The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-21
HALF POPULATION
VISITS THEATRES
Weekly Attendance Estimated at
62,467. While Same Number of
People Stroll Weekly in
Broad Street-Need of
Fairgrounds Strongly
Urged.


is made for recreation for the children
outside OF the schools. to prevent the
formation OF detrimental habits. The
city could save much OF the money It
is spending for the care and reform
Of its delinquents IL 1t spent more to
provide Fairgrounds to prevent so
many deiinGuents-
Such are the conclusions reached by
an expert who has been investigator
the Fairgrounds ana recreation con-
ditions IN Richmond.
1t may be startling u know that 70
per cent Of the children Of Richmond
out Of doors were in the streets It
may be interesting to know that OBJ
scene and suggestive pictures wore
found at parks frequented by children.
Strolling on Broad Street furnishes the
recreation for $4,000 people each week
Need Public Library.
The children Of Richmond dc MT
read a. much as do those in cities
where there are good public libraries.
This is one OF the needs Of the hour
Expert supervision Of playing. with
plans for recreation for all the chill
dren, is imperative. It will take years
TO work II all out. and in the meantime
there are certain streets which couio.
WITHOUT inconvenience to tranc, De
set aside for playing in certain hours
of each day.
The expert further found that Rich
nond has a density as great as that OF
some cities two or three times its size.
Also. in his Judgment. two-tsirds to
three-fourths OF the moving picture
shows have entertainments classed as
either good or harmless.
Report Ii Received
The Committee on recreation anu
Fairgrounds. organized last Aafch
with Colonel Eugene c. Nassle a.
chairman and julien H. HILL as secre-
.ary and treasurer, has received INC
report of the recreation survey or
dered BY it, The purpose OF the sur
vey was to md out just what were TIC
deeds Of the city in the way OF oese'-
oping wholesome recreation, Just what
the city possessed in the way OF faciA-
,,ies and supervis Dry force TO meet the
nsaa ana 70 work out a plan whereby
rho recreation work should adequately
ynse, the needs OF the young people
here.
The committee does not plan 10
suopIant the work OF several otner or
xanizations which have for a long TIME
been interested in the player aho s''
nation in Richmond but to enlarge ana
.x,end the work undertaken by them,
an co-opera.ion with all individuals ana
groups of citizens who are intefeste'
In pushing the matter thro"sh'o ."e
ci,v The committee consists OF
nun,er Of business men, among them
Henry w. Reuntree, T. NJ Cartins.on
charles Hutzier. Dr. J. A c. Chandler.
WcE Judkins. F. W. Duke. besides
.i,,v ar seventy others who have given
,,or, 70 the work Of the COM
mittee- ,,d
HAYNES. field secretary OF the ray
ground and Recreation Association o.
America. who has made similar se"o'es
IN Milwaukee. Kansas City and otnes
,o-1e communities, to make the expert
In,ss,;e,fion. Mr. Haynes was IN
R:chmond during the month OF Nay
g.,herins facts. and during the sum
mer wrote up his findings IN MY
mage report which be suomisteo 10 t"e
local committee. Mr.. Haynes says tn.s
he knows Of no city OK the SIZE "a
Richmond which has up 10 oate su'. .
co,nnIete and thorough survey OF re-
.,or conditions as that made n
a. tn.tiRatton Of the Richmond COM
mittee. ,..,..a
The entire report has been conoenseo
49, summary and conclusions. a.
q
follows:
rrom the reports OF school chi1-
Az, from all psrts OF the city II ap-
80. that outdoor sports occupy e~-s
-. s.n. Of the recreation life OF boys
:. p,chmond and 3s.5 per cenN OK the
...rs.,ion nfe OF girls; that mucn OF
.s,. to,rn az recreation has 70 % ess-
red on in the streets. that girls nAse
,.s. .o do in the way OF recreation tnse
hovs: that At this season OF t"o
INay. 1870 moving picture SHOWS %,
tract many school children. out ev
pared with other forms OCCUPY -
80, ooe-tensh Of the recreation nts
- ,h,. typical group Of Richmond chi.
80 the papers showed that eoiored
49, engage in outdoor sperts aeoue
=. much as white boys. but that tnes
80 an the street more. snd thas COT
- ~s-ls 40 more calling IN tnesr
,-t..ss and going 20 moving picturs
80. chan white Girls. Reading plays
r,rrn smaller part In the Tecreaeon
=, nschmond children than IN c't'cs
wn,cb have good public libraries
Tn ,hese papers the chiIdren evs
., s,.ir chief play troubles the tsek
- nv place to play except the Streets
90 s,serfereuce BY the police wne"
shev try 60 play on the stfeeS 80
sr.s.ss:.. they show that playing on
The corner and loaang On the se's -.
ere important parts % their play Hse'
- q TSs0 uOe.
OF ,.sis chsIArsa saa ycuns ~,
.ss .s.erveA out q aooss after senooa
sours. over 81 per cent were COW.
rosnsse. - per cent were WORKING. ane
a iietIe over - per eeas we're p'ay'ns.
on ms number 20 per cent were ..
. streets. - - cent ID Vsv.ss
1nrss. Dsss than I Per csas On ~
6tc1siS1So . Swan RaeaS