The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-19
PARK DESPOILED.
Mrs. Gage Complains Of Methods
of Landscape Gardener.
Calls Attention of City Council
to Gage Park.
OLD TREES DESTROYED
Beautiful Evergreens There
Died from Transplanting.
We're Planted by L. T. Gage 30
Years Ago.
I'D TREES DESTROYED

An appeal which is calculated to
arouse the indignation OF every citizen
of Topeka has been made to the city
council by Mrs. Louisa H. Gage, whose
husband gave to Topeka the beautiful
tract known as Cages park.
Mrs. Gage charges that the alleged
landscape gardener who is employed by
the city is trying to accomplish imprac-
teal things; that he is constructing a
lot of winding roads which win require
generations of time and much money
to complete; that to carry out his fam
ciful idea of what is beautiful he has
transplanted hundreds of evergreen
trees and deciduous trees. nearly all of
which have died. If the statements
which Mrs. Gage makes are correct, the
park commissioners of the city are
grossly remiss in their duty. and should
be held to account for placing the park
in the hands Of such a person as the one
now in charge.
The attack is directed mainly at A.
Reiniseh. the landscape gardener, who
came here few years ago and has
since been employed at the park.
If there is anything which makes the
average citizen sore, it is to see some so
cailed landscape gardener get out his
axe ana go TO chopping and destroying
: AyNeN1 III u A4G5S WHICH II mas taken q
quarter of q century to produce Per-
haps the tree is not in exactly the place
where II should be according to some
theoretically beautiful plan, but nine peo-
pie out OF ten viii vote to throw aside
the theory and spare the tree. Not long
ago landscape gardener" was turned
loose in the state house grounds, and be-
fore he could be stopped in his career
of destruction he had chopped down
dozens of historic trees. planted by early
state officers and others He did dam
age which was absolutely irreDarable,
and make the state house square a
bowling wilderness of landscape garden
ing.
It may be that Landscape gardeners
are necessary evil, ana if so, they
should be required to do their work
from the ground UP, and not start III
where somebody else left off. The new
Central park is an ideal spot for the
landscape gardener 10 do his worst.
There is nothing for him to cut down
/ but one clump of beautiful locust trees,
/ which is probably already marked for
/ slaughter.
It was evident from the remarks made
/ by the members of the city council that
/ it is in full sympathy with Mrs. Gage,
and viii do all in its power to aid her.
Councilman Timber. among others.
spoke as follows 4 don't know why it
should be necessary for the park com
age Cages park. / don't know as I
favor straight drives IN the park, but it
gals me to see a German come in here
and upset the work which was done by
i 6. G. Gage. When we try to introduce
/ a lot Of shrubs and trees that won't
grow in Kansas. we are doing some
thing which is purely q. waste of money
and time. 1t seems to me the council
should recognize Mrs. Cages letter. I
don't know as we have any authority
to express our views III this matter, but
I wish that something could be done to
make the park commissioners leave out
7@aa
i ing as laid down in the books"
Councilman Swendson said 1T is
question whether we have any right to
/ interfere III this matter The whole
thing is probably in the power of the
park commissioners. believe that it
would be a good plan to convey to the
i park commissioners or suggestions,
+ however, and move that q committee
/ be appointed to confer with the park
commissioners and report to the coun-
i cil.Y
This motion prevailed. and Mayor
Parker appointed Councilmen Tincher,
Mrs. Cages letter is as follows
TO the mayor and council Of the city
of Topeka:
Il do not propose to take an active
part in the improvements of Gage
park, but l beg to make two suggestions
pertaining to the same. The many
years during which my husband, tne
late G. G. Gage owned this tract Of
lana, ana the amount OF money, Ia DOE
and care which we expended in starting
the improvements on the same is my
apology for this seeming intrusion
Without In any way rejecting upon
the personnel of the present park COM
mission. it seems to me that ordinary
4 business prudence requires that one IF
/ the FIVE commissioners should be some
practical, competent man living near
/ Cages park, who would. without need
less expense or travel from day to day
advise and superintend the work of inn
provenlent and who has had years OF
practical experience in the growing of
trees and shrubbery on the raw, upland
Dra1rles OF Kansas There are several
well known men living Immediately ad-
lacent TO the park who answer these
requirements.
Gage park comprises many times
more land than all the other public
parks Of Topeka combined, and the sit
uatIon demands that one of the five
/ commissioners be selected with special
reference to its wants.
My other suggestion is that the inn
provements made by its former owner.
Mr.. Gage. at so large an expenditure of
money. labor and care, should not be
destroyed. I am informed that land
scape gardener imported from q dis
tant state. rot having experience with
the peeuliarities OF our soil or climate.
has projected q plan of improvement
which viii require generations of time
to develop and that there is ne money
in sight or in prospect to carry out this
cosby and elaborate plan Would it not
be best to at least modify this plan SO
that the improvements already made
and the trees already rooted and grow
ing can be saved for the present genera
tiQn2
Last year nearly all the evergreen trees
We're upTo0ted and transplanted and Of
course rearly all persisted. The proposed
plan I am informed, demands that the
park avenue running north and south from
Sixth avenue extended TO Tenth street
shall be destroyed and the trees lining the
grove
of shade trees west of the orchard be de-
stroyed This Will result in the total de-
selAttlo1l q most OF tne ShaHs ttess IN the
gardener or the park commissioners real
lie the difficulties involved in raising trees
/ on the open upland Kansas prair7es- e he
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