The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-08
SAYS FAIRGROUNDS ARE GREAT ASSET TO
 THE MODERN CITY
Citizens Pledge $2OOO for Maintaining Southern Headquarters-What Is
 Already Accomplished

n unanimously to adopt and indorse a = report made by Charles F. Weller ot l Birmingham's playground movement l. including a recommendation that S200f be contributed here to maintain in Bir- f mingham the southern headquarters oi 9 the Playground and Recreation Asso-
 ciation of America. MT. Weller is as. 9 sistant secretary of the association and
 he luncheon was given under the aus g pices Of the Chamber of Commerce
 Secretary William C. Radcliffe of the chamber presided.
 Following MT. Wel1ers report. part of which is printed below, five-minute talks were made by Robert Jemison
 Jr., William D. Nesbitt, J. D. Moore
 Rabbi Morris Newfield, Dr. George
 Eaves Mrs. Cyrus Pittman Orr, Dr. H A. Elkourie and Paschal G. Shook
 Each of the speakers. indorsed the re- port and the recommendations It was pointed out by them that Birming gham instead of advertising only it's mate rial resources, should emphasize it's in- terest in making life beautiful and wholesome. All of the speakers advo- cated playgrounds as good city busi- hcSo yieiuiiiS ldrSe ulVlutnuS
 Among those present were: W D. Colby, pr. George Eaves, Dr. H. A.
 Elkourie, Hill Ferguson. r. P. Glass, c. B. Glenn, Robert Jemison. Jr., Hugh Martin, H. Key Milner, T. H. Motion, : J. D. Moore, William D. Nesbitt Z , Nespor Rabbi Morris Newfield. Mrs Cyrus Pittman Orr, William Cf Rad
 cllffe, Paschal c. Shook, Col. Tom O.
 Smith, w. J. Wheeler.
 Mir. Weller's report in part follows:
 Birmingham does not yet realize the great thing it has done. Pushing ahead
 of Atlanta, Memphis, Richmond and other cities, Birmingham became in April. 1913 headquarters for the new southern field
 secretary of the Playground and Recrea-
 ton Association of America. Birming- ham will realize sometime that this means more for the life of its people than a ; regional bank could.
 } Seven notable achievements resulted from MT. Settles IA weeks work in Bir- mingham. Birmingham got back it's s20ot 3 for the work here cost more than that.) T. survey, completed in June, gave l, the plan and programme for broad, pro-
 gressive recreational developments ap- 5 propriate to Birminghams needs and re- = sources. Like the architects design for { Birminghams new hotel, or the engineers plans for the Panama canal, this survey , meant economy, efficiency, success
 } 70. Six playgrounds were established off, [ ferng larger opportunities for life to i Birmingham ,526 children. The actual attendance for July 1 to January 31 was 9 94,0S2. This cost the city only $2266 25 or t less than 21a cents per child per day 3 Nocal communities also spent bout $50t n for equipment and s150 for supervision.) { '3. Supervisors were selected. trained g and directed by the southern field secre- . tary who thus founded Birmingham
 piaygrounds on the rock bottom principle
 of competent personal service by workers
 selected-not for political reasons-but for their power to benefit children.
 } A. recreation department was cre- r ated by September ordinance pre- pared by City Attorney Boyd and the southern field secretary This depart ment is to provide, 'playgrounds. public baths, concerts. evening recreation and other activities for the recreational : welfare of Birminghams people, This / stablishes the three vital principles : of public support, unified management , and a broad, growing community pro- ] gramme.
 '5. The Birmingham Playground as- 9 sociation' was developed with Commis- 5 sioner James Weatherly as president pr. J. NJ. Hankins, chairman of the e executive committee, and spledid s group of public spirited men and wom- :, CT, who, with workers in various local T neighborhoods. provided the voluntary n service, the public interest, and the un- selfish influence for good which guide t and sustain the public authorities. | .."6. Permanent, all-year-round activi- - ty was decided upon last September | And, in November, when the big De
 cember cut in all city expenses threat
 ened to wipe out playgrounds. commit ' tees of citizens were rallied from al the 23 neighborhoods wanting play
 grounds, over 500 people petitioned, ant f. the commissioners decided that, even i . policemen. street lamps and sprinklins
 carts must be cut down, Birmingham . children should not be denied thei birthright of play.
 "7 A superintendent of recreation 5 the chief essential of the whole move T ment-was provided. MT. z. Nespor i, now "on the job Other cities hav' z heard how the Birmingham committee going with the southern field secretar,
 to the city commissioners, said: w want the salaries of two policemen fo
 this superintendent of recreation ant r he will do more than 20 policemen fo r the peace and welfare of Birmingham
 One commissioner replied: There i e something in that l must have sen n policemen 300 times to straighten -ou d the boys at the terminal and I believ
 playgrounds would be cheaper, bette
 way
 Ia "Brmingham's example and leadershi
 have influenced, during the past year IS Is southern cities in each of which tn a southern field secretary worked from a few days to three. four or nine weeks L. Especially notable work was accom- I. pished in Richmond, Columbia, Tampa e Wheeling and Memphis. There are 32o,3l
 children living in these 16 cities.
 ''The whole $6500 which the souther field service costs yearly is less than
 cents per child per year for the 363,8s
 children living in Birmingham and tn Is other southern cities where effectiv
 playgrounds would not have been devel loped without the initiative, guidance an
 organizing power provided by the south
 ern field secretary of the Playground an Recreation Association of America
 Birmingham will need further hel
 from the southern f1ela secretary. Hi
 headauarters should be maintained here in the Chamber of Commerce. He wi
 be needed to help in future movement
 forward to save the day in times 0
 trouble to keep the local movement u to high standards, and to bring here tn best experiences of other cities.
 "Birmingham's example and leadershi
 should continue helping other souther
 cities through this new Birmingham mis
 sionary for children of the southtand.'
 ..Of the s6500 which this work will cos
 this year 5000 should be contributed agai
 by Birmingham people That would b
 less than cents for each of the south
 ern children to whom this work bring
 health, happiness and strengthene