Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-09-24

ICOntlnueu FROM t1rSI rage.
covered bank sloped gradually up TO
the surface of River Park.
And, instead OF the old, mud-colored
scows, dirty sand floats and barges that
fifteen years ago lined the water S
edge, to-day they saw a score OF
gorgeously decorated floats represent
ing the city's progressive businessmen,
a fleet of slim, graceful canoes and =
small squadron of fast motor boats
shooting hither and thither across the
smooth reckless basin of what was
fifteen years ago a rock-Studded por-
ton of the Susquehanna.
1t was thus that the thousands saw
many for the first time, what the new
dam across the Susquehanna at Dock
street will mean in the future for
Harrisburg's lovers of water sports.
Floats in Place
Shortly after 10 o'clock, the time
the exhibition of floats was scheduled
to start, a steamer from the feet of
the Harrisburg Light & Power Conf
pany chugged upstream and began
to tow the various decorated floats to
their assigned places along the river
wall.
Anchored near the Walnut street
bridge was the big float of Dives,
Pomeroy and Stewards department
store. Rising from the bosom of the
river huge pillars of white lowered
into the air and ended in a base upon
which a large American eagle perch
ed with outspread wings. In its claws
the eagle grasped several large draped
American flags interwined with the
colors of the big department store.
Just beneath the eagle in a broad
archway stood a decorated fountain.
Tonight this float will be blaze of
light with the stores name standing
forth in monster red letters.
The floats of the Harrisburg Park
Department, City Planning Commits
sion and City Forester's department
came next. In the former were shown
by big 22 by 27 inch photographs the
advancement made in Harrisburg S
park system since 1902. These photo
graphs include the River Front in
1902 and now; this year and last;
Fairgrounds as they existed in 1902
and now; the Island Playground as ii
is with its football field, grand stand,
baseball diamonds, tennis courts and
track, and as 1t was with a few Ill
kept baseball diamonds in 1902. A
large poster sets forth the fact that in
1902 Harrisburg had 43 acres of park
with an annual attendance of $4,000
while now the city has $4,000 acres of
parks with an average yearly attend
ance of 100000.
The city planning commissions S
float shows Harrisburg as it is now
and what the future holds for us If the
present public-spiritedness of the citi-
zens is maintained. A placard de-
clared that "a city without planning
like Topsy, is just apt to grow" Other
posters show some of the mistakes that
were made in Harrisburg before the
city planning commission went on the
job. To describe the good things on
this float Is impossible. Every citizen
interested in the future of the city
should visit it himself
The Forestry Departments float
shows the correct manner of caring
for trees and the kind of trees that
should and should not be planted.
Another white fioat resembles the
broadside of the old Merrimac that
won fame in the Civil War. Above it
in high letters which will be blaze
of light tonight is a sign 1S71-Bow-
with the usual Bowman's
star beneath.
The Kaufman store has a big boat
floating garden with a
long sloping arch surmounting the
highest greens. Tonight this will be
lighted. Another attractive float will be
that of Soutters 25-Cent Department
Store with it's huge yellow circle with
the familiar "25." Another boat that
attention was a big white
swan that rode gracefully over the
water in front of canoe propelled
by Harvey Baker, decorator for the
L. w. Cook store.
The Harrisburg Baking Company