Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-12-07
BARREN WASTE
NOW GARDEN OF
BUD AND BLOOM
Golden Gate Park, Once Ex-
panse of Sand Dunes, Acme
of landscape Artist Skill.
OBSTACLES OVERCOME
BY FREDERIC j. HAsKIN.

BY FREDERIC j. HASKIN.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. Although
Golden Gate park in San Francisco en-
joys not only the worshipful homage Of
all Californians, but worldwide fame as
well. Many Europeans and Asiatics who
have never heard Of the California red
woods or the Yosemite Valley know all
about this park, and hurry out to see it
as soon as they arrive in San Francisco.
For Golden Gate park, with all its
natural beauty-its lakes and hills and
wooded islands-is a made park, created
entirely by the park commissioners Of
San Francisco since 1870. Before that
date, the space now containing the park
was a mere mass of sand dunes stretch
ing desolately down to the Pacific ocean.
Certainly not an encouraging prospect
for a park, but the city had its own rea-
sons for locating 1t there. For one thing
the property then was not as valuable
as that in other sections of the city, and
the adjustment of land titles, 1t was
thought, would be an easy matter. As
1t happened, many greedy landowners at
tempted to interfere with the enterprise,
but the city finally bought lob acres
of the dunes at the price of $4,000
Once in possession of the tract, the
park commissioners Immediately started
their comprehensive scheme for improv-
ing 1t. 1t was courageous park COM
mission. Hampered like most such in
stitutions by lack of funds, every step
Of its work was rendered difficult. The
necessary supplies Of loan and fertil-
izing material were obtained only after
much agitation, and then an independents
water supply had to be fought for. While
the San Franciscans Of today insist that
they always knew the park would turn
out to be the handsome thing that it Is,
and that they were enthusiastic about it
from the very beginning, the park rec
ords show that popular interest in those
early days was very slim. Perhaps this
was only natural, since what the land
scape artist saw in the minds eye was
by no means visible to the ordinary eiti-
zen.
STUBBORN RESISTANCE MET
IN RECLAMATION OF DUNES.
According 70 Superintendent John
McLaren. who lives in the park, ana
has been engaged in developing it for
many years, the sand dunes, in the be-
ginning, stu5bornly resisted reclamation.
Lupin and barley were planted, but
these would not hold the sand. Grass
seed was then imported from France,
which proved its efficiency a once. The
seabent grass, which flourishes SO ex-
tensiyely along the European coast was
also used with gratifying success. This
grass requires little moisture and no
manure, but It is n wonderful catcher
and holder Of the sand. With its aid,
the drifting sands were held in check
until the Monterey cypress and other
branches OF the pine family were able
to lend their assistance In holding down
the land. In due time the meadows were
sown with Kentucky blue grass, and on
the hillsides madrone manzanita, laurel
and other native trees took hold.
Today there is little evidence Of this
early struggle. Shrubs. hedges and trees
have been planted with such cieverness
that nature herself must sometimes be
deceived into thinking that she put them
there. Palm and pepper trees do not
dominate the scene. as they do in South
eru California. The eucalyptus tree
that queer, independent giant, which
grows by leaps and bounds and sheds
its leaves whenever Il feels like it. in
stead OF waiting for a definite season, is,
of course, much IN evidence, but SO are
huge-le4fed sycamores and poplars and
silver naples.
Stretching In an irregular line across
the park from northeast 10 southwest is
chain OF lakes. which add marvelously
TO the charm OF the landscape. SO gently
nodded are the shore curves, so irregular
the inlets and so thickly wooded the
Islands In some Of the lakes, that no one
would dream they had been first designed
IN paper and brought into being by land
scape engineers.
Work on the largest lake." explained
Mr. McLaren. in discussing the lake
chain, required the excavation and re-
moval OF $4,000 cubic yards of material,
and the deposit Of the earth and sand IN
mounds and ridges 300 feet from the
water line"
Along the margin Of this lake there is
a wide smooth and extremely popular
driveway. A special Lovers Lane has
been provided IN the park, but the lovers,
with their usual talent for finding soul
full scenery, prefer this driveway instead.
In the evening IL Is crowded with silent,
motionless cars, apparently hynodzed by
the view. Well the light on the water Is
Inspiring, and the seven little islands
floating on the surface Of the lake, bear
Ing tall birches and pine tres, with an
undrgrowth Of rhOdodendron, ferns and
alders. create an enchanting atmosphere.
TEMPLE OF MUSIC IN
CONCERT VALLEY DESCRIBED.
Golden Gate Park has long been the
special darling Of San Francisco philan-
thropists Because 1t Is so beautiful,
perhaps, every millionaire Of any conse-
quence has wanted to have his name en-
blazoned there. The great center Of
popular interest, for instance, is the
Temple of Music in Concert Valley,
which was given to the park by the late
Claus Spreckles, known as the sugar
king. II is In the italian renaissance de-
sign, the chief material used being
Colusa sandstone OF an agreeable light
color and of great hardness. The CEN
trail structure has frontage Of fifty
FIVE feet, is seventy feet high and is
fanked on either side by Corinthian col