The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-03-08
MORE LAND
FOR PARK
PURPOSES

The i4th annual report OF the park com
missioners TO the city council calls at
tention TO the erection OF the Richard III.
Demins memorial. consisting Of bronze
seat of "A circular form surmounted by a
bust OF the late commissioner.
The receipts from the sale of tickets
for seats in the music stand we're more
than double those OF "A year ago The
public hshing i'm the lakes was opened
June 4 and the sport was especially good
in the fall many fine strings being Sc
cured.
The Park museum has during the year
received many valuable gifts OF statuary.
minerals, mounted animals, birds and In
sects New exhibition cases have been
provided for both of the upper rooms OF
the museum. and they are now fully
equipped with all of the cases that the
rooms will accommodate. These cases
will afford ample space for the exhibit OF
a large number OF specimens which mere
tofore have been packed away for safe
keeping until such time as proper cases
could be procured. The museum build
ing has received many needed repairs
both inside and out.
Numerous requests have been received
for permission to use the surface OF the
ice for "A speedway. but owing TO the ha-
bility or the city being held responsible
for damages IN case OF accident OF any
nature arising from such use, the COM
mlssioners. though personally favorable
10 the ice being used In this manner. reel
that they are not fully protecting the
city's interests If they give such permls-
sion.
The commissioners wish 10 again call
attention TO the uncompeted driveways
I'm the park. and 20 urge very strongly
that a sufficient approprfat tion be made 10
complete, the work begun several years
ago.
The commissioners again call attention
to the advlsabllity of securing additional
land for park purposes, particularly
whore adjacent TO or lying within the bor-
ders OF present park lands, as I'm the case
of Blackstone park A special. COM
munication was presented TO the city
council Dec 5. 1904, In regard 10 this
particular work
Land purchased now will in after years
so enhance In value that the outlay will
prove Judicious.
Though the menRgerie has received
donation OF two black bear cubs the past
year. the specimens on exhibit are much
reduced I'm numbers over former years.
ment rega riding the sdvisablity or keep
ing Wild animals I'm captivity for public
exhibition. unless their surroundings con-
form in measure 10 their wild state.
To keep such animals In small cages,
I'm poorly ventilated buildings. seems lit
tie short OF cruelty. and the commission
ers are considering the disposal OF the
collection and using the building FOR
other purposes.
\ metropolitan park commission, To in
c,ude this city and tho cities and towns
adjoining has been created by an act Of
the general assembly OF the state and the
commission has organized and will re-
port TO the present session Of the leGis-
lature The president of this city's park
board is made a member OF this COM
mission. The object OF this board is 10
consider the sdvisabiity OF laying ont
ample spaces for the use OF the public
in Providence and In the cities and towns
in its vicinity. II a Metropolitan park
system here can be carried out on the
same general plans that have proved
so successful near Boston. a. will be great
value 90 the city and should command
the hearty cooperation and assistance OF
the citizens.