Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-07
IN MANILA
GARDENS IN THE
GREAT CITY OF PHILIPPINES.
Vast Improvements Being Made in
These Lovely Grounds-Flora
of the Islands.
From the Manila Times.

From the Manila Times.
Some years ago, under Spanish occupation
and rule in these islands, the authorities IN
charge Of municipal affairs of government
conceived the laudable idea Of attempting to
make their capital city, viz, Manila,
place of beauty, and after laying out ROADS,
drives and other places of interest 10 the
general public, more especially IN ana ABOUT
the Luneta and other close SURROUNDINGS To
the Intramuros, that estimable body desired
a site for what was intended to be potah-
meal garden, where the citizen might ME
himself and family on cool evening or
upon a Sunday afternoon to bask IN 'he
shade of trees. admire the lawns ana reVei
In the perfume of sweet-scented mowers.
The idea was very commendable, and TO
all accounts the plans were oraWh' tne
work. FASTENED and quite a local enthusiasm
prevailed Everything along TINS ilne Would
have worked to a successful emu nau II no.
been for two important things wrltch u hanG
and 1t would be difficult to state Which
cause should take precedence. Al any n Ia t.
the appropriation for such purpose leli ny
the wayside, while the committee appoint
cd r., select a proper site for such pleasure
ground intended to belong TO tne people,
"a ST upon a choice which In these later days
seems to have proven unfortunate.
Picturesque Surroundings
The picturesque surroundings at the spo'
decided upon were no doubt then very peau-
tiful and at present retain much OIL lhei
luxuriant vegetation in the way OIL Trees
but the unfortunate selection rested upon
perfect swamp of untitled ground WHICH
stretches much in the form OF trlansie
from the exit of Santa Cruz brldge at flaIa
Iawton westward to where the newly es
tablished printing plant is now located anu
bounded on the sides by Gale Vidal ana
Gale Arroceros, the area OF winch mas ~ oG oon
surveyed and contains close upon ooooo
SQUARE meters or more correctly, ACCORDING
TO official records, 4S317 square meters
Shortly after the occupation of Mania by
the American forces the work on TINS estl-
mable piece of Improvement was picked up
by the military authorities IN charge, anu
MANY attempts at such, with the limited
and crude material at their disposal at the
time are shown by the mute evidences ex-
listing today. Roads and paths had peen lalu
out plats and lawns staked on with an eye
to artistic beauty and considerable swamp
had been filled in which under Spanish con-
troll had been left to produce forestry accus-
toned to spring from that class of soil.
In Spanish Times.
In Justice to the Spanish regime it should
be said that they left one monument to
pesos expended, and that is a life-sized
standing statue of Sebastian Vidal Soler
mounted upon high pedestal and situated
n the place of dignity in the center Of the
gardens "to be-" Senior Sebastian v Soler,
an engineer who affected the civil line OF
that craft, was responsible for the plans of
the grounds, such as they are. He was born
In Barcelona, Spain, on the first day of
April, 1912, and after migrating to Manila
where he attained considerable reputation
and merit as a promoter. died in this city
July %, 1890. The monument was erected
to his memory by his many friends and adj
mirers.
After the military had handed over the
reins of government to the civil authorities
the latter chose energetic and public
spirited man superintendent of streets,
parks, ETC., in the person OF j. H. Nudge.
whose sad demise occurred during the latter
part of April Mr.. Nudge was an untiring
worker always but he displayed much en-
thusiasm in the matter of city improve
ments, especially toward the proper compile
tion OF the aforementioned gardens, and
nv his efforts secured the foundation for
geological reserve, consisting of half dozen
native deer few monkeys and couple of
ducks which were placed In an Enclosure
built for that purpose The work at hand
today has fallen under the supervision of
Mr.. J. c. Mehan, assistant superintendent
Of streets. parks, etc, ably seconded, In
the matter and business of roads and high
ways, by Mr.. H. H. Glover.
The work on paths and beds is progressing
marvelously under the conditions and handi-
caps. There are number of men employed
in the construction of road from the exit
Of the Santa Cruz bridge westward which
will cut off short corner of the grounds,
thence leading out into Gale Vidal
Where the filling in of swamps has been
completed there appears delightful view
to the eye of well-groomed lawns and we'll
cared for paths. 1t is to be hoped that the
authorities will not only take notice of the
progress in this particular line, but also
consider the anticipations of patient pub
lie. 1t might be added that everything now
growing on the swamp is Indigenous to the
soil