Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-09
APPEAL FOR THE FAIRGROUNDS
REGRET FOR ACTION OF CON-
GREss I'm REFUSING FUNDS.
Comparison of Developments in Dis
trict and What II Done
Voluntarily Elsewhere.

Attention has Deen caiieu 10 susSeS'ioiS
upon the floor of the House OF Representa-
tiyes that Congress should stay its hand
and allow the District alone to carry on
its Fairgrounds. But in this connection II
has been pointed out that as Congress
is the only means through which the DIS
trict may receive money for any OF It's
public purposes the help of the senators
and representatives is essential IN the
matter of providing Fairgrounds for the
little ones. In speaking of the movement
for the Fairgrounds today one OF those
prominent in the work said:
The District has already expressed
through the Commissioners, its desire to
bear it's part of this expense for the good
of the children. and asks that congress
shall join with it in this good work.
Congress has recognized this as de-
partment of the city government by the
purchase o. sites for Fairgrounds last
year by appropriations for maintenance
during the last three years, and 1t is also
conceded by recognition OF the TACT mat
the employees are appointed by the Com
missioners of the District. Fairgrounds
are now being maintained at public ex-
pense probably In every city in the United
States of the size of Washington-cer-
tanly i'm nearly all. To cut of the ap-
preparation this year Will not merely leaVe
the old Fairgrounds unused, but will leave
the new ones entirely unequipped and Will
not allow anything for the Improvement
and identifying of. sites already pur-
chased.
Need of Fairgrounds.
The need of the city for Fairgrounds
is proved by the attendance of the chill
dren. which amounted TO 10000 during
the eleven weeks of last summer. The
appreciation of the parents is shown by
contributions of more than $4,000 for the
work of the Washington Playground AS
sociation-more than any other city In
America has given. The approval OF the
people and the Commissioners is shown
in the estimates for playgrounds Tor TINS
year. The approval of the whole coun-
try has been shown by numerous articles
on the Fairgrounds of Washington. both
in the magazines and the daily papers
The press of Washington has been uni
formly favorable to the movement.
The expense of supervision of the pub
lie Fairgrounds was referred to on the
floor of the House, and 1t was implied
that this money was quite needlessly ex-
pended. There many cities in this
Country which began with this point of
view, but there is not city which has
found it possible or desirable to main
tain Fairgrounds in this way. Such
grounds always fall into the hands of
DULLES and young toughs, who monopolize
the facilities offered and furnish the
worst possible model for the other chill
dren to follow.
Instruction in Physical Training.
A playground with a competent organ
izer offers high grade physical training at
the same time that it teaches, through
imitation and example and loyaltfes in
spired by competition, all the social and
civic virtues. Washington is today pay
ing teachers in its Fairgrounds less than
nj hpr city n size in America The
play leaders in the municipal Fairgrounds
Of Chicago receive 81 900 year. those in
the South Park system $1,1U a year
Boston pays $1,000 a year. The women
teachers in the municipal Fairgrounds OF
New York receive $50 and the men teach
ers receive s75 a month Directors in
school Fairgrounds of New York receive
from $50 to s120 month.
Teachers in the Fairgrounds OF Phila-
delphia receive from $45 to $50 a month.
The Fairgrounds of Pttsburg are main
tanned for a half day only, and the teach
ers receive from $50 to $125 month. The
Fairgrounds of Baltimore are maintained
for a half day only. and the teachers re-
ceive from $i5 to $50 a month.
Directors in the Fairgrounds of Wash
ington receive from $55 to $50 month TO.
a full days work. in climate and under
conditions which are much more exhaust
ing than those existing in any of these
cities. Pittsburg aims to furnish a
teacher for every fifty children. New
York furnished a teacher for every
seventy children. while in Washington the
teachers often have 200 Children to look
aftern