The Indianapolis journal., 1904-04-24

vidual parks, for the board has found by
experience that very few men are capable,
either by natural instinct or by the train
ing OF the mind, TO care for the parks un-
der their charge, not to say anything of
directing laborers how 10 follow instruc-
tions.
QUESTION OF EMPLOYING HELP.
The Park Board, in hiring help, has TO
be very careful, and consequently there
are few changes made among the en-
ployes, for it has been found that by
changing employees the parks have been
more damaged than benefited. 1t is not
always the man who loves flower, or a
tree, says Superintendent Power who can
look after a park, but more often ii is the
man who scarcely knows a flower from
weed who obeys instructions and is there
fore the most valuable man.
The work in the parks this year will con-
sist principally in building a shelter house
at Riverside and putting the 1000 acres
there in good shape. At the other parks
there will not be a great amount accom-
plished aside from the general improve
ments
To do this there will have to be a great
amount of work done at Brookside Spades
and Riverside, and at the two former parks
wooden bridges will have To be built The
board Will also have the same trouble to
contend with this summer that il has al
ways had, and that is a lack of funds IL
takes from S65,eOO to $4,000 a year to main
tain the park system of the CITY, and the
entire amount the board receives for main
tanning and improving the parks does not
the amount necessary for keeping up the
parks is deducted there is little left for
general improvements.
The most extensive undert a king the mark
board Will have on its hands this year will
De the building of the large shelter house
at Riverside. Charles Z. Coffin, president
of the board. in talking of this the other
day, said:
The shelter house, which will be built
at Riverside Park this year, is going to
be very artistic and at the same time
very useful 1t Will be of two stories with
large basement which will have numerous
lockers and will also be an excellent room
for the storing of bicycles. The first floor
will be of cement and il will be used for
band concerts and also place for shelter
when storm blows up
The almost novel feature about the
shelter house will be the restaurant on the
second floor. IL is the first time anything
OF this kind has even been attempted by the
board, but We feel that ii will meet with
general favor on account of the number
OF people who visit the park and wish 10
remain either all day or the greater part OF
II and do not want TO carry a lunch
The house going build will
not be finished before next November. Ii
will be of Moorish architecture with very
little woodwork about it, The frame will
all be OF iron, while the other material will
be cement
The roof will be of iron covered with
thing. With little wood about the build
ing. We feel that IL will be almost fireprOof
So far there is nothing but the foundation
finished. The cost of the shelter house will
be S35.oO) and we think IL will not only be
very beautiful place, but viii fill want
that has long been apparent at the park
President Coffin was asked If the usual
band concerts were 10 be held this sum-
mer. and said:
$50 far definite arrangements have
teen made in regard 10 band concerts in
the city parks. The idea is now 10 have