The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-13
Mr.. Kessler's Figures About
$4,000 Higher than Those
of Mr.. Miller
ACTION is WANTED
ABOVE ALL ELSE
Park Commissioners Believe Legis-
laton Should Create Park Board
Which Would Be Independ-
ent and Responsible


The first official statement from John
L. Kaul, chairman of the park commits
sion, and Robert Jemison, Jr., vice chair
man, was issued yesterday In view of
to the employment of Mr.. Miller. the two
minority members of the park board felt
it necessary to issue the statement, which
is addressed to the citizens of Birming-
ham.
Mr. Kaul and Mr. Jemison say that a
park plan is necessary for Birmingham,
and above ALL they want action. AS to
the employment of Mr.. Miller, 1t Is set
forth that the following landscape archi-
tects were consulted before any action
was taken:
E. b. Cook, Augusta; P. ]. Berkmans
& Co., Augusta; George E. Kesseler, St.
Louis. Charles w. Leavitt, Jr., New
York; Robert Anderson Pope, New York;
Arnold w. Drummer, New York; American
Park Builders. Chicago; Harland p. Kel-
sey, Salem, Mass; George Fl. Miller, Bos-
ton: John Nolen, Cambridge Mass, and
Frederick Law Olmstead, Boston.
That Miller and Kessler were not the
only men consulted is indicated in the
above list of II architects and is the first
time that persons outside of the park
board knew of this extensive series of
cor sultations.
Two Came for Consultation
The statement relates that finally Miller
and Kessler were asked to come here for
consultation. When prices were broachcd
il was found that Kessler was 5000 higher
than Miller. Mr. I1aul and Mr.. Jemison
held this to be an unnecessary expendi-
ture 1t is pointed out that FREDERICK
Law Olmstead could have been secured
for less money than I<essler.
The statement, which sheds unusual
light upon the park controversy is here
given in full.
''To the Citizens of Birmingham: The
city of Birmingham embraces numerous
subdivisions of large and small areas, |
planned and laid out by the owners forl
their own purposes and according to their
own views The result In general, not
withstandng a few attractive sections, is |
haphazard hodgepodge.
Safety of travel on every thoroughfare
Street paving has been laid, in the main, !
to satisfy demands local to the particular
section, and every known variety of paw
ing material has been utilized. As a re-
suit there is scarcely ereditable highway
of substantial length, and the various sec
tions of the city are practically discon-
nected.
Small Developed Park Area
Birmingham has probably smaller
developed park area on the whole thnn
any other city of it's size and population
in the United States, Notwithstanding that
our long summers create a more than or |
binary demand. The park areas owned |
by the city are scantily improved and |
the largest ones Green Springs and Red |
Mountain park are both inaccessible and
wholly unprepared.
shortly after a commission form or
government was established for Birming |
ham, ii was proposed to establish a park
commission charged with the duty, under
the direction of the board of commission |
ers. of maintaining and improving such
parks as We're owned or might be ac-
uuired. Mr. Kaul was requested by the /
board of commissioners to accept the
craftsmanship of the park commission, and
Mr.. Jemison was likewise requested OF
accept the vice craftsmanship
Neither Sought Nor Desired
'"rhe positions were neither sought nor
desired, and were accepted only when we
were urged so strongly by the commits
soners as to be made to feel that our ac-
ceptance was little less than a public duty |
This occurred shortly before a new bond |
issue was to be sold, and the commission
ers were of the opinion that between 100,-
600 and 10000 would be available out of /
the proceeds of the bond issue for park
PURPOSES After the park commission was
,,sf,, hat he q.
sue originally proposed could not be sold |
and the amount realized from the sale of
bonds was 50 reduced as to leave no bal
ance for park purposes
at thus became apparent, as We
thought. that the park commission could
not be serviceable. and we suggested to
the board of commissioners that it be
dissolved, coupled ,ith the advice how
ever, that, If the city could possibly bear
the necessary expense, a competent ex-
pert should be employed to prepare
comprehensive and scientific plan of traf-
fc arteries, viaducts. boulevards connect
ing various sections of the city parkways
park areas, and perhaps a civic center
for the location of public buildings, which
the city, when accepted and approved
should endeavor to execute through the
years TO come. rapidly as it's ability |
would permit
Met approval Of Commissioners
'"rhe latter suggestion met the hearty |
APPROVAL of a majority of the commission |
ers and was taken up by the Chamber of |
Commerce A public meeting was held at /
the Turn Verein hail. which was ad- |
dressed by Mr.. Robert Galloway of the !
Memphis park commission. Public senti- |
ment was aroused on the subject, and. at |
the following meeting of the commission
ers the majority pledged themselves to /
provide fund for the purpose of making |
such plan and the park commission was |
requested to make Investigations and rec |
ommend landscape architect to do the |
work.
"The following We're among the land
scape architects with whom Mr. Kaul /
communicated: Il. b. Cook. Augusta; Z.
j. Berkmans Co., Augusta: George e. |
Kessler, st. Louis: Charles W. Leavtt
Jr., New York city; Robert Anderson
Pope, New York city; Arnold w. Brunner.
New York city: American Park Builders.
Chicago; Harland p. Kelsey. Salem,
Mass; George II. Miller, Boston: John !
Nolen Cambridge. Mass; Frederick Law
Olmstead Boston.
He also devoted considerable time and
incurred substantial personal expense in
securing all the information possible in
reference to their respective merits, and |
had personal interviews with a number of |
those mentioned. After careful conSidera-