The Washington times., 1910-03-20
FAIRGROUNDS USE
ONLY -FOUR ACRES
Charge of Usurpation of
Park Area for Children
Disproved.

To the Editor OF The Washington Times:
In a recent editorial reprinted from
the New York Sun by a local paper the
statement was made that Washington
is a city Of Parks and pleasant places
and there is not a district in the whole
town without spacious public grounds
where children can play at will. Could
anything be more misleading to those
who are considering our case?
Mr.. Tawney stated on the House floor
IN effect that there were 773 acres Of
public grounds and parks well within
the city limits and therefore reachable
by most OF The youth OF our city-yet I. e
Playground Association is permitted 10
use only three small spaces in three
parks. amounting in all TO about four
acres. This certainly is not much out
of 10 acres. We could o,:ain permis-
sion to use more space in these parks,
but only on conditions named by the Of
fcer in charge Of public buildings and
grounds; That during the hours the
Fairgrounds were open there should he
constant supervision, and that there
should he a day and night watchnan-
Right to Appropriation.
This editor also states: The people Of
the country at large are unaware Of the
District OF Columbia's entering wedge.
and OF the concentrated ardor With
which It is pressed. and otherwise ELL
sbled In all respects OF speeding profig
acy ard opening wide the Treasury"
Is II willful ignorance, or doesn't he
really know that the citizens Of the Dis
trict OF Columbia are well within their
legal rights in demanding that this ap-
preparation Of $1,000 for Fairgrounds be
paid as provided by the organic act Of
1873. half from their owr money and
half from the Federal Treasury
In the last paragraph he says: DO
wholesome boys and girls want 70 play
under supervisors anyhow" Then he
goes on 10 say that only cripples ana
deRenerates want to be overlooked and
tagged. etc. This Is maliciously mis-
leading The long experience that the
editor OF the New York Sun refers 20
with sucn airy persfiage IS the mag
ming Of his Own fertile brain conceived
| IN moment after having read the re-
port OF the proceedings OF Congress
Children Give Reply
He has only 70 observe in any city OF
the country In the vicinity Of a play
ground the JOY and interest that the
] children Of all sizes and ages take IN
/ AAfNtA Htf.e - VhAAA'a- tAFAA 0AA.AFAg ~
| each the ground Is marked re Will
/ find no lOiterers in the streets Dr the
I alleys in the vicinity Of the playground.
/ These children want 10 get 20 the
/ ground. where their play fs intelligentIy
( supervised and taken part In joyfully
| by the supervisors.
] The United States Government has
! bought and paid for. with large sums
l Of the peoples money. certain sites
1 within the District of Columbia for
/ Fairgrounds. II they were right IN
( making these purchases. then the peo-
/ pies legislators must provide funds for
| UNFOLDING and maintaining these play
/ grounds.
/ Il has been said by some leading
( minds Of the country that the ay-
( ground is the most important aUxi .arv
| known 10 the public school. ] 60 so
/ far as 20 say that 7 would rather have
| a well-Conducted playground for my
I child until he has reached the age OF
! ten, than 20 have a school for him. and
] our legislators who are quibbling and
I contesting against this appropriation
/ might as well provide a public school
! building with school rooms completely
/ outftted and then. without providing
/ a teacher, expect the children TO attend,
Z as to give ms Fairgrounds and not pro-
/ vide for supervision.
ARTHUR 2. MOSES.
! Vice President, Washington Playground
! Association.