The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-06
is ALMOST READY
TOpeka's Central Park to Be
Opened Next Year.
Enterprise Makes Beauty Spot
of Dumping Ground.
WORK AT GAGE PARK.
Mr.. Reinisch Has Grown 25, 900
Shrubs and Trees.
Plans to Extend the Work in
Near Future.
WORK AT GAGE PARK.

De thrown open to the public next year.
1t is now source of great pleasure to
the view of all who go by the plot of
ground so recently rescued from a weed
patch and dumping ground. The work
in sight, aside from some grading, rep
resents only about five months of labor
ana limited sum of money
The park covers about IA acres, ex-
tends from Thirteenth to Fifteenth, and
from Clay boulevard a block and half
east. Everything in the shape of plant,
tree and scrub was set out this season.
Last fall the ground was ploWed and
prepared for the marginal and a part
of the interior planting
NOW the park contains over 1000
nardy shrubs and trees and as many
more ANNALS. The profusion of bloom
already is most attractive. Everything
has made remarkable growth, the sea-
son being exceptionally favorable and
the results this year in this respect will
be those of the ordinary two years.
About One-third of the park has been
put in excellent shape and has good
walks and sod, as well as the Ornamen-
tai shrubbery. The variety, scope and
extent of the latter is simply remark
able, especially when it is learned that
so much of it has been grown by the
city in its greenhouse and nursery at
Gage park. Here in Central park are
nearly 500 growing varieties Among
them are such as the following:
Japan naples, dwarf barberry, UNI
bIella catalpa, dwarf wahoo, NAPLES, box
elders, wild cherry, red and black, Eng
lish walnut. American linden, mountain
ash, royal sycamore, the beautiful cut
leaf sumach with its flower and foliage
of green yellow brown and red, red
birch, tulip tree, red and white elm.
white mulberry, ironwood, red bud,
shining sumach, Philadelphia jasemin.
budleya, wigelia, coleus, Gamma and
hundreds of bedding plants; Towering
turfoil, dogwoods. the Florida and weep
ing varieties, golden elder, magnolia,
plumbagos, Rose of Sharon, pagOda
tree, thurlow weeping willow, cutleaf
alder, cutleaf birch, service berry ,chaste
shrub, monthly roses of various kinds,
tamerix scarlet willow, royal willow,
deciduous cypress Russian olive, and
rare shrub with wax like branches.
If the city will provide just a little
more money, the park commission will
show our citizens some wonderful re-
suits. This commission is made up of
the following public spirited citizens
who devote their time without compen-
sation: NJ. A. Low Edward Wilder, ].
P. Griswold, S. H Downs and NJ. c.
Holman.
The work isaiH charge of A. Reinisch,
superintendent or parks, who lives at
Gage park and = does a marvellous
amount of work with the eight men he
has helping him only portion of the
time. He has grown from seed and
cuttings a stock of $4,000 shrubs and
trees. A thirds of this number in Gage
park are ready for permanent planting
and unless the ground is prepared for
this permanent work some expense will
have to be incurred to simply trans
plant the stock in order to save it. 1t
seems very important that some work
be done at Gage park, aside from grow
ing plants and trees for the city parks
and using the land as farm.
Certain portions of the park should
be laid out in walks and drives and
graded sufficiently to provide places for
the planting of shrubbery which the
city has now accumulated. Certainly
the city should spend some amount of
money in preparing this beautiful tract
for the purpose to which it was dedi-
Gated. If the city will do something of
this kind it is natural that the Gage es-
tate will recognize the city's efforts in
substantial manner.
With the expenditure of a little more
money here in the increased capacity
of the greenhouse the city will be able
to raise practically everything which
goes. into the different parks. Much of
the work at the City park was destroyed
by the flood. over four thousand
nicely potted plants, named varieties,
and ANIMALS have been replanted in the
City Park since June. These plants were
generously donated to the city in about
an equal number by Hiram Hulse and
F'ranck Sachs, enterprising florists Of
this city.
Little Huntoon park at Topeka ave-
nue. and Huntoon never looked so beau
tiful as it does this season and Holiday
park at Twelfth, Fillmore and Western
avenues is a source of great pleasure
and pride to the neighborhood and all
who pass by. The trees here are now
| large and cast considerable shade. The
grounds are neatly kept. This as well
as Central park, is surrounded by
dog proof fence.
/ In various parts Of the city little plats
of ground are kept in beautiful order
J = l. ra 17n
circle on Western avenue, THE Strip"
| at Huntoon and Fillmore, the circle at
| the entrance to Potwin and the half
circle at the foot of Greenwood avenue
| Part of the force at the expense of the
| board of education has spent some time
/ in improving the grounds at the Polk
school house.
The commissioners are in urgent need
of more funds. They have run behind
| little this year on account of the dam
age by flood and are positively unable
| to make improvements which are i'm
\ perative for the benefit of the people
! The commission and the superintendent
\ have made such a showing with the
material at hand that they have demon
strated they will give wonderful
amount of value received for the addi
tional funds which they ask in the shape
of another half mill tax
The ways and means committee of the
council should give this matter its care
full consideration and they may feel as
sured that no expenditure will show
more for the money than the returns
from the tax for park purposes
/ The commissioners are anxious to
fence and make attractive Chesney park
! and to give attention To the east and
north sides of Topeka. They also desire
the coming season to construct the first
of the three ponds designed for Central
park. bringing the edge of the water
UP to and beyond the clump of trees
near the center of the tract.
superintendent ReiniSch has just sub
mitted the following report to the park
commissioners and it states in brief
some important points as follows:
''As the time is drawing near when
the city council makes the tax levy for
1904, I take occasion to call your atten-
ton to the most urgent needs of the