Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-08-11
OFFICIALS
To SINK WELLS IF
DROUGHT HOLDS
Water Supply Diminished and
Danger of Forest Fires
Has Increased.

Interesting facts and figures are
found in the fifteenth annual report of
the Essex County Park Commission,
made public today. The pamphlet is
p%rofusely illustrated. presenting many
points of beauty in the parks and
showing where the intelligent labor of
man has helped to emphasize and en-
nance the handiwork of nature.
There are pictures of Thistle Mill
Ford, in the South Mountain Reserva-
ton, in the full flush OF summer glory;
of the popular and artistically con-
structed boat house in Branch Brook
Park. of the Fairgrounds in Orange
Park, floral prize winners from he
greenhouses, and other illustrations to
show that the taxpayers money has
been well and wisely expended.
Beauty In Scenery Sought.
After referring to the fact that the
Legislature of 1909 had passed an act
authorizing an additional issue of park
bonds to the amount of $3.50, 900. which
will probably be used chiefly in Cald-
well, the commission reports that 1t
has repeatedly stated that the public
playground is one of the most i'm
portant functions of a carefully con-
sidered park system, and now adds:
ut is not meant, however, that a
park should be nothing except a play
ground. There Is a very large section
of the public which cannot derive en-
joyment in a contemplation of the open
steal exercise, and they are entitled
also TO the consideration of the park
builder. Small areas devoted wholly to
playground uses should be provided by
the municipal authorities and kept
under the control of the local boards.
THE Park Commission has en-
deavored in locating and developing its
Fairgrounds to surround them with
sufficient landscape beauty to permit
the various athletic exercises to pro-
coed amid attractive natural settings.
This will permit those who cannot
join in the games to find rest and en-
ioyment In a contemplation of the open
and the green, and the boys n girls
themselves will derive more pleasure
from their sports II they play on fine
turf. under or near attractive planta-
tions Of trees and shrubbery and
flowers, than IL the cinders of the
running track and the soft dirt OF
the gymnasium were all the parh
offered. Such gymnasia too nearly
approach the street and open lot va
riety, from which 1t Is desirable to at
tract the youngsters to more ~elevatins
environments"
Drought Works Hardship.
Reference is made to the unusual
drought of the past three Years and its
effects upon the reservations. 1t Is
pointed out tina one result was that
the water supply at South Mountain
diminished and that ON of the wells
there that had heretofore been full hat
dried UP.
SHOULD these conditions continue,
the commissioners say, 'it will be nee
essary to sink driven wells. The lonl
drought also increased the danger o
forest hres-the worst enemy of tn
woodland. A special force was KEEP
almost constantly on duty durini
August and September to assist tn
regular patrolmen in the detection ant
extinguishment of fires. Although tn
expense was considerable the result
abundantly justified 1t. as little 7aulag
was done, although a great man,
small fires were discovered an