The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-30
CHILDREN S DAY
-Four Thousand Have a Feast
and a Frolic at Old
Reservoir Site.
MAKE A RAID ON EATABLES
Then Scramble for Balls, Run
Races, Swim and Have
a Good Time.
OBJECT LESSON FOR CITY DADS
Eleventh Ward Democrats
Show How Badly a
Park Is Needed.
OBJECT LESSON FOR CITY DADS

e<A ~ 10 ANSS~A0SA
Thousands of children yesterday after
noon swarmed over the green sward Of
that great plot of ground, known as the
old abandoned reservoir site, at Central.
Manhattan and Summit avenues. Years
ago it was surrounded by high stone
wall of masonry, but of the trap rock
that underlies the soil and taken from
adjacent quarries. The walls were then
capped with costly stone coping, but
much of it has since disappeared.
The enclosed plot was originally de-
signed in connection with a water supply.
The land is yet valuable asset of the
city and may yet be used in connection
with the new water supply, but for years
it has been generally recognized as a nui-
sance. The city has spread around and
beyond it in various directions. The sec
tion of the city in which it is located has
naturally built up faster than any other
section
Several different Improvement associa-
tons of the locality have of late years
made strenuous efforts to secure an APP
preparation to have the site converted in
to a park, and if not park, at least a
recreation ground. The Hudson City
Business Mems Association, the Hudson
City Improvement Association and the
Twelfth Ward Improvement Association
have all worked ardently in the direction
of necessary appropriation.
Delegations from all these organizations
called upon the Finance Board and urged
the necessity of this transformation.
They are all entitled to credit. Mayer
Hoos favored the project. The Street and
Water Board asked the necessary appro-
priation of the Finance Board, and Mayor
Hoos himself appeared before the Finance
Board and made a personal appeal in IA
vor of such appropriation. The financiers.
recognizing the claims of taxpayers OF
every section of the city. could not see
their way clear TO insert the cost of such
Improvement in the next fiscal years bud
get of taxes.
1t remained for the Eleventh ward
Democratic Committee to present to the
eyes of the city authorities an object les
son showing the absolute necessity of
providing at least a playground for the
children of parents who live in that sec
tion. If the necessary appropriation cam
not be made, of course, it can't be done.
None of the financiers was present yester-
day, although invitations were received
and accepted. But the object lesson was
observed by number of officials, and in
their minds yesterdays demonstration
was proof positive that the improvement
should be Forthcoming.
Some good observers estimated that
three thousand people were on the sward,
including men, women and children. Com
paratively there were few women. There
were fewer men. The children had the
sward and the lake to themselves. Some
other enthusiastic old observers declared
that the height Of the festival there were
at least five thousand people within the
walled enclosure.
And the childreni What beautiful
sight they presented. Everyone knows
how mothers dress children in these days
on a holiday occasion. There were few
of the nearly four thousand children pres
ent that didn't go there in their "best bib
and tucker" The street arabs were few.
They don't inhabit that section of the city
to any great extent. But the children Of
the poor were there. And their dresses
were as clean and in many instances as
artistic in design as those Of their more
fortunate brothers and sisters. In general
the great green sward was an animated
scene. rich in artificial color; a picture,
Framed by dilapidated stone wall and
throbbing with the life of nearly four
thousand romping children with every
countenance radiant with the sunlight Of
joy and happiness.
A more beautiful day could scarcely
have been chosen for such a festival. 1t
was clear and there was but little hui
nudity in the atmosphere.
t1,o ,lxr7
ated band stand to more thoroughly en-
JOY the concert given by Prof. Kelleher's
military band That the refreshment
STANDS were continually surrounded goes
without saying, and, Oh, what a lot Of
ringers, The committee had provided for
two thousand with cake. crackers, fruits
and milk, and had distributed tickets
Rut when nearly four thousand swooped
down upon the committee, what was it to
do9 They made a rush for the refresh
mant tables. and even though the tables
and the committee were enclosed with
rones guarded by Captain John Kelly
and q dozen or more reserves from the
Third and Sixth police station houses, the
no,;ce as they could not use force, might
as well have tried to keep back the
breakers from rolling in on an ocean
beach. 1T was a case of first come, first
served. and the ringers got more than
their share and some had to go with
ort.
Committeeman Jimmy Larkins threw up
both hands in despair. and gave orders
to serve until the supplies were exhaust
ed. But there were too many other fea-
sures of fhe affair to engage the attention
of the children, and those who failed 20
secure refreshments were too busy enjoy
ing these features to grumble.
Mayor Hoos opened the festival at two
o'clock. after being introduced by Dr. Z.
G. Hendricks. The Mayor said he was
heartily in favor Of converting the site
into a recreation ground; that 1t started
in ruin and was ending i, ruin
ssIt cost tho city a large sum Of money,
be said. and It serves no immediate pur-
pose. I have Sssssd ti:at the necessary ap-|
propriation 10 convert It into = park or