Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-06-02
Editors Letter Box
Park Improvement
Editor kennebec Journal:


Editor kennebec Journal:
The Legislature very generously
appropriated i sum Of money to be
expended under the direction Of the
Governor and Council in improving
front Of the State House. Municipal
influence no doubt had something to
10 with securing this appropriation
and l sincerely hope that the same
interests will be used to create at the
park a condition that I am sure
would be welcomed with unanimous
and joyful approval by the great ma
jor!ty of our people. Thousands of
dollars could and may be expended.
in shrubbery, statuary. floral deco
rations, etc, and yet there would be
a void. something lacking and alb
solutely necessary to make the park
a popular resort both in summer and
winter | refer to an artificial pond
aupplied with running water and
an outlet so that it would no. be-
come stagnant.
Without something of this kind no
park system is complete. neither
would such a place have the neces-
sary attractive feature. Visit Boston
common during any part of the year
and you will find more real American
enthusiasm in the vicinity Of the
frog pond than is evident on any 9TH
er Part Of the grounds. and Of course.
the same can be said of the pond in
the public gardens. The State House
park is admirably suited for this
public benefaction as there are parts
Of it that are perfectly level and all
that would be necessary would be TO
throw up m emba rkment about one
foot in height making a pond of
shcal proportions where the children
could go in wading, sail their play
boats and have other fun that IS the
right and heritage Of childhood. and
the danger Of being drowned would
be reduced to q minimum OF course,
there is plenty OF opportunity TO do
all Of this in the river, but the sewer
infected waters Of the kennebec are
not the most desirable place for rec
reative purposes. The part Of this
proposition that appeals to me is the
opportunity that would be created ~
indulge in that pleasing. exciting and
healthful exercicsse, skating. 1t is a
pathetic sight to see our young peo-
pie going around from brook to
brook with their skates hung on to
a hockey stick looking for some place
where real ice is visible and yet,
strange to say, disappointment is
generally their reward.
We have plenty Of ice and also
snow. but the snow is what usually
queers the skating. This condition
would also exist on the proposed
pond under similar conditions but 1t
would be a very small item Of ex-
pense to keep 4 small pond clear OF
snow. Then Of course to make the
project a success arrangements
should be made whereby water could
be flowed onto the ice when needed to
make a smooth surface. Augusta is
very progressive and liberal in pro-
viding educational and other oppor-
tunities to instill into the minds of
its future men and women the bless
ings that come from our American
form Of government, but it is almost
enough to make our young people
lose their faith in popular govern
ment in a climate like ours when
they pass through practically the
whole winter without a chance to
indulge in this popular sport. VIVA,
a relief it would be to mothers il
they knew that their children were
at a pond Of shoal water or a pond OF
ice where IL they broke through the
greatest misfortune that could be
fall them would be to get their feet
wet A pond located right on the car
line and accessible to all of our peo-
pie. And then when the next legis-
lature IS chosen we could tell them
to bring their skates with them and
we will show them what We did with
the appropriation and we will then
have them in a proper humor to
continue the improvements Yes. l
sincerely hope that those who have
supervision over those proposed i'm
provements have something OF this
kind included in their program. 4
ed by grove Of our Maine trees. the
whole to be dedicated to our boys un-
der some name such as Governor
pond. Liberty pond. Victory pond,
Peace pond or some similar name.
Bridges, triumphal arches. colossal
statutes. memorial buildings. etc. all
answer a purpose, but il the boys are
the same now as they used to be
some years ago. and I guess that
they are. a pond Of water either SOL
idided or in liquid form would have
more attraction for them than all
Of thsee combined.