The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-06

establishments Of repair shop. and
systematic care and accounting Tor
tools and other property. |
Theodore .Wirth's first official com
munication to the park commissioners
was presented to them yesterday, and it
they had ever doubted his ability as a |
competent park executive these doubts |
were promptly set at rest. Mr.. With,
while imbued with fine artistic sense |
and thoro technical knowledge, IS
above all eminently practical, whether
treating Of children $ Fairgrounds, tree
planting or a system Of bookkeeping. In
his first report he treats Of the entire
subject Of the Minneapolis parks in a
general way and later on will make sup
Elementary reports on individual feat
ures.
and street trees being SO near to the
hearts Of the people are repeated in full
as follows:
believe that our parks should be
thrown open to the public for exercise
and sport where and whenever such use
does not seriously interfere with the
rights and safety Of others. y
am in favor that especially the chill
dren be given all facilities to make use of
those grounds, which as parks have been
primarily set aside for breathing spots
and free resorts Of healthful exercise.
In6 natural slopes ana nlllSlQ6S OF parks
should not only be throWkn open to them
for sleighing and skiing and all kinds of
winter sport but in planning and laying
out those grounds, special thought should
be given to create and develop suitable
accommodation for such sports. It can be
done in most cases without the least det-'
rimcnt to the general attractiveness Of a
park To combine the beautiful with the
useful must be the policy of sound bene-
fetal park construction and maintenance.
? Fences.
-. Unnecessary restrictions depriving the
public from a free use of park lands
should be avoided The people pay for
the parks and consequently own the
parks, and with a few exceptions. will
use them properly, Many; vandals and
disorderly persons, especially the wild
boys, will not think Of walking across
your lawn until they see sign, keep off
the Grass; they even will not steal your
grapes until you put fence around your
grape arbor.
1t has been the experience Of most
park authorities al lover the country that
the public being given to understand that
they have al Ian Individual right and in
terest in all park lands which they
should recognize and respect, will, with
but few exceptions, not misuse given
privileges, and I firmly believe that the
people Of Minneapolis are as far ad-
vvanced In that respect as those Of Other
progressive cities.
Forestry Work.
My recent visits to the different parks
have revealed to me two important facts
which I did not fully grasp during m.
short visit last June. First: I am de
lighted with the magnificent tracts o
woodland and isolated groves Of tree
on most of our parks, especially Mime
haAa, Columbia, Glenwood, FairvieW
Loring and Lyndale parks Second
There Is an immense amount Of forestr
work awaiting proper and careful exc
cution. I believe a special appropriate
for forestry work should be made ever
year to permit the constant employmer
of practical forester and a force
six to ten skilled men. This force ca
be shifted from park to park, and tn
results within a. few years will be stated
and we'll cared-for trees all over the Mir
neapolts park system.
% ~. Street Trees.
The necessity for an efficient forest1
department here Is also very eviden
The general desire Of the property owl
-ers all over the city to plant street tre'
speaks well for the people Of Minneal
oils, and the city itself has assumed
leading position in the street tree que
ton among most Of the cities of Il
countries by having special laws al
ordinances putting the planting al
maintenance of it's street trees with t
necessary power under the jurisdictl
of the city authorities. This is more TIL
most cities have, and the offered adVa
tages should be made use of. .. e D.. .
The means of the department are
from sufficient to give all the street tire
proper care and attention. but belle
a start should be made on one or me
of the principal avenues lined with t
of half grown trees to make the ent
avenue as nearly uniform in its plant
ton of trees as possible, and to put
trees, thru proper pruning, in a healt
and attractive condition e.
=. 1 have observed, generally speak11
that street trees are planted too clio
which is a great mistake. Trees
planted crowd each other. and out
100 cases the timely thinning out
+ not be done in ninety, and the con
3quences are disformed, unshapely q
{unsightly trees where there ought to
specimens of perfect growth and beau
You can't set out a hitching post wi
out taking care of the same, much l
can you plant a tree, Its care C
. money and time. Every superfuous t
on our streets is useless expense, &
is detrimental to the development
ultimate perfection Of those that ou
to stay.
A.. Nursery.
In connection with the forestry W
= mentioned above, the department is
need of nursery that will supply
+ demand for all planting materials b
native and ornamental. To begin w
part of the grounds at the Lyndale ba
are well adapted for seed beds and yo
stocks in nursery rows.
Il TTeoGo IF Parks in General
Minnehaha is poor place for
geological garden, even if it is a g
one, the superintendent says. He Ct
cises the wild animal collection at n
nehaha from several standpolnts: