Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-23

parks were gifts from public-spirited citi-
zens The remaining twenty-four parks
cost 81, 491 ,g42 and the sum of 81 ,2S1 $40
has been expended in their Improvement.
In these days the park commission is
spending about one-half million dollars
year in maintaining, improving and
extending the park system. During 1910
the total was S571, no, Of which S2O26
was raised by the sale of bonds and the
balance from special assessments.
The attention of the national House of
Representatives is respectfully called to
the fact that. there are eighteen public
Fairgrounds of more than twenty-five
acres in the city of Minneapolis. which
is not SO large as Washington, and that
during the year 1910 they We're maintain
ed at cost of s13977, including the sal
aries Of ten instructors. who taught the
children how to play games that tended
to their physical development. taught
them manners and showed them how to
treat one another with politeness and gem
tility While the manners of nation are
secondary to their morals in Importance,
both qualities are SO closely involved that
they cannot he separated 1t is just as
important that children should be taught
how TO behave as to read and write. for
the latter accomplishment is of no value
to chump and makes a boor or hood
dunn all the more Objectionable.
Fairgrounds Democracy.
The playground is a true democracy.
1t is a miniature republic, where equality
is enforced by public opinion that cannot
be overruled or restrained. and nowhere
are lessons of Importance to the COM
munity as well as to the individual learn
ed SO easily and so effectively.
While a great deal of attention has been
paid to the bOulevardS and parks for the
benefit of automobiles and carriages, the
street car system of the twin cities
makes them easily accessible to all the
population. The street car system OF st.
Paul and Minneapolis is the same, and Is
considered one of the best In the world
There are 373 miles of track operated by
electric power generated at the Falls OF
st. Anthony. and a total Of 10000 horse
power is now used. There are four trolley
routes between st. Paul and Minneapolis
averaging ten miles each, and three
Observation-Disclosures on both banks of
the river and a straight. wide highway
ten miles long between the business sec
tons, which is being rapidly built up
with manufactures. A fourth route is in
contemplation. The civic commission has
recommended boulevard go feet wide
between the business sections, 50 divided
that heavy teaming will not interfere
with the speed Of automobiles
There are many delightful excursions in
every direction from Minneapolis by the
trolley lines. which encrcle all TIE lakes
and reach Minnehah Falls. Lake Mime
tonka and other attractive resorts.
The Garden Club of Minneapolis has con-
tributed great deal to the beauty of the
city as well as to the welfare of those
lawns and gardens 1t Is composed of
several hundred patriotic citizens who OBJ
tain permission from property owners to
cultivate vacant lots throughout the city
under the instruction and supervision of
the faculty of the State Agricultural Col
lege. Wherever families of working peo-
pie desire to undertake the task, vacant
lots are assigned to them for vegetable
ga rdens and they are provided with seeds
plants tools and instruction wherever it
Is necessary.
Aid Given to Cultivators.
Those who wish to cultivate a vegetable
or flower garden on their own premises
are also provided with flowers. shrubs
and instructions. Everybody who is will
ing to plant a seed or a shrub or make
two blades of grass grow where only one
grew before can command the assistance
and cooperation of the Garden Club.
In order to inspire and encourage peo-
pie to cultivate gardens on their own
grounds and undertake to operate vacant
lots the club offers prizes for the best
displays Of flowers. plants and vegetables.
and there has been an active competition
81 a year for dues and thus furnish a
fund to finance the movement, which has
been remarkably successful.
Minneapolis has a unique license sys-
tenn which confines saloons to what is
called the patrol limits" There have
been 435 saloons in the city this year,
each of which is assessed 81 600 a year
for license, which may be revoked at
any time. and the property of saloon
keepers may be confiscated for the viola
ton of the laws regulating the sale of
liquor. All saloons and hotel and res
taurant barrooms are required to close at
IL o'clock pm. and remain closed from
that hour Saturday nights until o'clock
Monday mornings
No saloons are allowed in the residence
districts, but are confined to the patrol
limits which comprise an irress ular area
about five square miles in the center and
covering about one-tenth of the total
area of the city. These limits were Gre
ated in 1884 and have been strictly OBJ
served, except in two cases, l believe.
W iere special act of the legislature
authorized licenses to be granted beyond
the boundaries.
Limit on Liquor Selling.
This system originated with George A.
Pillsbury. brother of John 8. Pillsbury,