The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-03
Commissioner Ridgely Issues an
Order Prohibiting Such Out
ings This Year.
SCHOOL PATRONS INDIGNANT.
Declare the Order VIII Compel
Them. to Abandon Their Annual
Outings or Hold Them in
Beer Gardens.

There will be no public school picnIcs II
the public parks this year. Park Commits
sioner Ridgely has issued an ultimatum &C
this effect. and his instructions are be!ns
carried out. TO the great dismay OF the
school children and the Indignation Of theIl
elders.
Although the dictum OF the Park Com
missioner has been virtually in effect since
March l. it has only been within the last
week that It has become known TO the par
ties seeking picnic permits. and It was not
until yesterday that the officers of the
Board OF Education learned of IL. 1t was
brought TO the attention OF Superintendent
Sedan through a formal complaint from
the patrons OF the Meramec School. whose
application for a permit to hold the annual
school picnic In Carondelet Park wag re-
fused by the Commissioner Immediately
following this complaint two others were
received from patrons of two other schools
in the southern part Of the city. whose APP
plicaton TO Use Carondelet Park was sum-
marily refused.
The school patrons who made these COM
plants expressed Indignation at what they
term the arbitrary action OF the PARK
to see II the Board OF Education cannot
take the matter up and induce or compel
the commissioners TO allow the children the
f 49, A-NJ
decLaTe the PARIS are public property. sup
ported by the taxpayers and set aside for
the use Of the people for innocent recrea-
ton and harmless amusement.
Mr.. Soldan expresses himself in full SYM
pathy with the views Of the school patrons
as outlined N their complaints. and he will
Sndeayor TO aid them. although he has not
decided what action viii or can be AIKEN.
II Is a most unexpected and regrettsble
thlng, he said, that the Park Commits
sioner should find himself compelled to cur
TAI the enjoyment OF the children and their
parents by depriving them OF the priv, sge
OF using the parks for their annual outings.
The school picnic is the one big event. next
TO the closing of school. In the year TO the
little ones. Carondelet. OFallon and For
est parks are the three most available
places for these picnics. They are convent
emit 10 the city. easily accessible BY street
car from all parts OF the city, and contain
territory enough and natural facilities TO
MAKE Them ideal spots for these outings.
seems TO be an end to the school picnic.
The only other available and convenient
places are beer gardens. which are Odt of
Ine question as Tar as We are cnncern5d.
There are other spots to be sue, but they !
are 50 far distant from the city, the trans
portation facilities are so limited, ana other
drawbacks TO the comfort and convenience /
Of the children and their mothers, that Il |
Is practically useless TO think Of those To- |
cations for our simple little outings. 1
The Park Commissioner, l understand, |
bases his refusal of the Use Of the parks on i
the claim that the children destroy the
lawns by throwing the refuse of lunches en- i
them. / do not think the damage lone by /
the children in this way Is sufficient 10 /
Justify him in barring them from the time
honored privileges" 1
John L Duffy, Chief Deputy In rhe Park
Commissioners office. said that the order
was Issued solely in the interest OF he pres
Of the parks, and would not work
any unusual hardship on school children or
their parents.
The order applies only to big school and
church picnics." he said. Small Iarties or
families desiring TO picnic In the parks will
be permitted to do 50 as usual. You see,
when big schools or church organizations
give picnics. they sell ice cream, soda, GIN
ger ale and other mild refreshments 10
the guests. and the lawns and foliage are
with the debris OF these -sfresh-
ments at the close OF the day. The acids
In these drinks destroy the grass and tine
foliage. and as a result. grounds set aside
for picnic parties in the larger perKs ave
been almost destroyed. The Park Commits
sioner wishes TO give these places a bret tn
lng spell. to allow them 10 regain their
and beauty.
The school children need not be driven
TO the beer gardens to give their picnic2
There are hundreds of beautiful Hputs of
and dell within an hours ride of
Louis-in the F1orissant Valley, on the
Natural Bridge road, along the Neramec,
the Children can enjoy themselves
light In the heart OF nature itself. uncon-
animated by the presence OF saloons or
beer gardens or dance halls"