The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-04
CITY GREENHOUSE
TO SUPPLY PARKS
Board Investigates Cost of Build
ing Adjunct to Nursery
Plant.
REFUSES USE OF ARMoRY
Major Bowles Opposes Use OF
Gymnasium by City School
Board.

CITY Engineer Boiling was directed
Yesterday By the Administrative Board
10 furnish an estimate OF the cost or
constructing municipal greenhouse
suihciently large to grow and furnish
plants for the city parks. The resolu-
ton providing for the inquiry was in
troduccd by John Hirschberg, who, I'M
der the recent division of duties. has
supervision over the parks ana squares
OF the city.
The city nursery at present supplies
tho city with trees. shrubs and growths
OF permanent nature. 1t has no hot
house equipment. Its efficiency, con-
Quoted rs II is under a limited appro-
pr'ation, has drawn complimentary
notice from visitors coming from much
larger cities where the municipal
nursery activity is unknown Mayor
Blankcnburg, OF Philadelphia on his
recent visit to this city, after inspect
ing the city nursery, said that his
city had nothing to compare with it,
Could he Made Adjunct
IL was pointed out yesterday that n
municipal greenhouse would prove a
valuable addition to the present
nursery activity. and could he installed
with little additional expense at the
nursery plant In William Byrd Park.
The parks are almost wholly bare OF
perishahle flowers. Such few as an
pear In the plots are grown and taken
care OF by the park Keepers A modest
additional appropriation 20 pay FOR an
extra man O.. two and the initial cost
OF construction. Il is believed. would
give the city a greenhouse sunicient
for present purposes
Municipal greenhouses arc important
adjuncts to the park systems OF MANY
large American cities. Their presenca
is IN large part responsible for the
brilliant display of flowers that dis
tinguishes the well-known metropoli-
tan parks from those of the smaller
cities. where il is Impossible to show
any but the hardest OF the pcrishablc
plants.
BIues Refuse Armory.
Major L w. Bowles, of the Rich
mond Light Infantry Blues. recon-
mended TO the board that it decline
the request Of Superintendent Chnnd-
Ter. OF the public schools. for per-
mission to use the gymnasium Of the
Blues Armory twice a week TO instruct
the boys OF the John Marshall High
School in gymnastic exercises.
In the opinion OF Major Bowles. the
armory. which was built for the city
for military purposes. should not be
diverted to any other use. The open
ing of the armory gymnasium to the
boys of the John Marshall High School.
Major Bowlcs thinks. would establish
81 ohN pi cICOtilr WulCn might lcau later
TO serious Inconvenience. The board
forwarded his letter to DR.. Chandler
without recommendation.
Snyr bridge II Unsafe.
City Engineer Boiling reported to
the board that the bridge over the
tracks or the Seaboard Air Line Rail-
way and Bacon Quarter Branch is lin
very dangerous condition" and not
safe for public use. He recomme ndcd
that 1t be repaired at once, at a cost
of $4,000.
The board adopted a resolution di-
recting the city Engineer to make the
necessary repairs to the bridge i'm
mediately. and sent 4 communication
10 the Mayor requesting him to rec
ommcnd to the Council the passing OF
an emergency appropriation OF the
amount necessary for the repairs.