The San Francisco call., 1904-06-03

High honor was paid John McLaren
superintendent of the parks of San
Francisco. last evening in the mag
nificent banquet rendered him in the
American hall of the Palace Hotel.
Representatives Of every class were in
attendance to show the gratitude they
feel for the man who has made Golden
Gate Park what it is. Good feeling and
friendship were the keynotes of the en-
tertainment. Never has this beautiful
banquet hall presented a more exqui-
site appearance. The tables were load
ed with a wealth of American Beauty
roses, whose perfume filled the air.
About the side walls and gracing the
tall Ionic columns was foliage from the
park, reaching almost to the ceiling
and ending in long sprays of purple fox
glove blossoms. The guest of the even
ing received his honors in modest fash
ion. Enthusiasm marked the entire
entertainment, and the spontaneity Of
applause was something seldom seen
at banquet board.
Andrea Sbarboro was chairman of
the evening. His Introductory remarks
were in part as follows:
"Our guest is going to Europe and
this is a little send off. He will come
home in a few months and again re-
turn to his labors. We have the pleas
ure of honOring this esteemed gentle
man, who has for the last twenty
years been working to improve our
great park and by his intelligence and
natural genius has transformed these
sand dunes into the most magnificent
park in all the world"
Replying to Sbarboros cordial words,
Mr.. McLaren spoke as follows:
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: First let
me thank you for this splendid reception.
cannot for the life of me account for il.
have done nothing but my simple duty. and
that very imperfecty IL certainly will en-
courage me TO do in the future my very best
TO serve you while l am retained in the park
ANY one else with the encouragement 1 have
had would have done well and perhaps
a great deal better with the encouragement
have had from the grand men who have so
faithfully .and intelligently served you as
Park Commissiohers, men who have studied
and planned for the Improvement of our parks
and squares and who have given you their
best judgment freely and unselfishly. many
times to the neglect Of their own valuable
interests
/ say that under such favorable clrcum-
stances no one could fail TO accomplish a
great deal 1t is to the Park Commissioners
rnuch more than TO that you are indebted
for what has been done for the Improvement
and establishment of our great park. / have
been fortunate also in having associated with
me many active and intelligent foremen. who
each in their several sections took great In
terest in the work.
Then again We have been very fortunate
IN having in the Mayors and Auditors chairs
gentlemen who took a warm interest in park
affairs in every instance recommending all
tn money that the laws and the charter al
loved The Supervisors each year gave US
announcement and assistance by voting large
apUropriations for park Improvement and our
citizens generally. by their interest and en-
couragement helped materially in the work
So YOU see Il was practically impossible for
any one TO fail to do good work.
II certainly has been very pleasant and
agreeable work have been engaged in, study
ing and planning the improvement of our
parks and squares. and of the principal
reasons for my going abroad this summer is
to collect data and study systems of park
Improvement, that in the work OF improv-
ing the new lands that set aside as parks
we may be familiar with matters per-
tanning to parks and how to improve them.
/. NEW PARKS NEEDED.
Speaking OF an improved park system,
hope that when the next bond issue is voted
on larger amount than allowed last
tine win be included. outer districts
are poorly supplied with open spaces The
most pressing need, Of course, is in the older
districts of the city, where very few acres
have as yet been set aside. The district south