Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-01-11


with the mayor and the commission |
in arranging a playground congress
to be held here, and conference be-
tween these representatives and the
Mayor will probably be held next
week
From the Playground Association of
America was received an estimate of
the probable cost of making survey
Of the playground situation by an ex-
pert, which the commission intends
to do. This would cost, 1t was said,
between $3.50 and $40.
An instance of the lax methods by
which 1t is claimed the play centres
have been run was brought out in
connection with a bill for services
of night Waterman at the Newton
street grounds, when it was shown
there was nothing but bolt on the
door, and that after locking this the
Waterman had to make his egress
from the building in some devious
manner which wasn't explained The
commission decided to lock all the
doors on its buildings properly and
discharge the night Waterman.
In his statement President Sweeney
reviewed the conditions which led up
to the appointment of the new COM
mission of five members by the
Mayor, denying that any question of
politics had played a part, and mem
tioning the investigation and recon-
fnendations that had been made by
Lee F. Hammer, of the Russell Sage
Foundation. He declared all the ex-
aminations of the new commission
had confirmed the truth of that re-
port.
Want Best Supervisor Possible.
His statement In part was as fol-
lows:
Il think we are all agreed that the
supervisor is the most important fac
tor in the whole playground problem.
that we should secure the best super
visor to be found In the whole coun-
try, and that in securing the best
man obtainable anywhere he and the
people of Newark are entitled to
know that the Mayor has no other
wish and that politics will have no
more to do with his selection than IL
had to do with the selection of the
sculptor Borglum, who gave us our
incompatible Lincoln.
THE man whom we may select and
the people of Newark are entitled TO
know that, so far as we have power
to act and vision to see, party poll
tics will never enter the Fairgrounds
or playfields of Newark and certain
ly SO far as Mayor Haussling IS con-
cerned, his conduct in the past in this
matter ought to be sufficient and
ample guarantee of the future, Be-
ing thus assured that the perman-
ence of tenure of the place would de-
pend upon his own work candidate
is likely to inquire our point of view.
DO you not agree that our primary
duty is healthful play opportunity for
all our little people? 1, have already
told some that according to the in
vestigation of our City Plan Commits
sion made last October only two per
cent. of the children of Newark have
play opportunity and that our pur-
pose was to afford play opportunity
for 100 per cent. of the youth of New
ark.
obviously this evolution devoutly
to be wished can only be secured
through cooperation with all other
departments of government in the
city and county. Cooperation and CO.
ordination is what gives efficiency
and CELEBRITY to the commission form
of city government We can II we
will utilize the iife-giving spirit of
both and secure nearly the same re-
suits under present conditions.
Cooperation should BE Motto.
Cooperation should be our motto
and the spirit of sweet reason mark
all our discussion and resolves. The
city already has 100 per GENT. schooI
opportunity for our youths. If each
of our sixty-six or seventy schools
had adequate Fairgrounds adjacent
thereto we would at once have pos
sible play opportunity for 100 per cent.
of our precious little people.
1.-The Board of Education has had
a resolve on Its minutes for over
year cordially inviting the Play
ground Commission to apply to 1T at
any time for such use of school prop
erty as will add to the welfare Of the
youth of the city.
SHOULD we not seek the coopera-
ton of this great corporate body and
avail ourselves of the use of its play
grounds and gymnasiums wherever
possible, instead of priding ourselves
in the duplication of grounds and
buildings and maintenance, serenely
unconscious of the wanton waste of
public funds?
"All our new school buildings are
being erected with the current ideas
of social uses of school property in
mind, but should we not as far as
practicable join forces in securing the
same advantages to the children at
tending the older schools? Here 1t
may we'll be advisable for this COM
mission to establish Fairgrounds and
gymnasiums near these old schools
for cooperative use.
"As long as we are cheerfully given
the use of school property l PERSONAL
Nv greatly doubt the wisdom of much
expenditure on our present old tene-
ment house properties except to put
them in proper repair and sanitary
condition.
Need Playground for Each Ward.
"But everyone knows that in any
rational system of public recreation
one large playfield and recreation
building to each ward at least is
essential as it has been sufficiently
demonstrated that the influence of
playfield only extends over radius
of about one-half mile; and certainly
we should lose no opportunity to OBJ
tain control over large parcels on
ground and peculiarly well placed for
such p1lrpoSes