The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-06-29
ADDING TO OUR BEAUTY


In many sections of the UAed States and Cam
ada the railroads paying special attention to
the matter of Identification OF rights of way and
station grounds A notable instance of this II
Florida is the recent decision of the officials of the
Florida East Coast Railroad to make the station
grounds at West Palm Beach the most beautiful
in the United States" I nat is some contract to
fill but the orders are Q, AID the best landscape
gardeners in the country READY on the job
preparing to plant variety u tropical shrubs and
flowers. 1t is difficult 10 paint word picture of
what is proposed to be done in this particular Flor
ida city; the program is so ambitious that we freey
quote from the Palm Beach Post, that our read
ers may realize the value placed by some COM
munities on the city beautiful" In the first place
the object is to create favorable impression on
the visitor arriving for the initial visit and the rail-
way officials propose to make that impression as
vivid as possible. Quoting the Palm Beach Post,
one of the first effects of the scheme of beauthca-
ton will be the total elimination from view Of
Objectionable skyline features now existant such
as elevated water tanks implanted buildings fences
and street billboards. The new arrangement will
efectually screen these objects from the view of
persons alghting from the train Green hedges, tall
Australian pines. shrubbery, and cocoanut palms
will be used advantageously to give the impression
of beautiful tropical scenery in place CT the pres
ent bare outlook.
The grounds in front of the station are laid
off in Y shape, through the center of which
driveway extends The driveway separates the
grounds into two equal triangles Along the outer
edge of these two trianges tall hedge of Aralia,
approximately 800 feet in length, will be painted.
This hedge plant grows to II feet in height and
when properly trimmed forms an unexcelled hedge
Banked against the outlying hedge will be
groups of scarlet hibiscus and alcalp ha marginats
These plants will give bright color against the
dark green hedge and will serve to break the
monotony Of the hedge.
TO the center of each Of the two tranges a
forty-foot bed of Australian pines. trimmed in
the popular pompom fashion, and containing each
about 90 trees, will be placed. Four thirty-fcot
beds will also be placed in the trangles. two of
10 Dt pidIlleC 10 WITH
alcaphia mosacia and two to alcalphia bycolora,
bordered with vari-colored crotons. These beds
will be round ard when completed will provide
striking color effects against the green lawn of
St. Augustine grass.
There we have picture of great beauty and
it needs no argument to convince any reasonable
person that the arrivals in West Palm Beach next
season will come to the immediate conclusion that
they have been transported to paradise. The trend
of the day is toward better til ags men and women
are not satisfied to let thin.5 drift, no matter
whether it be in matters of politics. education. pub
lie welfare, business We are becoming more
exacting in our tastes demanding mere of riot
of color than a prevailing drab. Some day Lake
land and the Atlantic Coast Line authorities might
be able to get together in plan to beautify the
present station grounds although the location of the
freight yards in the hear e city offers an OBJ
stacle that would be c 10 overcome. But
even things now, 4Ich could be accom-
plshed under present conditions West Palm Beach
is by no means alone in program of beauti6ca-
ton of station property; Florida cities and towns
have ample reason for desiring to make their rail-
way terminals just as attractive as possible.