The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1918-08-02
WANTED, A PARK FOR PARIS
(Contributed)

the elements Of beauty and recreation
add to the welfare of city. 1t be-
comes every citizen to have a home
of his own and keep it always neat
and attractive, we'll painted and in
good repair, and if he has houses
to rent, the same rule should pre-
vail. If one house in a good neigh
borhood is allowed to become un-
slightly the tendency is for the dis
ease to spread, then rents go down
and the owners suffer.
Progressive cities have long ago
recognized the fact that money spent
for civic beauty and recreation is a
good investment. Years ago in
Paris, France, streets were taken in
rotation, and when their time came
ench piece of property was required
to be put in presentable condition,
and now their parks and show places
are the wonder Of the world. Valu-
able as property is in New York,
Central Park is not less than mile
in length and of proportionate
width, and in it are woods and lakes,
great rocks, ornamental buildings,
Fairgrounds, flower beds, etc., and
everything appropriate to city's
breathing place, and other parks,
large and small, are scattered
over the city. The neighboring towns
are inspired with the same spirit.
Ten or twelve miles west of New
York City are the Oranges, East
Orange, West Orange, etc. Closer by
is Jersey City, that has a good sized
lake in one of it's parks, where all
kinds of water sports are enjoyed.
All the Oranges are we'll parked. 1t
is astonishing to see how the people
will tax themselves to keep these up.
A few miles away is Newark, N. j.,
with the Passaic River and falls,
which are made part of a beautiful
park. On Sundays and holidays the
river and island are alive with peo-
pie taking their pleasure. At East
Orange, for a nickel car fare you can
be taken to the foot of Orange
Mountains, where easy walks and
steps take you to the summit, where
you can view the neighboring towns,
and have a dim view of New York
City. Close by is the Casino, where
refreshments may be had. You are in
grove, in the midst of which is a
large grassy space fit for athletic
sports. Then you pass some orna-
mental buildings and larger stretch
of woods in state of nature, and
you reach a very considerable lake
used for boating, ETC., in summer
and skating in winter. This is the
county park kept up at public eX-
pense. Returning to the Hudson
River you take the railroad for few
miles, crossing the Passaic and
Hackensack rivers, through those
wide, beautiful salt water meadows
in the interstate park, owned by the
States of New Jersey and New
York.
Whiting this park is a strip one
mile wide and seventeen miles long,
that was presented to the State of
New York by C. P. Huntington, the
railroad magnate. Also he gave
some notable gifts to San Francisco
in her famous park. This princely
gift to New York was much improv-
ed by the State buying the famous
Palisades of the Hudson, opposite the
upper part of New York City. You
can take an auto at Hackensack, and
for twenty-one miles you can ride
on a smooth asphalt road, past ham
lest with queer Indian names. These
have some queer alarm bells, great
heavy iron tires Of locomotive wheels
from from heavy timber,
and to be struck when it is neces-
sary to assemble the citizens. Part
Of the ground is cultivated, but
mostly it is in the state of nature.
So we drive through forests, past
great rocks, mountain lakes, noun
tain views, strange wild flowers, ETC.,
till we come to a place where, on
Sunday, we find hundreds of auto
in the woods, while a steam
boat is unloading hundreds more who
have come by water. Then seven
miles more brings up to West Point
Military Academy with it's wonderous
buildings, gounds and monuments,
and views of this historic river.
Crossing to the other shore we pass |
down to New York City by many a |
historic place, the Zuyder Zee, Spuy-
ten Dival Creek, Riverside Park, the |
Speedway, the Hall of Fame, etc., to !
the city via the tunnel under the |
river to the Jersey shore, when half |
an hours railroad ride brings us to |
East Orange frem whence nickel |
street car fare takes us to the foot |
IF the Orange Mountains CD about /
rs high as the hills about Frankfort, |
KY. An easy stairway takes to the |
.op of the mountains.
Washington, D. c., is a park in |
itself and needs no mention. You
,an cross the city of Allegheny,
Pa, by a string of parks. A few |
years ago Cincinnati leased some
bleak hillsides that were so steep |
hat if looked as though the cattle |