The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1906-08-25
THE PARK QUESTION.
Discussed By Man Who Does Not
Fear to Sign His Name.

Fear to Sign His Name.
Editor Record There has appear
ed for the past two weeks in the col
unjust and cowardly citicism of the
actions of one or more of the alder
men in regard to a piece of land in
the city of Roswell which they pro-
pose to turn into a park. From the
language in either article, l do not
believe they know anything about
the elements required in beautifying
and construction of park. Way do
they not come out from under cover
and say to a mans face what they
say behind his back?
No fair-minded person objects to
an honest criticism. l have known it
to do a great deal of good. l am Civ
en- to criticising a good deal myself,
but 1 give honestly my ideas and try
to show better way
Some of the prettiest parks in the
United States, as well as in the Old
World, have been made from very
| ordinary looking land. 1 don't sup
pose the man from Arkansas or mis-
| running mate would pick up rough
diamond as it comes from the mines,
| if they were lying on the streets of
| Roswell amongst the other pebbles,
| unless they were told which pebbles
were diamonds. All the parks they
have ever seen must have been ready
made ones. Even man mas to under
go a polishing and smoothing before
he is considered fit to go into society.
A great many of the brightest minds
and statesmen are very ordinary look
| ing men-taking their photos as a
criterion, they are not by any means
| what the ladies would call pretty.
And yet they are admired by all.
What is the rough diamond from
| artists hand? So it is with Natures
elements, until they are taken in
| hand by those who understand how
| to take advantage and arrange things
SO they will appear to the best ad-
| vantage.
Now, "Alkali' Park, as they call
it, has some natural elements tnat
few places around Roswell have for
park. The very fact that it contains
a natural depression where a small
lake can easily be constructed at a
small cost, where nice clear water
can flow in and out every day in the
year. with the Spring River in the
foreground with a gentle slope to
the city,-and when the street car
lines run from the North to the South
| Hill, it will be right on the line. Mo
thers or the nurses can go into the
park with the children and romp all
over the grass under the trees great
portion of the year The city owes
the people a park, and it should nave
been established long ago.
| 1t would be a great boon for the
lhealth-seekers, as they could sit on
the benches under the trees and en-
joy our bracing air,-and who knows
but our much ridiculed 'Alkali'' park s
praises will be sounded all through
all the land, as health-seekerS are
good advertisers, and more of them
would come every year to take ad
vantage of place that has nice
park.
Now as to the great bugaboo, aka
Ii, that is a small matter. With the
proper treatment nearly every partl
Gle can be taken out of this park, as
the same can be said of nearly any
locality in the Valley. I might go on
and tell you what 1 have seen done
1t would fill your entire paper. | have
seen many far worse looking places
than the so-called "Alkali' Park made
. into beautiful and delightful resorts
AS far as the natural elements figure
III can see nothing to prevent making
an attractive park out of it, if the
city will only take hold and try.
If the man from Arkansas, and hi!
mate. will go home and return il
three or four years, we may be abl
to show them one of the ready-mau'
parks that will make them asname'
of themselves.
As for the alderman from the Sec
ond ward, he needs no defense iron
= me. What he has done in the city an
for the city stands out before tn
puDuC gaze every udy- ne ClCCIOo y
caused to be erected a beautiful hom
from Natures rather rougn element.
that will stand as a monument to hi
Ienterprise and abality and as an e.
ample OF what can be accomplishe
v in Transforming the most barre
hills of the desert into luxuriou
lfruitfulness and bloom
1-
Gle by saying that while the man frol