New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-21
PUBLIC FAIRGROUNDS.
President Heartily Comments the
Increment for Them.
Feb. 20.-p-esideat Pons

washington, Feb 20.-Preside1t Roosevelt in a
iat.er addressed TO Cune i. Rudolph president
~ the washington Fairgrounds Association.
strongly coumends the renewed interest IN rlav
srd fairgrounds throughout the country He ad-
,oca;es municipal provision for Fairgrounds for
every child as much as schools" these TO be within
easv walking distance OF every hoy and girl and
,-oper!y supervised by the cities He urges cities
70 secure the available grounds at once in order
70 avoid The necessity Of later deoiishng blocks
buildings 10 obtain such space and he particularly
roEnmends the plan Of playground development In
this city tending toward making the nations
capital a model City. The Presidents letter fol-
lows:
your association has done in promoting play
gToG9s I3T he he ha9a e9P5at am esPeci4y
year appropriation for the purchase OF play
tive Boutell viii also 90 through, so that YOU may
be able 10 secure sites IN the various quarters o.,
fore the price upon them becomes prohibitive. The
plan Of playground development for the District
fas been so carefully drawn that ! hope fl may be
carried out substantially as outlined. regard
making Washington the model city which We ali
have been pleased 10 see also that there is new
interest IN play and Fairgrounds all over the coun
taken up The movement in a systematic way have
made a beginning this year. The annual meeting Of
IN June with its attractive play festival ana com
lreAtlStNt ELuay OF pay pfoplehs Is sure 70 in
municipalities viii send representatives 10 this ex-
- see the megnifcent system tbat Cbicag6 has
erected in its South Park secuon-one OF 10 most
eveIorrer If CHILDREN is shown in - VAS vs..
The physical trainers in all OF their recent meetings
have put . new emphasis the Importance Of
play. and are SWING larger place 70 it in their
York has organized athletics along sane and help
Fl lines tor thousands Of school children and a
number o. other cities seem to be about to take
" ms M e 7I,I mere Is a general leins II 94i
sef7es ara colIeses also Tor larger athletic nelGs
and ne participation Of a larger proportion Of the
number OF games have been put into he school
course as part Of the school system thus extend
Sata hen na-i - rs 'li la lIoC, e '1 -
tory schools for many years. In the private schools
such as IaWrilceviIie GroJon St pains and ANY
Others Play Is also provided FOR IN The currcuium
PROVIDE. in connection with the school buildings
recreation as well as study Of the children.
Play is at present almost the only method OF
must provide facilities for Il i would have the
children strong and law-abding. We have raised
Changes involve increased crrs for T5re-7ts vritS
decreased return from the child i do not
allow The children 10 work We must provide some
other place than the streets for their leisure time
cre2 al an increased EXPENSE for the service Of the
state practically without return the state should
make the care 4 children as easy and pleasant as
1ss--. - W-,ll1 nave our cl,lzens 9i-le'-ltd
content in childhood by denying children their
City streets unsatisfactory Fairgrounds for
games are against the law. because they are TOO
hot in summer and because in crowded sections Of
the city they are apt 10 De schools of crime
Neither DO small back yards or ornamental grass
plots meet the needs OF any but the very small
children Older children who would play vigorous
games must have places especially set aside for
them and. since play IS a fundamental need. play
grounds should be provided for every child as
much as schools. This means that they must be
within walking distance q every boy and girl, as
most children cannot afford TO pay carfare. In
view Of these facts cities should secure available
spaces al once, thar they may not need 10 de-
-noish blocks Of buildings in order 70 make play
grounds. New York has mad TO DO. al q cost or
nearly s. 400 90 an acre
Neither must any city believe that simply 10 fur
nish open spaces Will secure the best results There
must he Supervision Of these Fairgrounds: other
the exclusion Of the younger and weaker ones;
they noisy that people living IN the ueiEhbor-
hood annoyed. they are apt 20 get into the
possession Of gangs and become the rendezvous Of
the most undesirable elements Of the population;
the exercise and PLAY is less systematic and vigur-
when without supervision. and moreover. in an
cities where the experiment has been tried. u has
been found that such Fairgrounds are not well at
tended.
The Presidents letter was read n Q playground
dinner given tonight by the Washington Play
grounds Association. Addresses were made by Rep
resentatiEe Henry :. Routeu, Of Chicago; Z. Z.
Brown, United States Commissioner Of Education;
Henry 8. Curtis superintendent Of Washington
Fairgrounds. and others