Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-08-03
FOR A PUBLIC PARK

Why have a public park! This is the query of the ignorant, the thoughtless and the malic- iously selfish. Yet it is heard with frequency all too great. Intent on personal business, many citizen never lets his mind rise above the stock market the mine or the store His thought is in terms of dollars and cents. His life runs in groove of avarice toward the none too desirable goal of wealth paid for at a sacrifice of better things. The success he often wins makes one pause and question whether it is real or fictitious. And this type of man it is that asks, "Why have public park! Why have better streets? Why have trolley system 2 In short, he asks, ''Why have anything un- der the sun that tends toward better citizenship and away from greed and the wofsh fight of the market place!"
 The answer to some questions are so evident that replies are futile The reason for a pub lie park is one of them
 Here is picture. It may not be pleasant to behold. But there is truth in 1t. And most of us dislike the truth heartily when it makes us uncomfortable. This picture are to paint is a moving picture. But the movement is all the wrong way for it leads men to that which is not always good for them.
 We have before us mentally the busiest sec tion of Broad street on any night of the week, but particularly on Saturday night and on Sun day The curbs are lined with lstess men. Most of them are hard workers. The mills of commerce hold them in thrall for long honrs daily Very naturally, and very humanly they put high value on their leisure time. These hours of unemployment are their hours. The rest of the time belongs to the struggle for money, for existence. But having time what are they to do with it
 This does seem serious question. doesn t 1t! The workingman solves it logically and in his own way with the facilities at hand. Lack ing anything better to do, he strolls into the city With several hundred companions he takes his stand on the curb. Then he awaits di- version.
 Sooner or later it comes. The saloon, the brothel, or worse, extends to him the glad hand with the itching palm. And as there is nothing else better in sight he often welcomes even this hospitality.
 Meanwhile the would-be benefactor of hll- manity is chanting psalms to unhearing ears. Or perhaps he is giving sage advice to starv- ing man. Or very possibly he is communing within himself on the good he is doing man kind by being an apathetic good citizen. But what he is not doing is making life any easier or better for the man who labors for living.
 Now suppose that Globe had large public park. That this park had green grass growing trees, shady harbors, and shrub-bordered walks. Perhaps we might add pond and a fountain or two. Where would the man on the curb go then' Nature answers this question. Any city where such parks are maintained gives the solution A primal instinct that has come to the human animal out of all the evolutionary Df tha 1, ly to the greensward and groves of Mother Earth's domain whenever they are within reach.
 The writer once saw park of the people in one of the nations biggest cities. Through the center of it led path that thousands of men traversed every day in going to and from their work. The walk was of nice white concrete and as level as a floor. And yet the grass was