Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-04
Ehrntttg Gllst

Plans for the Improvement of
capitol park, the Memorial bridge
and the making of a civic center are
giving the Riverfront a chase as the
topics of conversation among vis-
ltors to the city in the lobbies off
the Penn-Harris and other hotels
ana In the corridors of the State
capitol and one of the remarkable
Things about the talk is that many
ask whether the plans call for the
retention of the walk from Third
ana Walnut to the State House. This
walk which more men of influence,
one way or the other, in Pennsyl-
vania have trod is one of the best
known footways in the State. 1t
is one of the oldest in a public place
as well. 1t was laid out when the
capitol park was first extended from
the line of Cranberry street, speak
ing roughly, to Walnut. That was
many years ago and the steps in
connection with 1t were many and
interesting. At first it was a brick
walk. Then it was made a plank
walk as lumber was cheap in those
days and finally the famous board
walk was laid down. This was
soon noted far and wide among
men in politics. 1t was raised from
a foot to two feet above the level
or the park with spaces between
the boards large enough to lose
money and penknives and other
thlngs and many a Harrisburg boy
went prospecting under it, In the
eighties the boardwalk" disap-
peared and granolithic or some
thing else took its place. This walk
has never been properly drained
and has been patched and changed
around lot, but it follows the an
clent line. Perhaps. in the scheme
of things. it will be relaid and better
adapted for the rainy season. Incl
IDENTIFY. it is the plan to start this
| spring on the change at Third and
Walnut whereby the sharp angle
will be rounded and the entrance
set back about thirty or forty feet.
| A considerable space will be added
to the street. The city is to pay
| for the bulk of that work and should
be glad of the chance.
The influence of the returned SOL
der is commencing to be felt in
| many an establishment in and about
Harrisburg was the remark of a
| manufacturer yesterday. According
| to this man the former soldiers
| stiffen up the morale, are on the
jump to do things and have their
eyes open. The effect of their pres
| ence and the way they go at things
| is commencing to show on the other
men, many of whom are now eager
to outdo the younger fellows. "They
put in the snap and the pep" said
| this man.
This is the way the excess fare
certificate worked out on a Second
street car. There were ten people
boarding the car between Woodbine
and Herr streets. Three did not
even answer the conductor when he
offered the slips. Three smiled and
| shook their heads. One handed it
| back and another said he did not
| want to be bothered. Two took
the slips, one of whom tore up the
paper.
Spring seems to be fairly we'll
on the way" remarked one of the
| city's policemen last night. Men
have started to bat flies over in
Capitol park extension and the spin
ming of tops seems to be over and
gone. That means it's nearly time
to put the benches out in the river
park. And to think that this time
last year we had two feet of snow
and everyone remembers the 'f1are-
bSlSFNS uI lSilI lilduB dIlOIls
President George S. Reinoehl and
Chairman Charles E. Covert, of the
committee in charge of the Chamber
of Commerce party for the Legisla-
ture care still getting COM
pliments for the success of the en-
tertainment. "I had a fine time at
| that reception" was the remark
which happened to be made both
| by Governor Sproul and Speaker
Spangler, while several of the SEN
ators and legislators sent their SOU
venir hats home to their families.
Just how it was regarded by the
older legislators is demonstrated by
this remark from one of the upstate
counties: I'm sorry it didn't last
longer" In any event it has made
Harrisburg people mighty popular
at the Capitol this session. And also
broken traditions that the way to
entertain legislators is to make them
stand around and listen to speeches
and then hurry home