Show PARKS AND RECREATIONS Summer in this city is not always a pleasant thing hot winds and dust heing predominant Around the business parts the streets are well sprinkled and kept in fair condition in the lower wards and in the higher parts of town the roads and walks are not so had But the great fault of our city govei nment is the very lax manner in which private corporations are allowed to use the streets as they choose without any supervision and without any regard to the public As an instance look at the manner in which the gas company lays down pipes from the companys mains to private houses The ridges which necessarily result from the operation are never even after months of settling made level with the street They certainly should be and why are they not The reason is not far to seek and it is simple and ordinary when found j there is nothing occult in it either It is simply negligence and imbecility irresponsibility ir-responsibility and immovability in office Let us not be misunderstood and have it Paid that the gas company is chosen because be-cause gentlemen who are in it are prominent in public and ecclesiastical affairs Equally if not more outrageous is the manner in which the telephone company com-pany was allowed to place their unsightly poles anywhere in the street no matter how dangerous But more than that it was allowed to cut down the shade trees on our sidewalks trees whose growth had taken twenty years The utility and wonder of the telephone are great but not so great as to justify the subordinating subordinat-ing of everything to them On some of the streets can be seen the tall and stately telephone poles using the noxious and uncomely tree for anchors to hold them fast These are but two things but they are most important ones During the summer if any one petitions the City Council to repair a street or fix a water sect after laying the petition on the table and considering it for some two sessions the petitioner is gravely informed in-formed that his petition will be granted provided he bears the expense under the 1 direction of the supervisor of streets Has any one the temerity to ask more He may have but he will get no more When things of minor importance such as increasing the tax rate and raising rais-ing the salaries are brought before the Council they pass unanimously and without discussion for these are financial matters and of finance they are masters These are things which create discontent among the citizens of all classes and parties they are things which are wrong no matter what party does them The city has done some commendable things and among them was the purchase of Liberty Park The improvements are as yet very meagre and rather show what should be than what has been done The work thus far has been preliminary and expensive and had to be done The Park has already become a favorite place to while away a sultry afternoon and it is free from those pests of public resorts saloons The drive is of sufficient length to be pleasant and if there could be a place fixed to serve asa as-a Rotten Row it would be still more popular Many gentlemen of the city who subscribe liberally to the sprinkling of the drive are advocating advo-cating the expenditure of the money on the circular drive of the Park and for the I reason that loaded wagons would not be allowedthere and the roadway could be better and more cheaply kept This would be an improvement as it would call all riders and drivers together and there would be the pleasure of many friends together and society is never so agreeable as whon all around are in high spirits and health and in generous and friendly rivalry Let those who are among the leaders of wealth and fashion among us recall the gaiety they have so often seen in Hyde Park or the Bois de Boulogne and that at Rome calls are made in the Pincian Gardens Recalling these facts we have had it fcngtjested to us to advodate the closing of nil business at say 2 pm on Saturdays Satur-days and that the city be asked to furnish a band of music to play there The suggestion will meet with ready favor among business men we are confident and will give to employes anew a-new life and a new interest in their employers em-ployers affairs It would tend to make all classes more considerate of each other and would give to our out door life a better bet-ter tone If the city cannot afford to hire a band every Saturday let a subscription be raised and it can be readily done so that we may have it The best bands should be hired and their musical merit should be the only test The music will not cost so much as may be thought and five hundred dollars would doubtless pay for a whole summers pleasure and recreation recre-ation in this lino It is time to begin thinking of the matter and it should be well and favorably considered |