The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-18


 l N0 each year for improving and maintain- ing. In addition to this. there Is con- stanf demand for new properties, and. of course, this produces irregular assess ments for purchase within sthe several park districts. At this time they have Tn court condemnation cases, some 10 in number which will probably aggregate Il SAo99fo9 purchase expenditure, and will all doubtless he carried through the courts in the course of the next 12 months.
 Prom this you will see that real es- tate or rather the bare lana pays for practically all of the parks and boulevards and for all of their improvement and maintenance.
 Memphis in 1911 had 19 square miles
 Total receipts by park board to date. N, GAS. 66i
 disbursements for interest to date, sl26.5e2
 disbursements for maintenance and betterments Sq13.915.
 Total disbursements. S1,nl0 AT.
 "Acreage, parks and boulevards, S1110. Population in 1912 testimated). 16s,ooe. Number of people to one acre Of parks. 1iS.
 "of the HOO acres park lands, 8 acres was donated.
 Value of park property s6o00,00o. Total park indebtedness, including bond issues. $1500o0.
 Memphis Methods | The policy of the Memphis park com- mission we believe is equitable. We do not think it fair to burden the present generation with all the cost The lands acquired are worth the price paid and will increase in value as time rolls on, Therefore we say to the coming genera lions, we are buying and beautifying these lands for you. We have made an obligation, a bond that you must pay in 1 90 years and take the property. We will take care of 1t and improve it for you and at the expiration of the 50 years, if you do not want it, sell it for 50 times it's cost.
 l If you would keep up with the process l sion you must have -a ereditabe park sys- tenn; a zoo for the poor children ages 1 ranging from 1 to 80; band for free sum. mer concerts. There are men in every 1 community who take a narrow view of things and, they pay out money and See no direct returns they charge it off to 1 profit and loss An illustration of this idea is given in the case of the traveline man who put the price of an overcoat which he had purchased in his expense account. His house rejected it and re- fused to pay 1t. The next expense ae- count was promptly paid and his em- ployer congratulated him on the fact that he had put no cost of an overeoat in his 1 list of expenses The travetng man naively replied; You don't see it, but it is l there just the same So it is with the taxpayer who supports those things that 1 benefit the public and attract people to l his city. He cannot see the profit to 1 him on his books. but. in the language of the travelling man. 1t is there just the same City builders should never forget | that people will congregate wherever 1 they can get the most out of life on the easiest terms.
 | Use of the Kicker Then there is the much abused kicker valuable asset, like the uea on the dog he keeps us moving, and after awhile gets good as he begins to enjoy the blessing brought about by the progress sives. He gets into the band wagon and goes with the boys
 Tn my town an old Irish friend met me and said You are going to employ band? l said, Yes That's right blow tho peoples money through the brass horns I said, Jack. you came here a | poor boy and deserve credit for amass- ing an honest fortune, but you have al- ways been negative. Get into the band wasoA and be on. of the boys Vote yes on all occasions; go out and heal the music. It vii grow on you and you will be happy He hss sold his old ba- rouche and goes ont to every concert in big auto
 "Another said: You are not going tc 1 spend money for a zoo. It's useless I have seen all the animals in the world 1 answered, Yes, but not for yonr edi. l fication. but for the children and vel go out and you will see lots of old folks
 The education furnished by a zoolog cal garden is by no means confined f Tao rtf 1 etc, their appearance, habits, size looks l etc, nor does ornithology which | l teaches find it's limitation in study o1 l their appearance and habits. One might 1 dwell for a long time on the benefits tc be derived from the care and companion. ship of a zological garden both spiritua l and material | assuresyou 1t will prove an immense source of pleasure and profit Admittance should be free
 'I ana sure that you people of Dir. mingham should select an expert to ge over the matter with you and the mone, spent for him will not so amiss Havf plan for civic center and build al of the handsome buildings in the center As a start for a boulevard system i think there is no more beautiful spot il i the south than Highland avenue, wher, I there is very little heavy hauling" MT. Galloway interspersed his address
 
 for the civic plan in Memphis and kep the audience in an uproar. He spoke O i the necessity of zoo and told of it4 use as a drawing card to bring the peopli to the parks. He declared that zoo wa a necessary asset for n park.
 Exum Speaks
 Culpepper Exum was next introduce, l by the toastmaster and after swing f 1 high compliment to MT. Galloway foi his most excellent address the preglden of the commission said.
 "The question of owning and heautifv. 1 ing parks appeals to all of us All thing must be done with intelligent thought o the future. Birmingham should get th, proper plans and start right | believe ", l have in the person of the president ol i our park commission a man who has in, ] interests of the city at heart and ina, with the backing of the city and the gov. ernmont he will accomplish much for Bir. mingham. Give John l.. Raul an opnor. tunity and he will do great deal fo, 1 us. We should spend from si0.0e0 fe $20,O00 on the plan to show us how tf do this thing. 1 hope this meeting is q forerunner of a campaign for beautifyins l our city, which I fear we are neslectint along that line"
 l Commissioner James Weatherly fol. lowed MT. Exum and said that "the personality of Mr. Galloway was worth more to the city of Memphis than all of their parks and boulevarde" He said "the city commission has practically pledged itself to tho park commission to vote money needed for civic plans We should give the park commission