Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-11
APPEAL FOR THE FAIRGROUNDS
COMMENT ON REPRESENTATIVE
GARDENERS STATEMENT.
Necessity for Juvenile Recreation.
Washington Conditions Compared
With Those in Other Cities.

In a recent Interview with a Star re-
porter DR.. Henry S. Curtis. supervisor of
Fairgrounds of the District of Columbia
called attention to the fact that in the ex-
PLANTATION of Representative Gardner in
the House Of Representatives in reference
to the cutting out Of the appropriation for
Fairgrounds, nothing whatever was said
in reference to the appropriation for main
tenance. as the only argument given ap-
piled only to the estimates for the ac-
QUESTION of sites.
The most important item in the bill.
from the point Of view of the Fairgrounds
association, Is the one for maintenance.
DR.. Curtis said Congress appropriated
So. 900 last year, that three sites had been
purchased and that there will be three
more Fairgrounds to maintain this year
practically nothing has been given to
carry on the work.
Congress has already made a begin
ming In the acquisition of sites and has
expressed by its action of last year, it's
belief in the value of the training fur
nished by the Fairgrounds. To leave
these grounds in their present state of
desolation and to provide no money in
order to make them available to the chill
dren is surely utter wastefulness which
cannot be defended any ground ex-
cept EXTREMIST poverty.
Beautiful as Parks.
IF the money is furnished for the i'm.
provement of the grounds they can be
made as beautiful as public parks. with
flowers, vines and trees. so they will serve
the purpose of the small park to the adult
and of the playground to the children.
Undoubtedly the most used parks in this
country are the parks that thus combine
-. v,fo ho 1on foo
ture."
He referred to the parks in Chicago
where nearly 100000 people attend each
year.
1.-THE appropriation asked for Washing
ton for its twenty-five Fairgrounds is
$50. 900. Last year Congress gave us
S., 900 for maintenance and the Washing
ton Playground Association raised $500
more than any other city in America
raised by private subscriptions. This is
terest Of the people. The national gov
eminent can scarcely expect its public en-
terprises to be supported In this way.
Congress is surely not less able to main
tain Fairgrounds for the District than are
other American cities which have been
spending from actual records in the ag-
gregate 81 100000 a month in this way
for some time.
Advantage of Paying Salaries.
There are many people who do not be-
lieve in paying salaries for playground
directors or in having any one in charge.
This is a natural first thought in the
matter. There are many cities in this
country which began with this point in
view. but there is not city which has
| found 1t possible or desirable to maintain
Fairgrounds in this way. Such grounds
| always fall into the hands Of DULLES and
young toughs. who monopolize the facil-
Af>r
bic model for the other children to follow
| A playground with a competent organ
| fzer offers high-grade physical training. at
| tho same time that 1t teaches, through
| imitation and example and Royalties in
spired by competition, all the social and
civic virtues. Washington is today paying
| teachers in its Fairgrounds less than any
other city OF its size in America"
In reference to the salary for the di-
| rectors. DR.. Curtis gave figures of COM
partson OF the salaries paid in Chicago,
New York. Philadelphia and Pittsburg.
Provokes Criticism.
He said further:
There is no city. ! think. which has
found 1t practicable to maintain its play
| grounds without teachers. or if it has
| they have always been subject to serious
criticism. This is not theory. 1t is the
result Of twenty years of experience
throughout the country. From ten years
| experience as a teacher and as a spe-
| cial;st in Psychology and ethics and over
| a years experience as settlement
| worker. I venture the opinion that the
| training In health and strength and char
acter which comes through a well-directed
| playground Is Of as high an order and is
| at least as successful as that which comes
| from any other educational institutions II
we spend 100000 in the training of the
children's heads. 1t surely Is not too much
to spend $4,000 in the training Of their
| bodies and souls