The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-24
Olmsted Indorsed

ton.
Olmsted Indorsed
The formalities yesterday consisted of
a short chat with Mr.. Weatherly, creator
of the park commission, whereat resolu-
tions were indorced recommending the EN-
ployment of Frederick Law Olmsted. No
comment was vouchsafed by Mr.. Wealth
erly as to the disbanding of the park
board nor would any of the park commits
sioners discuss their action.
1t was noticeable yesterday that John
l.. Kaul, chairman, and Robert Jemison
Jr., vice chairman. composing the mi
nority of that body, were Joined by Frank
w. Smith of the majority in a quorum tc
hold the last meeting. Commissioner
Hugh Martin was absent.
1t required three weeks of continuous
persuasion to get John L. Kaul to take ur
that work. 1t required many days of his
time to convince Robert Jemison, Jr.
that he owed the city his time on the
park commission. Frank w. Smith was
slow to take up the work. while Hugh
Martin was not inclined to burden his
time with additional work 1t required
only 10 minutes to undo that work OF
weeks.
The park commission dissolves because
the commission never permitted that body
| to have any authority. No petitioners
were ever given TO understand that the
park commission was clothed with au-
thority. No money was provided. Action
was taken by the commission time and
time again on questions that were OBJ
viousy for the park commission to han
die. However the latter body was never
given an opportunity to perform any seri-
Gus functions. The final explosion came
with the Miller controversy. The differ
ence in price between Miller. Olmsted
and Kestler caused the minority to choose
Miller. The majority wanted Kestler and
the dissolution follows.
1t was remarked at the city hall yes
terday that this is the second creation of
Mr. Weatherly to fall by the wayside,
The first was the city market the life
of which was inexpressibly brief.
| Last Official Act
The last official act of the park COM
mission, which will no doubt live in mu-
nicipal history, follows:
whereas the board of park commits
sioners of the city of Birmingham, in
view of the fact that the original or
ganization of the park commission con-
Itemplated legislative character which
would give this commission ample pow
lers, and further contemplated through
the bond issue authorized by the city
Immediately following the taking
Icharge of municipal affairs by the board
of commissioners, that the park COM
mission would have funds with which
to carry on it's work, which funds, how
ever, were not available owing to legal
complications which made necessary a
smaller bond issue than at first contem-
plated it is the sense of the park COM
mission that it has accomplished all
of the work possible to the present
time, by having created public senti-
ment in favor of a civic plan which
plan the public has demonstrated
should be executed, when conditions
and circumstances warrant and since
lit has been unanimously decided by the
board of park commissioners that nego-
tiations be opened with Mr.. Frederick
Law Olmsted of Boston for a civic
| plan.
BE it resolved, That it is the sense
of the board of park commissioners that
these negotiations with Mr.. Olmsted
and the execution of the civic plan
could be expedited by having this work
contracted for and executed by the
city commission through the depart
ment of Commissioner Weatherly This
process would expedite and simplify the
work which has been agtated by the
lpark commission.
| Resolved further. That we recon-
mend the immediate dissolution of the
park commission for the above reasons.
BE 1t further resolved, That 1t is the
sense of the park commission that Com
missioner Weatherly shall be at liberty
at all times to call on the members OF
the present park commissioners, re-
garding any ideas or Information which
will be of assistance to him as the re-
suit of their past work and expert
ence.
Resolved further. That at the prop
er time, 1t is the sense of this commits
sion that a Legislative charter be Sc
cured that would give Birmingham a
park board with ample powers and
funds with which to conduct the park
work along lines being conducted by
other cities through park commission
ers"