The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-05-18
VISIT TO THE PARK
What One Sees at Sib!ey Thes e
Spring Days.
From Fridays Daily.

From Fridays Daily.
The various parks and parkways that
the city owns now look at their best,
Sibley park, especially, is taking on a
summer air, and is daily visited by
scores if not hundreds OF people One
of the interesting features of this park
is the little menagerie that has been
started with little expense to the city,
but which holds great interest for the
visitors. The deer herd is not the
equal in size or quality of the one that
was wiped out by dogs last winter, but
in time it is expected to equal it. Thus
far three deer have been placed in the
deer park, and another one has been bar
gained for. and it is said that a private
party intends to present the park with
| two more The deer that came from
| Blue Earth, and that was not expected
/! to live, is getting better and is likely
/ to survive. When Grated he fought so
hard that his horns were broken off and
he was badly bruised. The cold wealth
er then coming on left him sickly.
The pheasants are very attractive.
They are indeed handsome birds, with
rich plumage All are males, but in
Highland park a bantam hen is sitting
on some pheasant eggs, and there are
hopes that quite flock will result
The coon is favorte. She is so tame
that she will eat out of a strangers
hand and is playful and active. Her
mate was not so gentle, but he climbed
over the fence one night and escaped.
Since then a netting has been placed
over the top of the enclosure.
The four pea fowls that have just
been donated to the park are still kept
in the shed, in order that they may
become habituated to the place before
being allowed their freedom, 80 that
they will stay about. The older cock
has magnificent plumage, and all of
them are handsome birds.
Two little goats, black and a white
one, are in the deer park, but the deer
do not associate with them much. They
have great appetites and have grown
fat. They eat so much, in fact, that they
will probably be taken from the deer
park so that the deer can have the
pick of the grass there.
The flowers at the park are coming
on nicely. although some of the more
tender ones were nipped by the frost.
The trees are putting forth their toh-
age. and scores of fat gray squirrels are
to be seen scampering hither and thlth-
er among the trees, or peeking shyly
from behind the branches.
As soon as the fair grounds are COM
pleted the training barns that are To-
Gated just outside of the park are to
be removed there, and this will reduce
the expense of keeping up the park race
track At present the various horse
| trainers use it for the training OF the
horses in their care, and it presents
lively scene. Now and then an automo-
bile takes spin around the track to see
how fast it can 90. This is a better place
| for such work than the city streets.
The gun club does its shooting at the
park. but is interfered with so much
bv having to look out for people who
get in range of the shot that it will
doubtless accept the invitation of the
fair association to move its building to
the fair grounds.
Chas. Beckwith has his refreshment
stand at the park going, and it fills a
want. 1t is neat and well conducted.