Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-11
RALPH e. WHITE
On LEAGUE Island Park

/ EAG | II lSl.AND IAlth' NhhI'Nc'
IL critics may have said about It. has been
n successful undertaking and deserves TO De
counted among The city most nothDlc
achievements in building. Such is the belief
Of Ralph +. White. IN" architect who dc
signed and supervised the construction "t
the buildings in the park.
'It would seem II habit Of mind among
Philadclphans.' said Mr.. White. t" DC
aggressivpy skcptical of any public under
taking until its usefulness or virtue has been
proved without any recourse to Imagination.
Very likely it is something Indigenous. Tor
I have not observed it among the inhabitants
Of other cities. who are. sometimes pain
fully, proud alike Of accomplishments ana
projects.
Old Dislikes Recalled
~ can remember mass meeting that was
held good many years ago to protest
against the substitution of electric trolley
ears for the horse cars and cable cars that
had served this city for half II generation.
What? Tear up our sturdy cobbled streets
and rcpavc them with effetc asphalt! send
juggernauts catapulting through the streets
to run down our children! Hang electric
wires over our heads to fall upon US and
mpim or kill US? Turn the poor old car
horses out of work? A thousand 'timcS
never. Armcz citoyens. Down with trolley
cars.
80 il was with the Northeast Boulc-
u.
could see anything in it but an unending
source Of profits for contractors. So. too
with the Parkway. Somebody has always
arisen to hamper and delay and stable
city project by cnjoining il. IN" injunction
against the new Library Building. for cx-
ample cost the city many thousand dollars
and accomplished no purpose except to delay
this badly needed building.
"When 1t was first suggested that the
people OF South Philadel. hia had no great
open space of pleasant scenery and com
Portable conditions to which they might take
themselves on fine day, except Fairmount
Park. long and tedious distance away, and
that the city might do we'll to reclaim the
land ut the extreme southeastern end Of the
city and make park of it, a fury of Oppo-
sitiOn rose Immediately.
Object TO Barrenness
And az the building of the park went on
this opposition grew in intensity Not all
Of it. | guess, was disntcrPstcd, but at any
rate it has not. even yet, entirely abatcd,
''What is there 10 this criticism: 1t
seems simply that the park is moro or less
barren in appearance and that it cost the
taxpayers II great deal Of money. The last
item, Of course. must be admitted: bur it
can be said. on tn" other hand that il cost
no moro than the general run of improve
mcnts on such IL scale, aud that it cost
hardly more than half Of what it might if
ITO the assertion that the park has not
us much foliage aS might reasonably be cx-
ncctcd, thcr" need be but one answer We
must wait until the trees and shrubs have
had time 10 grow. In ten years League
Island Park will look as we'll rs any seq
tion of Fairmount Park or any other park
in the country. 1t might be- pointed out
that the trees and plants at League Island
Park have difficulties a little harder than
usual to contend with. They had TO be
planted in special soil for the native soil
in that region is none too good and has not
been much improved by the great Quantities
Of ashes and other things that We're dumncd
upon it. There Is always good wind and
frequently II considerable gale blowing over
the park, so that it is cool there even on
the sultricst nights. This Is not the best
thing in the world for struggling SapIngs
and shrubs. The plan Of League Island Park
was made out by clever and capublc firm
Of liOston landsCap" artists, and il is ns we'll
pruportoncd and picturesque ~ any park
plan in the country.
Tells OF building Scheme
"About the buildings ! would like 10
! speak at Il little more length, since am
| 10 n large mCasur" responsible for Them
| The main building was designed as an ad-
| miniStrUtiUn buIding, suited to any needs
| the Park Commissioners might have for II
The first floor is divided into Offices for thc
superintendent Of the park aud the chief of
| the park guards who may be stationed thrrn
'"Thc upper hOOrS are so constructed thnt
| they can be adapted to any uses the pnrI;
| Commissioners may find for them Thcr" Is
| room for small lock cup, which | supposc
viii be needed Thcrr are sleeping quarters
for a caretakcr and his wife and a kitchen
| for them in the basement There are nIso
rooms that may be used 70 quarter stable.