Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-21
Eurittttg Wlrat

.Ce ana nlgn water conditions
nave been commenting on the splen-
did manner in which Harrisburg
treated It's water front and the general
system OF handling the stream situa-
uon In and about the city, The Susque-
mamma river is. something which de-
nShts every visitor to Harrisburg and
as the cooperation of the city and
the State in the development of Cap
itol Park extension is just now very
much to the front there is more or
Tess talk about the stream. Some of
the legislators favor the city and the
state uniting in the creation of a
great metropolitan park system which
would embrace the river front high
ways for miles. This. however. Is a
matter which everyone recognizes as
a matter for the distant future. The
capitol Park is to be the center of the
city park system and the parkways
put the development of the automo-
bile traffic to and from this city be-
cause of the State Capitol is really
GAZING Tor some effort on the part of
the State without the limits of the
city and its park system.
One of the suggestions is that the
State make efforts to improve ma
terlally the State main highways for
q dozen miles on each side of Harris
purg' much as it has done in vicinity
or Gettysburg and that system of
gradual parking be carried out. This
could be started by the Improvement
OF highways skirting the Susquehanna,
on both sides of the river above IIar-
rlsourg there are State main highways
and in time they will be located close
TO the river bank below the city. This
VIII be gradual development and
could be worked out, while the city
could do its part by completing the
improvement of the river front there
included in the park system.
Opening of the spring navigation on
The Susquehanna has been the signal
for numerous sand and coal gather
ing craft to dare the new currents.
The rivermen say that the high water
ana ice this year have caused some
big changes in the currentsi in a num-
Der OF places and that the effect of the
tremendous quantity of ice is plainly
70 be seen on the numerous islands
dottlng the stream. Large quantities
OF coal have been brought down and
number of new sand bars have been
plotted for work this simmer The
coal men have not yet outlined all of
the coal to be found but the supply in
sight rather indicates that Harrisburg
can be assured of q supply of steam
ing coal for its industries this summer
no matter what the transportation
conditions may be. The State of Penn
sylvania, the Harrisburg Light and
Power Company and the various steel
mills and other industries have been
stirring themselves. The State will
store an immense quantity in Capitol
Park extension as 1t did last year as
the river coal has been found we'll
adapted to steam making uses in the
State House power plant
The attention called to the flood con-
trol works of the city in Wildwood
park by the State Water Supply Com
mission report has resulted in a num-
Der of inquiries as to method, cost and
details of operation on the part of
people from other places. This flood
control is the only one of it's kind and
that it works is what is interesting
folks from other cities which have
grown until small streams such as
Paxton creek have proved to be moro ,
or less of nuisance. The Harrisburg
plan may furnish one more example
to the State.
The beauties of the Susquehanna
have been spread broadcast in picture
as we'll as in poetry and prose. Just a
year ago, the Geographic Magazine,
one of the most wonderfully illustrated
of its kind in the world and which is
given over largely to the reproduction
of charming scenery everywhere, pub
lished a picture and description of the
Rockville Gap. Probably, however,
nobody has done more to popularize
the river hereabouts in a picture way
than Edw. B. Black, the artist, whose
Susquehanna paintings in water and
oil adorn the walls of many homes
and galleries both in this State and
throughout the country. One of his
best pictures is a large oil done from
point near his cottage at Perdix
and showing the river in the fore
ground and Dauphin and the noun
tain in its rear in the background. Mr..
Black in his painting excursions learn
ed to love the Susquehanna river and
its nearby hills and he was the first
to erect cottage at PerdiX. So many
have followed his example that the
summer colony there now is large
enough to have borough government
If the people we're all the year resi-
sides of the river in recent years many
cottages have been built but so great
is the demand that all are filled and
few if any for rent during the season
when outdoor life is most enjoyable.
A number of additional summer homes
will be built near Dauphin, Mafys-
vile, Cove and Perdix as soon as the
weather opens sufficiently.
Uncertainty about river conditions
for the next few weeks is causing a
delay again this Spring in improves
IlSIllS anu EepdlTS at lSldnQ gdrk. AS
sistant Park Commissioner V. Grant
Forrer, is planning a number of
changes, including the opening of
two abandoned tennis courts, length
ening the track from one-sixth to q
quarter mile; erection of new tenn
porary bleachers to seat at least 1 900
more persons, and general repairs.
But we can't do anything until the
old 'Susquie gets over the Spring
freshet time" is the way Assistant
Forrer puts it,
Col. Thomas S. Crego, one of the
States congressm who
spent yesterday here looking after
matters at the State Capitol, is a vet
eran of the Philippine war and his
friends say that in the event of war
the colonel will be in demand as an
officer of the volunteer army and also
as an experienced congressman.