The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-05
PUT ALL PARKS
UNDER ONE MAN
Councillnen Want Better Re-
suits for Annual Outlay OF
100000.
GRASS is NOW HELD SACRED
But Ordinance May Be Sus-
pended by Chairman for
Lawn Parties.
GRASS is NOW HELD SACRED

Some comment has been occasioned
hihs announcement that city parks
are operated for the benefit of the
people-not of the parkkeepers The
announcement came on Thursday night
In connection with the reprimand
given to Parkkeeper Henry " Farm
err. of Riverside Park. who is also
president of the Clay Ward Actives
and leader in city politics. The
statement OF the chairman of the
Grounds and Buildings Committee
comes with more surprise to the pub
lie when II is remembered that less
than year ago that committee recon-
mended at the instance of the park
Keepers and had adopted by the Coun-
Gil an ordinance making It msde-
meanor to step on the sacred grass of
any city park.
In a heated spell last summer Park
Keeper Parater, of jefferson Park. ar
bitratrily ordered every one from the
park one night at 10 o'clock. announc-
ing that il was time for the park to
close and that he was going home
The same week an underkeeper Of
William Byrd Park reported two young
men who at IL o'clock in the day had
OF tree to cool off. They were told
that they could sit sedatcly on the
benches. hanging their feet into the
walks. but must not step on the grass
The Pnrkkcepers' Union.
1t has been sort of standing Joke
about the City Hall for years that
there is "parkkeepers' union" an in
formal system of conferences between
the keepers of the various parks. and
c hat he lyn .ric
ously opposed the appropriation for
music on the ground that people would
trample on the grass and make work
for the underkecpers. The Keepers
themselves merely direct. Appointed
as Mr.. Batkins stated. largely for poll
teal purposes, their jobs are recogniz-
ed as sinecures. to sit about in watch
houses reading the papers and talking
politics. and to be useful at time of
election
On the nights of the band concerts
the city ordinance forbidding any one
to st on the grass is cheerfully
ignore The people never had any
intention of respecting such a law.
but In individual cases many have
been embarrassed by arbitrary orders
of park keepers. Two young men
night workers, who unable to sleep in
the heat of the day, recently sought
relaxation on the grass of a city park.
under a tree. after the manner OF
thousands In Central Park. New York.
or Hdye Park. Chicago-wero per-
emptorily ordered from the place.
They were told that they could not
step on the grass save during band
concerts.
Farmer Holds His own
The cause Of the tilt between Keeper
Farmer and Chairman Batkins. for
which Mr. Farmer was ordered TO
apologize. was a lawn fete for the
benefit of temperance society to be
given by Mrs Herndon Mr.. Batkins
had given his consent. but the keeper
threw the stuff into the street. and
stood on guard over the grass plot
against all corners. Similar privileges
have been granted in number OF the
parks on band nights and Mt other
times to the DISC runtlement OF the
Keepers and in some instances over
the protest Of licenser soda water
stands. who pay a city license and
claim protection in their business.
Members of me Council admit that
they cannot defend the apparent In
consistency of statute forbidding
stepping on the grass In a park. how
ever hot the day or night when the
statute Is violated by thousands on
concert nights, and is suspended at
will by the chairman of the committee
in giving permission for the use OF
the parks for private benefit enter
tainments.
lust why a lawn party should be
permitted In a park to be attended by
hundreds, when a tired citizen may
not rest under the shade of tree on
a hot day. or cool himself on the
grass after his days work. no one has
appeared to explain. The parks cost
the city for maintenance and pay OF
keepers. according to this years
budget, sso.333. Many citizens believe
that better results could be obtained
from an annual outlay of $4,000 We're
the parks under general superin-
tendent with an ample force of men.
instead of each plot having separate
keeper who is Gear within his own
dominions.