Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-28
TREES OF FALLS
SURPASSPARKS
IN VALUATION
Helena Rotarians Urged tt
Study Civic Beauty by
@. S. Warden.
(Tribune's Helena Bureau)

Helena, Dec. 27.-Trees lining the
boulevards and growing within the pub
lie parks of Great Falls today repre-
sent a value in excess of the cost of
all the parks and boulevards of that
city. Such was the statement made
| Wednesday by 0. S. Warden, of Great
Falls, a former member of the Great
Falls park board, in addressing a
meeting of the Helena Rotary club.
The subject of city parking came up
before the Rotary club in connection
state law of Helena's first park board.
Warden called attention to the won
derful opportunities possessed by
Helena in its mountains and valleys.
Mature gave you more than the
nuggets it placed along the water
ways" Mr.. Warden said, urging the
people of the Capital city to avail
themselves of the native for
the physical beauty of the community
and for the economic enhancement Of
civic projects.
Mr.. Warden, reviewing the ex-
periences of Great Falls and draw
ing a parallel for Helena, con
side the opic mainly from a busi-.
ness angle, bringing out that the
investment pays big dividends in
community progress. In the Elec-
trio city, a conservative value placed
OF the trees in the park and boule-
ward system is greater than all the
money expended by the city for pur-
chase and maintenance of the land and
improvements, he said.
Development
Had Helena, when the capital was
established, begun the development of
parks and boulevards, the population
of the city would now be twice what
it is, in Mr.. Warden's opinion.
Identification Of a community
through parks and boulevards is a
splendid work, Mr.. Warden said. This
is an age when every man must real
ize that he owes something to his pro-
fession and to his community, Mr..
Warden commented, suggesting that
building up a fortune and nothing more
is not being accepted with entire
favor. Civic duty is becoming a
requisite for recognition, the speaker
asserted, and Individual support of a
plan for municipal prosperity must be
given by those who hope for growth
of a city.
The recreational advantages of
boulevards and parks are so evident
that the economic values are appar-
ent, Mr.. Warden said. He took up the
history of recreational grounds owned
by the municipality of Great Falls.
Paris Gibson was the founder of the
Great Falls park system. Mr.. Warden
pointed out. The townsite company at
the beginning set aside areas for
parks. Operation of the parks by the
city council terminated in 1901, when
the first park commission vas ap-
pointed.
Sixteen Parks Now
Great Falls now has is parks with
an area of 672 acres. The plan has
provided for gradual development, this
being fundamental when the
of a small city are considered. In
Great Falls they pillow the land, plant
trees and after three or four years
nut in grass. The city has spent
SAT, 900 in buying lands and acquiring
property rights for parks since 1898.
Maintenance from 1889 to the present
has cost 1926. 600. a total Of $4,000.
The value of 10000 trees in the parks,
at q low figure, is $400,0O0.
Several blocks have been contributed
to the city for park purposes and
these are excellent additions, Mr..
Warden said.
The AK levy for parks was ! mill
a year till 1911. when it was doubled:
In Great Falls there are 3S miles OF
b%oulevards. the first project being
constructed in 1898. These bouleyards
have "a. 900 trees. The cost has been
$685. 900 and the trees are valued at
S4SO.OOO. The maintenance is SO a
xoor for each LOT nm q boulevard.