The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1904-06-15
PARKS MEAN HEALTH 10 PEOPLE
All Cities and Towns of Any Prominence Recognize
the Important Fact Dawson MUST LOOK 10
Her Interests in This Respect

The following from the Atlanta Con-
stitution is very applicable to Dawson
at this time, when the question OF
NARY ia so prominently before the peo'
pie. 1t will be read with. interest oy
Dawsonians:
"Tbe satisfactory conclusion OF the
Piedmont park negotiations, due to the
intelligent zeal of both citizens ana
officials. demonstrates how keenlY the
importance of parks to the city's well
fare is recognized by the public. For
the presence ofample pleasure grounds
in convenient touch of all classes OF
eItizenry is a factor OF municipal ad'
ministration which is probably second
only to thorough sanitation-if 1t does
not take an even stand with that prime
hygienic requisite.
"While parks are maintained equaI-
ly for capitalists and laoorers' lot Ine
professions and the trades, the dltch-
digger and the banker, there Is no
doubt that they reach their highest use
fulness in ministering to the health ana
happiness of the predominant middle
class of city's population. Inc man
of wealth has his horses and carriages,
and what is more vital yet, his leisure
With the coming of the swelterlng
summer days he can take his wife ana
children and defy the scorch1ng tenn
perature of July and August IN the
cool breezes of the mountain ana sea-
shore resort. If circumstances hold
him in town he can close his place OF
business early in the afternoon, and
using his own conveyance wheel out
to a restful suburban residence, or out
far into the country, to find inviting
shade and regenerating calm. There
is no stoppage Of salary to worry the
hours of recreation, no possibility OF
loss of employment, because he obeyed
the mandates Of nature in recuperating
his faded strength.
CHS happy condition and that OF
the man whose living, and that OF his
family, depends on the caprice or favor
of others are in radical contrast. The
latter, it is probable, has exerted him
self just as actively during the long
winter months; his body and brain are
very likely more wearied, since he has
not the access to the enlivening
amusements of the more fortunate; his
wife and children, similarly, are in
equal need of wholesome outdoor re-
creation. But he has not the resources
at his command which are enjoyed by
his employer. The men of this class
and in many instances the wives and
little ones, too, must fight out the
summer in close and sitting Offices, fac
tories and stores, large and small. That
periodic changes, washing off of the
CRIME of work and worry in the air and
sunshine and forest which the infinite
Physician has provided for that pur-
pose, is absolutely necessary to healtt
will not be denied. 1t is true that pei
haps the men and women and children
who cannot make refreshing visits tt
the seaside and mountains might stfu
gle on through the summer with nc
rest, no access to the wooded parks
where the air is clean, the water spark
ling and the very soil crinkling with
new life. 1t is a spectacle, though,
which people of humane minds do not
care to contemplate. 1t is hum-drum
existence-the making of it into a
sheerly mechanical function, which Is
O perversion of the Creators purpose
and a cruelty to the helpless ones in
volved. Moreover, the city which
does not provide for the recreation Of
its toiliHg people is involving a sickly
population, workers stripped of enter
prise and energy, listless and incompe-
tent to contribute to the vital task OF
developing and broadening the city's
boundaries and its interests.
is with full knowledge of these
facts that several years ago the city
council began Systematically to beau
tify Grant park; the same saldtary SEN
timent is the motive power of the en-
thusiastic movement to acquire Pied
mont park and make of it health-giv-
ing playground.
"The parks, in conjunction, will
prove in the immediate and tar future
one of the citY's most splendid hygien'
ie assets.