Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-13
n , 'TTEt
THE RA1LROAp BEAUTIFUL.
Pleasing Pictures From Car Windows
Possible.

Almost everyone travels more or
less, for longer or shorter distances. on
the railroad. SO ii may be concluded
that practically everyone mas per-
sOnal interest in the development OF
the various systems of the country.
To get there was the first aim of the
railroad. Its next aim was to get
there more speedily. then more cheap
ly. then more comfortably. Each step
has been a gain for the railroads and
for the travelling public. Now another
advance is being made that the pub
lie may get there with greater ease of
mind and consequently of body and be
better entertained en- route. In short
the railroads of today are studying
aesthetics. Whatever may be our
views upon Christian Science or mem
tai healing per Sc. practically all are
ready to admit that harmony of line
and color produces q quoting influence
upon our national nerves. and hence
upon our entire mental and physical
being. To embark upon railway
journey. then. from an artistic sta
ton. and to view from the car window
during the progress of the trip n Sue
cession of pleasing pictures tend 10
bring us to the journeys end i'm a
calm and rested condition. This is
what the railroads are today trying TO
do for their patrons. writes Allen
Chamberlain in the Boston Transcript.
There may be other roads than
those named here which are doing
more or less toward identifying their
property. but they are not numerous.
Right here at home the Boston & Al
bary Railroad furnishes what is
probably the best example in the coun
try. Its stations are not only well
designed. but the plantations about
them are in excellent taste. The
directorate of the road for some time
included Mr.. Charles :. Sargent. II nd
scape adviser to the Boston Park
Commission. and director of the
Arnold Arboretum. and IL was doubt
less due To that gentleman's recon-
mendations that the work was under
taken. IL was recognized by this road
that professional advice and super
vision We're as essential TO the salts
factory treatment of this work as 70
the building OF a station or a bridga.
Mr.. Sargent was therefore authorized
To lay out the station grounds I'll
along the line and to plant up many
other places on the right of way be-
tween stations. 1t was furtherm ;re
realized that it would be wise to en-
ploy n competent superintendent to
carry out the architects plans and
afterward TO maintain them. For
this post the road selected one al It's
employees having considerable skill
at this work as an amateur. gave him
an opportunity 10 increase his teChni-
cal knowledge by attendance on c
school course and then installed him
as its gardener.
Few annual plants are used on the
| Albany road. carefully planned plant'-
lions of hardy shrubs being employed
| instead. Station agents are required
| to keep the lawns moWn ana Watrred.
hut no one is allowed to crop of the
| shrubs into stiff brushes or otherwise
| To trim them except such work b.
authorized by the landscape gardener.
1t is to be hoped that this happy
policy will not be abandoned by the
| now lessee Of the road. the New YORK
Central. That company has been do
| ing 4 little planting along its own line
at important stations. but in an un-
| systematic manner.
| The Boston 4 Maine Railroad FOR
| several years has been endeavorin- "a
| improve the surroundings Of its sta
tons. It's plan being to encourage sta
! tionmasters To undertake the WORK IN
| the grounds within their Jurisdiction
| To this end the road has furnished
the materials needed, such as foam
and grass-seed. and bedding plants Il
the value of $40: but the layout aud
design have been left to the station
master. AS an additional iniucemrrt
| the company has offered annual c: sh
| prizes for the best results Thes1
| lriZes have been divided into seven
classes from 81 to $50 Last year tLr
road awarded $685. in prizes. ana the
cost of plants must have been $..nCn
This year. if the same plan is fol
| lowed. the cost will he much greater
! probably $lo.00o at least. inCludili;
! plants ana prizes. for the Fitchburc,
with it's many important stations. is
now in that system. The result of this
/ plan has been anything but satsfa"-
| tory from :4n artistic standpoint. al
| though II great Improvement on for
| mci conditions. The average station
! master has little time To devote 10 TIC
pla ming of a garden. even if he has
| the ability. and the tendency is there
/ fcre to copy some lawn decoration
| which he has seen. An old kettle
painted red and containing nasturtiums
! is hung on tripod on the bit of lawn.
/ IT." station name is spelled ont on 4
| bank in ,lamShells or vhlteWl Sncrl
stones and framed with Ecraniun, /.
| A scroll or star or circle bed is ~
ranged in the middle Of 4 lawn. \
| rrckery, or as someone has most hap
| lily termed it, Il ''rookery." is stuck
up in some impossible place. BY adont-
ing the Boston & Albany's plan of EN-
ploying a competent designer the
SO 900 n year could be far more
profitably invested in permanent
| plantation of hardy shrubs. vines and
trees. The ANIMALS used at present
| are costly. cannot be set out safely
till June and by mid September are
killed by frost. Shrubbery. on rae
other hand. is bought but once: re-
quires little attention and is beautiful
all the year round if selected and
planted intelligently. The Boston 4
Names Railroad management it is
believed is too far-sighted to permit
the old wasteful and unsatisfying