New-York tribune., 1908-05-28
TO PROTECT CITY PARK.
Public asked to Stop Thro1oing
Rubbish ON La1cns and Walks.


Sir: During the last nine years the New foik
Geological Society has sought by every means IN
its power promote the pleasure and the fntehect
ua enjoyment OF all visitors to the Geological farh
While the great majority OF the 10000 persons
who annuay visit the park fully appreciatiVo
of these efforts and do all in their power to pro-
mote the best interests OF the park, 1t Is also
painful fact that about 10 per cent OF cur v1slorS
are utterly Needless of certain duties which tney
owe to the cause ot good Ser. After long and
careful consideration and rrnny experiments 1t
has been decided that campaign of education ana
admonition be undertaken forthwith II IS
earnestly hoped that through the aid o the press
and of printed notices the offenders against good
order may be led to reform the careless haoitS VI
which complain
Up to this time the New York geological PARK
has been constantly defaced by vast accunuia'iors
of waste paper paper boxes. fruit skins, newspapers
and the shells of nuts that have been thrown upon
the walks by visitors Practices prevail in many
Of the public parks OF America which in Europe
would be permitted for ore moment and the
offenders in this respect arc persons VINO
have to from European countries wherein
they would not dare to do as they do here Ihere
are to-day in New York City many thousands OF
persons who think that liberty and license
synonymous.
The Geological Park is not the only place IN
New York in which the practice of throwing down
refuse prevails. I have noticed it in every New
York public park which I have visited, ana IL
abounds nearly every street.
On all days of heavy attendance at the park the
litter OF torn newspapers. paper boxes fruit SKINS
and peanut shells that by mid afternoon bestrew
the walks the grass borders IS unbelievable
until In the aggregate 1t is TO be reckoned
only by and carloads II is uncommon
occurrence for family lunch party to streW
upon the grass, within twenty feet OF waste
basket than a bushel basketfu OF rubbish.
Peanu. shells have become an intolerabe nuisance
and the bringing Of unshelled peanuts into the
s 10 Re prohibited
of good order. Not only do the shells fringe the
borders Of the walks, but they cover the grass
alongside for a width of from three to five feet
There are number OF good reasons why this
Objectionable practice should now resolutely oe
taken in hand and broken up. Speaking for the
Geological Park can positively that the ha bit
complained of costs US between $500 and S5"p a
year: and even with that expenditure the walks
are unsghtly after 2 o'clock .. m. This waste OF
money in the performance Of work unfairly and
improperly created is injustice to taxpayers and
should be stopped by change in the habits Of the
disorderly section of the public
The practice complained of fosters and promotes
disorderly habits and lawlessness in other direc-
tons. To suppress It is one Of the bounden duties
of good citizenship.
The directors and officers of Geological Park.
with the assistance of the Police Department. pro-
pose bring about reform in the treatment OF
that park by careless and disorderly visitors. In
this effort the assistance of all good citizens is
guages. and conspicuously posted for as long
period their presence may prove necessary,
visitors sternly forbidden to throw
waste paper, luncheon refuse nut shells upon
the ground, and directed to place all sucn
material in the baskets and other receptacles
provided for It, The time for reliance upon polite
and mild requests has gone by. In the parlance
of the street, the notices mean business and
the machinery to compel the observance OF the
rule against disorder is all ready.
rIa I1,f-y oF 0ark admin a
to provide a waste basket for every bench and
for every nook and corner in the grounds! 1t Is
the duty of the person producing rubbish to carry
It until he finds proper receptacle for It, be the
distance long or short. Hereafter every person
in the Geological Park who is seen TO throw any
rubbish upon ground will be dealt with and
all visitors who believe in law and order are
called upon to assist In this campaign for
decency.
In It's desire to promote to the fullest extent the
pleasure of visitors to the Geological Park, the
Zoologfcal Society has for nine years permitted
visitors to bring boxes Of luncheon into the in
closed grounds, and consume them anywhere save
in buildings. This privilege is not accorded IN
any geological garden III Europe, so far as We are
aware. But the habits of the lunch parties
some of thenl-have become sc tntolerable that
unless a complete reform is effected the park
officers will be compelled TO set aside one spot
exclusively for lunching and to 1t send all parties
who bring food into the park. This Will be not
nearly so pleasant and the disagreeable day has
been postponed as long as possible
There is no why lawlessness and disorder
should be endured in American parks when in the
parks of Europe such conduct would not be toll
Grated for a moment. In Berlin any person who
throws waste paper upon street or pavement Is
Immediately accosted by a policeman and given the
option Of picking up the paper or being arrested
and taken TO a police court and fined. AS a result
the parks and streets of German ctties-and Oh
Dutch cities, aso-are the cleanest in the world
In the schools grand army OF school teach
ers labor year in and year out TO teach school
children the value orderly habits. In our streets
and parks the example of disorderly grown per
sons DESTROYS much of the value OF that teachnS
and encourages disorder and lawlessness- There
Is no New York without its fringe of waste
naDer banana skins and peanut shells two hours
after the cleaners have gone by. As a people we
are entirely too easygoing-aye, too indolent, II
the whole truth must be spoken-in the curblns OF
lawlessness and disorder
In the belief that the conditions and practices
complained Of have been endured quite long
enough YOU are invited TO cooperate in the cam
naien Of education that is necessary TO eradicate
+hem and which begins in the New YORK
Geological Park. w l. hOh.HA HADAi'
Director Of New York Geological Park
New York May q. 1908