The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-04-01
HAYS TO HAVE A CITY PLAN

have definite plan of growth. He
said that right along side of the
steady growth in population, value
and resources which the City of Hays
has been enjoying, there should be 2
proportionate growth in beauty, in
conveniences for recreation, social
activities, promotion of health and in
the things that make life more worth
living. .The spirit of the times" he
said, sis not alone for bigger things,
but it is especially for better things.
The efforts are often spasmodic and
blind for lack of general plan to
such work. What is needed is cooper
alton and unity of effort on the part
of all in the following of some partic-
ular and practical plan. would sug-
gest to the Chamber of Commerce
that a committee be appointed to
study the proposition and present at
some future meeting a practical plan
for our city covering development
along some such lines as the follow
ing: City Park, Public Buildings and
Grounds, Playground, Streets, milk
and dairy conditions, care Of vacant
lots identifying of the town thresh-
olds, so that the first impressions of
the city's visitors shall be pleasing,
whether arriving by rail or road, and
the greater development of civic pride
among our citizens" Mr.. Hardness
closed his remarks with a motion that
such planning committee be ap-
pointed, which motion was seconded
and carried.
Mr.. Manning, when called upon,
presented some very practical ideas
for the development of City Park
and system of drives and also urged
the necessity of securing ground now
for our public schools. If we wait,
as most cities do, until the need is
upon us, suitable cites may be al
ready devoted to other purposes and
the cost of the ground will be much
higher. He also urged the need of
general plan for a system of paving
and the education of the public to
that plan.
Mr.. C. A. Shively spoke most fore
IDLY Of the value to the community of
the Children's Playground which we
have practically allowed to go unused
for several years, and urged that we
develop this particular feature of our
city this summer, planting trees, add
ing necessary equipment and employ
ing competent supervisor for the sum-
mer months. He also said that while
the public school served only about
half of the children of public school
age, the enrolment in the public
school six years ago was 231 in all
departments, this year there were
considerably over 400. Six years ago
there were so in the High School, at
the present. time there are 1873, or
an increase of something ike 1857.
At the same rate of increase it will be
but very short time until further
facilities will have to be provided for
the grade school children, and that it
was very important that we look out
for the future and that is certainly
one Of the things that should be taken
into consideration in this matter of
City Plan. ave must take care Of
the children" he said. "They are
our future citizens and what this
community is to be few years hence
will depend very largely upon what
we do for the children of the present
generation"
Mrs. Fields said that if everybody
would take care of their own vacant
lots and their home lots it would i'm
prove the general appearance of the
city very much. "In so far as the
driveway along the creek is concern
ed" she said, 81 have heard number
of people say at the hotel that there
are wonderful opportunities for work
ing out several miles of good drives"
Mr.. Weeks reported some improve
AA~%ASS nCAS W OC ulduS III L0S
Station Park and said that there was
no reason that he knew of why the
City should not cooperate with the
Station in the development and main
tenance of this park. There was no.
thing to keep the city from modifying
the park and improving it. Some
patriotic citizens of Hays had been
the means of getting this ground
coded for a park and the law is the
public park must be maintained or it
will revert back but there is nothing
to indicate whether the City or the
State should maintain it, so there is
no reason why the Station Park
should not become part of the City
Parkway to make a big, extensive
park system.
An interesting innovation in the
regular routine of the Chamber OF
Commerce session was the introduc
ton of a ''sing." Miss Ethel Robin
son, assisted by volunteer orchestrs
nounoSad Of Miss TaRoo Cave Mis