The Washington herald., 1910-12-15

Declaring that park extension has been
reduction in crime. J. Horace Mcfarland.
president of the American Civic Associa-
ton. last night sounded the keynote of
the convention and aroused the large au-
dience to enthusiastic appreciation.
Crime in Chicago" said Mir. McFar-
land, has been shown to decrease 50 per
cent near the social centers. Give the
worker a playground and he viii never
turn TO viclousness.
Prem the standpoint Of public order
the park is a necessity. II is a simple,
statistical fact that the policing OF 1.00o 600
people in parks is not one-tenth as costly
as the policing OF $1,000 In the streets, sa-
looms, and congested housing districts.
On purely economic basis tho city can
better, at any cost of money, provide
adequate park systems than add to its
olue-coated army OF policemen
Ends Days Deliberations
The address OF Mr. Mcfarland. one OF
the foremost advocates OF civic improve
ment in the world. came as a fitting cli-
max to the ending of the first days de-
liberauons OF the association. The even
ing was given over to consideration OF
scenic beauty as a national asset. and
succeeding the brilliant address OF Mr..
Mcfarland came a practical explanation
by William NJ. Ellicott, of Baltimore on
the simplicity f Transforming the forest
area between his city and Washington
into a great national pleasure park.
I'VE need such a park said Mr.. FL
licott. I'VE have a Yosemite. a Yellow
stone. even our great Alaska may be
properly a vast. unexpected park,
but how many miles distant they are.
how inaccessible except TO the tourist who
visits them once or twice in a lifetime.
This opportunity lies at our door. The
forest is there in all the noble grandeur
which has Characterized it since the time
OF man. 1t only requires action by our
Congress TO make it. not only a wonder
ful park for the citizens OF Washington
and Baltimore. but for the nation. and
the nation visits its Capital"
Shows Excellent Slides.
Illustrating his lecture with many fine
~ prepared slides. thrown upon a screen
as he spoke, Mr.. Enicott passed from
the showing Of graphic illustrations on
the fast deforestation OF our country TO
placing before the audience a carefully
worked-out plan for the forest park 10
adjoin Washington. This. by the plans
OF Mr.. Ellicott, would embrace all of the
land adjacent to the upper Potomac TO
Great Falls. and extend across Maryland
to the outskirts Of Annapolis and the
Severn River.
Six million dollars was the amount
necessary, by MIR. Ellicott's estimate, TO
purchase an area extending over 200, 900
acres. This estimate Mr.. Ellicott com
pared with the vast sums expended for
development OF other ideas.
Two hundred members and guests
greeted the chairman OF the evening the
Hon. Joseph +. Ransdell, member of
Congress and president of the National
Rivers and Harbors Congress-, when he
called the session to order.
COngratulating the association upon
the work they had already accomplished
in the furthoranee of civic Improvement
in America, Mr.. Ransdel called the at
tention of the audience to the fact that,
although unable to be present, President
Taft had remember them with a letter
The Presidents letter expressed his re-
greet at not being able to attend the con-
yention.
Tribute 10 Mcfarland.
Paying a notable tribute 10 Mr.. Nc
Farland when he said that it was indeed
an honor 10 meet and hear this great
exponent of American civic development.
Mr.. Ransdell briefly introduced the presi-