The Washington herald., 1909-01-11
MAKES FINAL PLEA
FOR FAIRGROUNDS
DR.. Curtis Delivers Lecture
at Church Of Our Father,
HOUSE TO VOTE TOMORROW
Passage of Law Advocated with
Similar Provisions to Those In En-
feet in ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
for Children as Necessary IA Edu-
cntiOn-Gives History Of Movement

In a last public plea for chfldren's play
grounds in Washington, DR. Henry s
| Curtis, secretary OF the National Play
grounds Association, delivered a lecture
on the subject at the Church Of Our
Father yesterday afternoon.
The House of Representatives to-day
viii vote upon the proposed apDropria-
ton for this purpose.
DR.. Curtis gave, IN brief. the history o.
public Fairgrounds, the first OF which
was In use N Germany more than twenty
years ago. He declared that there Is not
city In the United States to-day the
size OF Washington that feels the lack
Of Fairgrounds for the children as this
city does.
He advocated the passage OF a law
similar 70 the one IN the State Of Massa-
chusetts. which provides that each city
shall have public playground for every
1890 OF its population. He stated. how
ever, that the question here Is not 50
much whether such q system shall be
established as whether the National Cap
ital shall be among the foremost OF the
most backward In caring for its chill
dren
Recreation Necessary.
Dr. Curtis declared that public rscrsa-
ton for the children is every bit as
necessary as public education The lack
OF amusements. he said. particularly dur
ing the summer months. Is responsible
for the eva ways iEto which young girls
F.TH
Fairgrounds were an absolute necessity
10 keep the children Of Washington out
Of trouble
Challenging the argument used by the
House Committee n reducing the pro
posed appropriation OF $500 70 n.5o9.
claiming that the children do not need
Fairgrounds, Or. Curtis produced records
showing that there were $1,000 children
in attendance al the Fairgrounds during
the last season.
He declared that there was 70 founda-
ton for the statement thar children dc
not Ike 20 be under the supervision Of
a teacher while At play.
Or. Curtis said il SSs wrong Tor The
government 20 expect that TIE play
grounds here should be maintained by
charity. ss he said had practically been
the case lately. he asserted that during
the past year the duty had been thrust
upon private charity In the District
Private Means Furnished.
Private purses he declared. already
have contributed sZ2oo0 for the grounds
for the coming summer. and said that
$40o0 more must be raised before the
opening OF the grounds then. Congress
made no appropriation for the play
grounds last year
The history Of Fairgrounds. as told by
Dr. Curtis. shows that two years after
such grounds were first put in use In
New York City. Just ten years after
the idea was first introduced in Germany.
ninety cities had established public play
grounds. Last year he said. reports
showed thar near 90 cities had made sp-
preparations for this purpose
To illustrate his arguments yesterday.
DIT Curtis showed a series % stereopti-
con views OF many Of the larEests and
most handsome Fairgrounds throughout
the United States According e his
statements. while Chicago leads with the
largest grounds. Los Angeles IS noted
for having the most beautiful smuse-
ment places for its children.
IN most OF the Chicago Fairgrounds.
said Dr. Curtis, field houses have been
erected, not only to be used by the chill
dren. but by their parents as we'll he
favors the construction Of such places in
Washington
In speaking OF the law in Massachu-
sets governing Fairgrounds. he declared
that in less than ten years there would
not be a State in the Union which had
not passed a similar law. He expressed
hope that the District Of Columbis would
soon lead in the matter OF taking the
best care of its children