The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1922-05-12
Random Observations.
Wise provision made for many pub.
lie parks by founders OF Portland
Striking beauty spOts.-Many
interesting sights.
BY FRANK NJ. pALLAM SIR.

Few cities or the same size, or OF
any size for that matter, are so gen
erously supplied with public parks rs
Portland. Those early organizers of
this municipality, who were respon-
sible for this happy provision for the
benefit of the general public deserve
a monument as reward for their
forethought and foresight 1t has been
too often the case in laying out towns
that have eventually sgrown beyond
the expectations of the pioneers into
important cities that public parks have
not entered into consideration, ami
when at last the absence of these
beautifying oases is felt as almost
civilized disgrace the securing of close
in land for park purposes is either IN
obtainableA or prohibitory owing To
price. And Raparks are to be establish
ed it is necessary to select property
for that purpose beyond comforta Die
walking ristance for the bulk of the
population. Or the failure. at the be-
ginning to set aside certain tracts for
parking may have been the result OF
mercenary weakness on the part of
land owners who saw more satisfac-
tion in reaping dollars at so much per
front foot while the reaping was good
than in any altruistic impulse having
the pleasure and happiness of future
generations under consideration.
As stated it was different with those
who assumed the responsibility of
plating the tOwnsite OF Portland, and
as result generous provision was
made for parks. How many or how ex-
tensive are the parks under municipal
management we have no means Of
knowing, but from what we have seen
we know that they are numerous in
number and in the aggregate contain
many, very many, acres. Some of these
parks are in the very heart of the
business section. They may be
somewhat limited in area but that does
not detract from their utility or their
value as an important asset in making
this city beautiful. Literally supplied
with many varities of trees, with grass
plots, cindered walks and easy ben-
ches, they present an invitation 70
lounge that can hardly be declined by
any one having time to spare to vile
away an hour or so in the shade when
the trees are in full leaf and the spell
of the gentle summer sunshine is on
the land. The down town parks are
crowded with loungers on pleasant
days. This statement is made upon the
strength of the apparent attraction Of
these charming open reaches almost
within the shadow of big business
blocks, although hardly borne out by
personal observation, for during Wis
it Of over two months there have been
only one or two days when the atmos-
phere has been dry and mild enough
to encourage any polishing Of benches
in the parks. We have braved chill
and damp and gray days time and
again and taken the air under the still
nude branches OF the park forests, but
have never found ourselves cramped
for room, for doing the parks is
pleasant weather recreation, ana
spring has been very niggardly in
turning out pleasant days.
Further out in the suburbs readily
reached by street cars by that portion
of the prOletariat not possessing mo-
tor vehicles are the more extensive
parks covering large tracts of land,
scrupulously cared for with winding
paved roads, inviting benches, foun-
tains, statutary trees and flowers.
| rural paradises that never stale upon
| the senses, no matter how often Wis
| tied. These parks are striking beauty
spots in a panorama that is beautiful
| to look upon from any point of view
| and naturally are source of pride to
the Portlanders. On mild evenings the
drives are alive with motorists, and on
Sundays and holidays they are the
Mecca for vast crowds of pleasure
seekers wishing to spend few hours
or day in rural atmosphere while
not beyond the throb and turmoil of a
methopolis.
The highways and byways of a large
city have many and various features
that are interesting to the small town
visitor If the visitor from the small,
town has any inclination to extend his
Investigations and takes any pleasure
in investigating. 1t may be the marvel
Gus displays of all that go toward
beautifying the female form divine in
the great department show windows,
or the exhibits of the innumerable in
dividual shop windows offering in
tempting array everything that enters
into use or consumption by the human
family. Or in the mercurial multitude
that so crowds the shopping districts.
ICnrtinnad on MIRA four