The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-15
OFFICIAL DISCUSSES THE
CITYS SYSTEM OF PARKS
Good Work of Past Year Is Re-
viewed and Needs of Future
Mentioned.
A IN THE FUND
Bridges of Ornamental Design
Are Urged Upon the Board
of Commissioners.

mltted TO Mayor Hoffman,, contains much
matter of value to every citizen interested
in the improvement of park lands, the plant
ing and care of trees and the general beau
tifying of the city. Besides a statement OF
expenditures, the report gives an account
of all maintenance and improvements COM
pleted and begun in 1908, with a statement
of present conditions, and suggestions for
future work. 1t is very thorough and COM
plete.
Every park and square is taken up in de-
tail, as we'll as street centers that are
sodded and planted. The complete list or
these places. as enumerated by Mr.. Power,
will surprise many in their number and
variety.
They are as follows: Garfield Park, Mil
itary Park, Brookside Park, Riverside Park,
University Square, st. Clair Square, High
land Square, Morris Square, Indianola
Square, Greenlawn Cemetery, mccarthy
place, Flower Mission Park. Spades place,
Fletcher place; street centers are as follows:
East Eleventh, Hendricks and Oriole streets,
Highland place. Fletcher avenue, South
street, English avenue, New Jersey, Ala
bama and Delaware streets.
In addition TO these the department furn-
ished plants to Catherine Merrill School,
engine company No. 19, Virgiria-avenue hose
company, West Indianapolis fire depart
ment, courthouse, headquarters OF the fire
department and the City Hospital.
THOUSANDS OF TREES PLANTED.
For nearly every one of these parks,
places, street centers and grounds Mr..
Powers report gives in detail the exact
number and kind of young trees, shrubs
and plants that were set out, and the num-
Der reaches a total of many thousands.
The report makes an interesting estimate
of the total value Of the land and improve
ments on all those plats and tracts belong
ing to the city. and the combined value of
these is given as 81, 562, 420.
Garfield Park is declared to be the best
improved large park in the city," because
il lis older and has had longer treatment
than any other OF the city's large parks.
For this park the superintendent says,
two new bridges are needed, one to sup
plant the old iron bridge below the dam,
and one to supplant the temporary wooden
foot bridge over Pleasant run"
Oyster shells gathered from restaurants
furnished material for resurfacing some of
the roads in Military Park, and the report
states that these shells make excellent ma
terial for that purpose. as the roads are
never muddy or dusty. Concerning the
lately discussed shelter house in this
park, the contract for which was recently
declared void by the city attorney, the re-
port says:
"A contract for a permanent shelter
house was made, and the building almost
completed by the time winter set in. 1t is
of artificial stone with Spanish tile roof,
and is handsome in appearance. A portion
of this building is set apart for a branch
library for the benefit of the children living
near the park Tbs cost of this building
Through University Square, says Mr..
Power, more people pass than through all
the other parks combined. and he charac-
terizes it as lone of the handsomest squares
in the country"
But" the report continues, 1.-The top sol
of this place has become exhausted, and
the surface is not In the condition ii should
be. In the coming spring il should be re-
graded. new soil be put on and be resodded
as little of the present sod is of any ac-
count"
ADVOCATES GOOD BRIDGES.
Concerning st. Clair square, the report
says that there has been much talk oil
the necessity of the Institution for the
Blind. which controls the situation, taking
the place for additional buildings and il
is added, '1f this occurs 1t will destroy
one of the best and brightest spots in the
city"
The Improvement of Flower Mission Parl
was made by the park department las
year, at the request of the mayor, by grad.
ing, laying water pipes and cement walks
at a cost of S5,s45. There are three acres il
this plat.
of the citizens in his advocacy of new
bridges, and shows this in that part of hi.
report dealing with Riverside Park.
Good bridges" he says, ARE needed a
the Charlottesville road. Thirtieth anC
Thirty-eighth streets, and these should bt
permanent bridges of handsome and ample
design. A small bridge is also needed oveI
Crooked creek, to replace the wooden one
now unsafe
Also in connection with Riverside Parl
Mr.. Power has the following TO say as L
what has been done in roadways and What
he advises:
The roadway along the east side of tn.
park was completed early in the season a
a cost of $l,S00. A roadway was PARTIAL,
finished from Thirtieth street northwarc
along the brink of the hill overlooking tn,
park. This, when completed, will make
beautiful drive. 1t should be continued
south from Thirtieth street, along tn,
brink of the hill TO Cold Spring, there ioin
ing the Myers free gravel road. Whel
completed 1t will be the most popular div,
In the park"
After talking of the shelter house a
Riverside, work on which has been stoppe,
by the decision OF the City Attorney III,
report advises further improvements on
large scale.
THE next building needed will be tina
of a large conservatory such as other cite,
provide, where people may go and enio,
the beautiful flowers and plants. Thes,
things are great educators and exert
greater refining influence than any otheI
display / know Of"
The latter part of the superintendent re
port consists of a discussion of State an.
city laws regarding planting of trees. tn
work done by the department i'm enforcin,
these laws, with advice as to the plantin
of trees and a general discussion of tn
work devolving on the Park Board and n
superintendent. Parts of this section of tn
repor were as follows:
so many persons think they know how
10 plant, trim and care for trees that abou
30 per cent. of our present street trees ar
either trees which should have no plac
on the street, diseased trees or trees whicl
have been butchered in trimming.
BIRDS DESTROY INSECTS.
1.-THE question of insects is of much NOR
Importance than would generally be seen
and while healthy trees are attacked b,
many insects, the diseased trees attrac
many more. In the various birds natur
has provided a wondrous help, especial,
summer in the North. Under perfect,
natural conditions in the forest or woode,
lands the birds destroy at least % per cent
of insect pests. Let birds be encouraged an,
protected from their enemies and they Wi
reoccupy their former places. and there wi
be less necessity for insecticides.
IN the maintenance of a park much en-
ters into the successful outcome, by reasoI
OF the employees being especially trained 70
such duties. y high standard Of care whic,
is satisfactory to most of the people ca
only be obtained by promoting the NOR
intelligent and courteous employees TO Gus
todianships.
They should see thai there are no in
fractions of the la WIS and rules The neonl