The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-17
Civic Improvement.
OF The Times Dispatch:

EDITOR OF The Times Dispatch: III
Americas, Clylc Association which Z \
lately attcnded.Ein Cleveland, Ohio, great
stress was laid on the desire and power
of Oft ne press g, to help forward the move.
TO tell you a few, Of tho excellent things
I saw and heard. faI wish I could tell
you all The cities Of the United States
cessity f TOR extensive parks and park
ways. This was illustrated not only by
addresses and lantern slides. but by the
actual thing when. as guests OF the cham
Der of commerce. we were driven through
Cleveland's beautiful system OF parks and
parkways. illustrated lectures BY natur-
plying their small parks and play
In outlaylng Districts where land was
cheap, and beautiful, anticipating future
OF young trees and a good park area
for her present population, but Rich
monds population has already outgrown
before t is overcrowded, IS tie time
to provide generous park sites for tho
future.
she has outg,rown her public buildings ana
must build larger. This fact has devel-
ings. Al her business center there aro
four blocks made into n public park.
From these to the lake the land has been
condemned for group site, Nothing
grander, ,, can Re conceived than this en-
tiful and spacious park. planked OIL eth
er side by the city's finest structures; a
Vista into the heart Of the city, through
long and the width Of an entire block,
This arrangement not only gives, space
to cnhance. the appearance of tho va
rlous buildings by giving them proper
President McFarland said IN tho
realm Of civic endeayor we are beginning
investments can DO made to yield tre-
$mendously greater results III properly
handled. Tho great group plan Of cleve-
apa IS e nSoat 81 sspssoH s5oe eep9 fo
postonlce. $4,000, 900 for courthouse. $1,000,
6o0 for city hall, $4,000, coo for library, 81
Go for un1n depot ana yet When ae con-
just mentioned"
1 But I cannot, tell you Of all the topics
10 that which found most helpful. The
those which touched upon child life,
bring child life In touch with nature. The
school garden, treated by Hon. Dick J.
Crosby, of the y. s. Department Of Agrl-
c cpasa Home hGardenlns Assooiatlonl,
from life by lantern slides. These were
NJ MI cadwaiIader showed icy m NV! e! h3oms
gardening had done TO beautlfY Cleve-
land, and push It to the front as tho
loading city OF the country ~ this ro-
United United states We're We're sitting al her feet
in order TO learn how to make the back
yard OF the home. where the family liyed.
which Is heautIned largely for strangers.
There. were, many !lustrat1ona Of before
and after, showing how old rubbish hears
and empty tomato cans had to give PLACE
berry, This, BY wholesome, cleaning UP;
had contributed toward the Increased
hcalthfulness of tho city, ,,,a..
how Nv school l's sar sHaT only laely intro,
ing In Europe, had come to stay; IN
some countries OF Europe. S%eden, sY't-
permitted to exist unless 1t has rs school
In this country. for the divinity. Of, child
hood ~ best preserved by contact with
i had tho good fortune to meet Mr..
Strong, who for years lnctnred 70 the
Gnbc SCHOOLS y ceyeana OF I'a hat sac r.
WAS asked 10 visit many Western olties
to lecture and start them IN similar
work
such progress that tho board employed
ua curator Of gardens and school grounds;
Miss Miller. author of5"school Gardens"
NJ en,hu,iasie expert thorosshhly sratiIr
| time 10 the schools. She takes her yaca;
tlon In November and Dccember and
| viii give Illustrated lectures on school
r anrng that g dro
the library OF the chamber o. con'merce,
whcre the walls were lined Win pnotor
graphs of school gardening taken from
,s inssFai,ns syey p ro,x stony ~