The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-12
ASK APPROPRIATION
FOR Fairgrounds
Citizens Petition Commits
sion for S10,500
LARGE DELEGATION
DELEGATION
Number of People Advocate Appro-
priatiOn in Speeches Before Com
mission, Which Will Consider
Request at Future Meeting

a large delegation numbering prob
ably SO or 40 people appeared before
the city commission yesterday with Pc
titions which they stated bore about
$500. signatures and asked the COM
mission for an appropriation of s1o,-
500 with which TO carry on the play
ground work in the city for the next
year. Upon motion of Commissioner A.
o. Lane the matter was referred to the
commission for consideration and ac-
tion at some later date.
Secretary william ii. McGrath of the
Associated Charities acted as spolSes-
man of the committee. He made n brief
speech and then introduced others who
held petitions from certain commun-
tiles. Mr.. McGrath stated that in the
-four months which Birmingham had
supervised and organized Fairgrounds
last summer there had been about CO.,
600 children played on them at an
average cost of 2.6 cents per child. This
is the lowest figure of any city in tho
country, Philadelphia being the next
lowest with cost of Az cents per
child.
Used by Thousands
Playground Superintendent West
! spoke a few minutes. stating that in
the five Fairgrounds which had been
organized and supervised according tO
modern methods during the four
months last summer that 1888 chill
, dren had used them in July; ,439 chill
dren in August: 1921 in September and
in about the half of October 10000
children had ushed them. making a
total of 65,091 children in the four
months "The chief feature of the play
grounds last summer was the demon
stration of their value to the officials
and citizens of Birmingham" said Mr.,
West.
DR.. ]. NJ. Hankins of East Lake cited
Richmond, Louisville. Macon and other
southern cities where playground
movements were being carried on with
success. Birmingham now has 81
parks valued at $1,200,00 and only 4
or of them are being used for play
ground purposes" said DR.. Hankins
"If the commissioners believe that the
financial condition of the city abso-
lutely prohibits them doing anything
for us. then we are willing to join
HdnuS Will you OiiiSioiS anu
that an extra session of the legisla-
ture give us some relief"
e. C. Thurston presented a petition
from Avondale, Mrs. Barnhart from
Pratt city, Mrs. Forney from Wood
lawn, William Cunningham from the
North Highlands and Fountain Heights.
Mrs Saunders from the Baker school
at Ensley. DIR. Morris Newfield made
short speech in behalf OF a play
ground for the children at the Five
Points school
II believe there Is not doubt but
what every member of the commits
sion," said Commissioner Lane. has q
due appreciation of the Importance of
Fairgrounds to the children Of the city
and I move that this matter be re-
ferred to the commission as a whole
to be considered for the regular budget
which is to be adopted permanently
within few days"
No Lack of Interest
al am leading sort of double iife.
as il were," said Mr.. Weatherly, las I
am president of this Fairgrounds as
ISOLATION and member of the COM
mission. l have stated to the associa
tion that the commissioners are i'm ia
vor of improving the Fairgrounds and
know that they are. The only diff
Guilty is the money. and | have no hes
itancy In saying that if we can figure
out any possible way to get that much
money for this purpose that / Will vote
for this budget. There are many things
to be considered. 1t is not. however. "A
matter of convincing this commission
of the need of Fairgrounds. No one
need worry about any lack of interest
~ 90 l...
missioners.'
"I am satisfied the commission viii
take up the permanent adoption of the
budget within the next 10 days" stated
Mr. Ward, ."and We'll do the very best
we can for the playgroY s."