The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1917-02-22


month of December 1916 it was my
pleasure to go over the city and to
consider with different members OF
The City Beautiful committee plans
for identifying and improving Natchl-
toches. In order to present my sug-
gestions in a more definite and perma-
nent form | am embodying them In
this report.
A CITY GATEWAY
1t is true that the gateway to almost
every city is the railroad station.
Through it visitors arrive in the town
and the surrounding of the station i'm
part to travellers a general impression
of the city. An effective setting FOL
the railroad station, or Getty Gate
way," is therefore of great Importance
not only from an aesthetic point OF
view, but also commercially. The city
of Natchitoches is distinctive from most
cities in the State and may be consider
ed as historical and educational city
rather than as a factory center. 1t Is
not the province of this article to recall
historical events, however. The location
of the Louisiana State Normal natur-
ally brings a certain refinement and
character, lacking in many another
small city. The life of the city is cen
tered around this institution. The chill
dren are trained in its model school,
and many of the town people find en-
ployment as teachers, helpers, etc.
Furthermore, the Normal Grounds
are traversed by the new national high
way jefferson Highway, which will
G ~, oYefa of 40
for tourist travel. The Texas & Pa
cific route is also on ground leased from
the institution, and is not far distant
from its buildings. In consideration OF
these items, it is quite evident that it
is entirely appropriate that the grounds
around the Texas & Pacific station,
which forms the main gateway to the
CITY and is at the head of the main
street of business, and is also one of
the chief residential streets, should be
attractively arranged to reflect as far
as possible the character and ideals OF
the city.
To further assist in accomplishing
this purpose / have forwarded plan
showing the suggested arrangement OF
the park areas lying between the JEFF
ferson Highway and the railroad. This
is detailed and accompanied by a plant
ing list, which will be guide for the
selection of varieties of trees, shrubs
and other plants to be used in planting.
Care has been used to select only
varieties that will prove hardy and will
succeed well under the existing con-
ditions, and will also be in character
both as to size of the plants, color OF
flower, foliage, etc.
Briefly, this plan is separated into
three divisions; the small area IN front
of the station to be used as rest park
for travellers waiting for trains, etc
The main or central section is develop
ed in general park planting, to exhibit
an attractive appearance from the rail-
road and also from the Jefferson High
way. Furthermore, an advertisement
has been made to screen out objection
able views of the areas at the station.
The smaller area is developed with a
little more gardening character, mas
much as roses and hardy Towering
plants are used to add bits of special
interest and color.
nThis park must, of course, be deyel-
oDed with some consideration for the
u.oposed arrangement of the State
Normal grounds. 1t has been found
that h. niain entrance to the grounds
Joins cypress Lane at point on the
eastern edge of the pavement on JEFF
ferson Highway. There should be an
allowance of forty feet for the avenue
leading up to the Normal gateway.
| have taken this entrance drive as
division point for street planting. Al
low fifteen feet on either side OF the
roadway in order to open up and to give
a good view of the entrance and the
main building. The first trees are to
be Crepe Myrtle and at an interval OF
TWENTY-FIVE feet from each of these,
Live Oak trees are to be planted. Same
intervals are to be continued through
out the entire length of the park. The
same planting is suggested for the OPP
posite side Of the street. in order to
give the avenue uniform appearance.
The Crepe Myrtle has been used, in
order to give bit of interest and color
and also to produce some effect in land
scape planting until the Live Oaks have
had time to grow and take their proper
place in the landscape effect.
THE RIVER FRONT
Little need be said at this particular
time of the river front along Main
Street as this is in charge Of the city
who are preparing to grade,
seed and plant this section of the old
river frontage so as TO give it the char
acter of a parkway.
understand that one Of the citizens
has volunteered to take charge of the
square at the west end of Main Street
and will see that it is developed and
permanently cared for. Some provis-
ion should be made for the small park
at the intersection of Second Street
and Jefferson Highway.
There is a section of the old lake
front, now cut off on the west by the
railroad embankment and drained into
Cane River. This might well be partly
drained and given over to the planting
Of lilies, rushes and other aquatic
plants and with little care should be
made very striking ard interesting
feature of the town, especially as it
would be continuation of the station
park.
STREET PLANTING
There are several of the main resi-
Dental streets which may be greatly
with a uniform planting of
trees. There is section of four streets
which should be planted on either side
with Water Oak. believe that the
character of these trees and their habit
of growth will adapt them very nicely
to this planting. There are already a
great many maple trees on sThird
Street and / would suggest that the
Red Maple be used exclusively for
on that street.
Second Street needs to have the
north curved line Strengthened in one
block just east of Pavie Street and the
whole street planted with Laurel Oak
or with European Plane trees. Cy-
press Lane already has some planting
but would be benefited by uniform
Of trees which may be either
Pine Oak or Red Maple. do not ad-
wise the use of Box Elder on this street
&c thar ava tna shout 1ivo1 and tho