The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-05-20
CH|LDREN'S GARDEN
RUTHLESSLY RUINED
Peery Estate Rents Ground
Used by Students to Cir
Gus; Protest Made.

Special to Tho Tribune
OGDEN. NAV la.-BoNcd hy the Keen
es; childish grief. several hundred stu
dents OF the Lewis school saw their cher
ishcj school garden at tho corner az
Washington avenue and Twenty-scvenih
street completely destroyed today after
the lot had been rented 10 the Sells -F1oto
circus for the days performances. The
rcsul; of six weeks work WAS suddenly
wiped out while the telrful children
pleaded almost unnotlced with the circus
employees. who tramplcd the tender
plants under foot while erecting the tents
and stands
While scores or the students begged
for tho prcservation OF their garden.
Others notified their teachers. but circum-
stances rendered II useless for the school
authorities 10 Interfere. AZ a result. the
once proud students Will view tomorrow
morning trampled, uucultiyatcd lot.
where yesterday were neat burrows with
green sprouts showing above tile little
mounds OF earth. II Mas not until this
morning. when some OF the students on
thair way to school visited the garden
10 see the result Of last nights rain. that
the destructive element was discovered.
Even then 4, was too late 70 remedy
matters. for the garden was piled full
OF circus equipment
The destruction OF the garden is Que
10 the renting OF tho lot hv Harmon
fcsrN. TeprsfTntatiN OF the fcPTN estate,
owners OF tho property. Tho deal was
closed suddenly late last night when the
circus management found IL unsatisfac-
tory 20 give the show. as originally
planned. at tho fair grounds north Of tho
city. No member OF the school board or
other person interested In the school
garden movement in this city was noN-
fed before the circus was given permis-
sion 20 occupy tho vacant lot. which cN-
tends ali tho way along Twenty seventh
street between Grant and Washington
avenues. The garden occupied smalI
portion Of the lot at the Washington
avenue end.
Because Of tho fact that the ogden
publicity bureau, the Weber club and
other organizations behind the school
garden plan had no contract calling for
a remuneration for the rental of the lot.
there is no redress because OF the dam
age. and the school authorities were
powerless 20 prevent The destruction Of
tho garden. Widespread agitation result
cd today when the report OF the damage
became general talk about the city.
we were entirely powcrless In the
matter" said Superintendent John NJ.
Mills today. I'm speaking OF the affair.
but ] certainly wish that tho lot had
Ina srnuch as the Pecry estate generously
allowed tho children TO have temporary
possession Of th" grounds. II would be
ungenerous or US not TO admit that the
Peerys had tho right to take st back.
regret that We wcr" not given sufficient
notice SO that VIC might have made other
arrangements for tho circus or have paid
tho equivalent OF the rental obtained from
the circus.
President IT. NJ. Rowe, one OF those
most active In the garden movement. de-
clared TODAY that the club would gladly
have paid tho Peery estate the amount
received from the circus rather than have
tho garden destroyed.
Louis peerv. representative OF the
estate. said that he regretted very much
the outcome OF the affair and charged
the trouble TO a misunderstanding. Ac-
cording 10 his statements, II was under
stood AZ the time tho children were
granted permission 70 use tho lot for 2
garden that tho property could be rented
or sold nj any time.
Harmon PEER said that hc did not
think n necessary TO notify the school
authorities when the circus was granted
permission at midnight 10 use tho
grounds.