The Jersey City news., 1902-04-25
Dedicatory Exercises This
Afternoon Give a New
Pleasure Ground to
the People.
CITY OFFICIALS MAKE ADDRESSES
School Children, Led by Su-
perintendent Snyder, Sing.
Wave Flags and
Plant Trees.

Lafayette Park. which the people Of
that section have fought for these past
five or more years, was dedicated this af-
ternoon with appropriate exercises Com
missioner Sullivan. chairman of the Parks
Committee, was master of ceremonies.
Promptly at half-Dast two the exercises
began. The pupils Of schools Nos. 49, q
and 70 had marched to the park site from
their respective schools under the direct
ion of Superintendent Henry Snyder. All
the children carried American flags. AS
the band played the children sang and
waved their flags.
On the stand, which was decorated with
bunting, were the committee of the La
fayette Citizens Association, who arrang
ed the programme, and number of city
officials, among them Mayor Fagan, Com
missioners Hauck, Nolan, Heintze. DR.
Mortimer Lampson, Commissioner Frank
Angel, Director of Education Lipman
Lyons, Captain Charles o. Barker, Joseph
Zumbusch, c. H. Slater John Kaiser, A.
A Campbell, DR.. ]. J. Broderick and G.
C. Fountain.
The cadets of No. school. on Bruns-
wick street, took part in the exercises.
Chairman Joseph Zumbusch, of the spec
ial committee, delivered the opening adj
dress. He said that the people of Lafa
yette had stood Loyalty by the committee
in contributing to the park fund. The
fight had been a long one, he said, but
victory was within grasp, and he felt
sure that the officials would do all in
their power to see that the park was we'll
taken care of.
Commissioner Anthony Hauck followed
with an address in which he also talked
of the time it took to get a park at
reasonable price. He said that the site
was an excellent one and hoped that the
Board of Finance would see its way clear
to appropriating the necessary funds at
once with which to improve the site.
Then followed the singing of the Red,
White and Blue" after which trees were
planted in honor of Mayor Pagan and
schools Nos. 10, % and 1s. These trees
were planted on Manning avenue and Van
Horne street. In all about forty Trees
have been carefully placed in the ground
and will not have to be disturbed.
Mayor Fagan then spoke. He said
.'The people of Lafayette on this occa-
sion are to be congratulated for more
than one reason. I congratulate you up
on the successful termination of your ef-
forts to secure this park, which I believe
is going to be one of the most beautiful
in the city.
s'You are to be congratulated upon hav
ing such self-sacrificing, public spirited
and persistent citizens as your Citizens
Committee is composed of. The members
did not wait until 1 was inaugurated, but
called upon me before my Inauguration.
and have been calling on me ever since irs
the interests of this park: and am vely
glad to see this termination and be pres
ent at today's exercises.
Lafayette is one of the most prosper
Gus sections of our city, and is growing
very fast in both population and as an ill
dustrial centre and is justly entitled to
her share Of public improvements.
.sYeu celebrate this afternoon the ae-
QUESTION of this site for park purposes.
My earnest hope is that before long you
will be able to rejoice over the fact that
the necessary funds for the Improvement
of this land have been provided. be-
iieve the site should not be allowed to re-
main long unimproved.
Public parks are public necessities. and
we cannot have too many of them; to
thousands of people who cannot afford TO
leave the city for mountains or seashore
they are the only reminder that there is
such place as the country; they beautify
and improve the neighborhood and as an
investment they pay handsomely in the
Improvement of the health and advance
ment of the pleasure of both young and
old.
3 a1o fff7sr <rne fc or
might be used to good advantage nor
only in connection with the eity's parks,
but also in the adornment of the public
streets. Well shaded, well kept streets
and avenues are valuable attractions In
any community; more than one street
which now seems to lack adornment
would soon be made beautiful and attrae-
tive if properly shaded by trees. Why
may not the commendable work OF tree
planting in Lafayette be continued until
not only this entire park is adeqnatel--
provided with trees, but every thorough
fare lined with them.
81 would suggest that the Citizens Com
mittee urge the people of Lafayette te
plant a tree in front of their residence
and the result will eventually be that
Lafayette will resemble one great park.
again l consider the people of Lafay-
cite should be congratulated on its grow
ing Importance as an industrial centre;
the new factories which are being planned
for this section give evidence Of the fact
that its advantageous location is being
appreciated by the capitalists and enter
prising business men. Lands that hase
for many years been barren waste arc
being converted into productive business
centres. This means employment for
MANY people and a general increase Ia
business.
..In conclusion allow me to commend
the work of the Lafayette Citizens As
ISOLATION. to whose energetic labors must
be largely attributed the success OF the
Lafayette Park project. Their work has
spurred on public officials and crowned
with success this movement which other
wise might have been left to die because
OF the lack Of public interest.
LET us hope chat In thus stirring pubic
civic pride ana arousing fresh interest
iii local affairs, the work Of the Citizens
Association will prove an Inspiration to