Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-06-01
Cool Spring
Park Trees
2 he Observer

i have noted references recently,
| to the proposed elimination Of some
trees IN Cool Spring Park, with the
explanation that such action IS neces-
sary to proper alignment, and also to
the possible future welfare Of some
of the other trees. J have no decided
| impression as 20 the necessity Of such
/ a performance, or even ita propriety
but | have concern for Cool Spring
Park that ineites me 20 express the
earnest hope that in whatever Is done
| the park Will be protected and its
present attractiveness in no manner
/ impaired.
Cool Spring Park is one Of the real
i beauty spots Of our city. II has an
lattfaetIon at ali times that it Is diff
cult To express IN words. but which
appeals most potently TO the eye and
| the mind. In the green months II Is
as calm and restful and comforting,
as we'll as beautiful, as any other park
IN the country. and this without any
resort to artffieiality to enchance its
natural attractions. And even in the
fall and winter. when the deciduous
trees are bare. If presents an appear
ance Of nature unadorned" that is
really exquisite.
Cool Spring Park came into being
in somewhat interesting. even pro-
! sale. manner. The land which ii oc-
Icupies was acquired with not the re-
motest intent of providing a public
park. even though the city was prac-
ticaliy devoid of such possessions al
that time, Brandywine Park being
then private property although large
ny pre-empfed for public purposes.
All Of Cool Spring Park and all tbs
adjacent land on the west now occu-
pied by Cool Spring Reservoir was
condemned more than half a century
ago as a site for the new reservoir
then so imperatiyely Eeeded Jusi
imagine what a stupendous work 2
water reservoir covering the bulk 81
that large tract would have been fol
the city of that day-only Of about
/; so. 900 popula tIon--or would be today
fut many citizens favored such . pro-
ject. and it was being forwarded e
consummation when the opposition
that was naturally melted organized
for a restrictive campaign.
This huge reservoir project became
dominating issue at the city election
Of September. 1874. The City Council
was Republican and the project wa:
made a partisan measure to a largs
extent. But at the city election Of
1874, as result Of the agitation foi
a generous curtailment of the reser-
voir plans. a City Council was chosen
OF which the Democratic members and
three independent and far-seeing Re.
pnblicans--John f. Adams. William
NJ. Candy and william Canby--com-
took charge Of the new reservoir pro-
ject. and practically cut it in half by
pairing down the plans To the present
proportions. And from this action re-
suited the present Cool Spring Res
ervoir. with its capacity Of 1000. 00C
gallons of water. Il is large even foI
this day and generation. and it may
be shudderingly imagined what an
eye-sore. what a menace. q reservoir
at that place constructed on the orig
inaI plans would have been.
The cutting down of the reservoir
plans left the east side of the original
: plot a dreary bit of waste land. and
for awhile there was question
whether it would not pass from tn,
possession of the city. under the Law
OF eminent domain. Which provides thai
land condemned for specific public
purposes, when not used for thes,
purposes. reverts to the origina
owners or their heirs. However. tn,
, Water Department devoted parts D
the vacant portion to, the water pip,
, storage. and thus at least made
! blum of preserving the integrity Of TN,
city's possession But il was hide
ouSiy 1snattractive place
Il In 1883 the Water Department wa
placed in charge Of commission com
posed Of William T. Porter. Christian
Febiger and Caesar A. Rodney an
under the intelligent. businesslilSe an
! non PARTISAN note the import OF tn
latter qualification administration Q
: affairs by these men and their success
4 sors. the department was placed on
paying basis, SO that it earned none
= sufficient for operating expenses. in
terest on water loans and the re
demption there of as they fell du,
$ and an annual cash surplus, Surplu
! funds suggested Cool Spring Pari
! and also provided for its creation.
/. Chalkley Hatton. then engineer
!, sewers. prepared the modest rhlan
= and soon thing of beauty SUI
!. planted the dreary waste trees. a
i tractive ponds, green grass and gra,
3 ed and paved walks. The sprir
water that came from the westeI
hills and had been piped under Il
: bed Of the basin, was collected az
!, discharged into one of the pond
s. with two outlets. The flow is 400
gallons a day not enough, howeve
, to warrant the cost Of storing al
! distributing it-~of Us good drinkir
water, proved by chemical tests,
. there is in all the country which
: used daily by many residents Of 4
= neighborhood.
Such was the genesis of Cool Sprir
!. Park 1t served a good purpose. In
mediately after its construction bull,
ing operations began on the surronn
ing streets, and the result Is a mo
40 attractive residence section And
= a splendid playground FOR hundreds
= children. besides a beautiful. eomfor
, able resting spot for thousands Of old
! folks. what we would have missed
Cool Spring Park had not be'
brought into existence.
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