhNAulN AbV HAoAo W
ground, which have been used for IN
terment, parish churchyards and other
disused burial grounds, OF which th'
largest Is II acres and the smallest Q
few yards square. Among the recrea
ton grounds are shady and well-kept
gardens, with seats, flower beds and
fountains; public Fairgrounds fol
children, provided with gymnastic ap
paratus, giants strides, swings, bars
etc; richly timbered private parks and
estates that have been presented to oi
bought bor the people; portions OF the
marsh lands and lammas lands Of Eas
London, which form such valuable
grounds for football and cricket; LITTLE
resting places under the shadow OF thu
city churches, and vacant plots of lane
IA odd corners of the metropolis which
have been turned into recreation
grounds, instead Of being used as build
ing sites or builders yards. There s.
not n suggestion for benutifylng TIT
London streets or adding 10 the opei
spaces which Is too small 10 be wortl
taking up, while no scheme yet put for
ward Is so large that 81 can be consid
cred 20 oyerstep the need for breath
ing space or fresh air which is increas
ingly felt by the dwellers In our ever
growing metropolis, where the build
ers, at any rate, never cease their nc
dvity.