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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (April 11, 1909)
THE STTyPAYOBEGOyiAy. PORTLAND. APRIL 11, 1909, g WU1 "Park aty" Ever Supplant "Rose City" as Applied to Portland?! -. .r. ... 33f 1 t f --.;.-.--rTv--. .'v ...3 m ; 4 I 7"T ' egsr zsx?ttz -- "S L . v - ?-$??m 4 If- . V: - , lf Ir sv ' - T'- w,-"v 4 ACIT-- - f I it - ' "'', -. Ill If-;.- " r-rvv V : - kvc?-7x . . i I 1 I i I ' - II III 1 . v- her On BT tRNUST H'QArm SOME day tn the futura Portland may b known aa "Parte City," notwithstanding- her present ap propriate title of "Rose City." To those who have not given the park systems of American cities very much study, the surroundings of Portland offer perhaps no remarkable suggestion In the way of a series of parks, connected with boulevards, and forming a har monious ensembte of beauty. But "to the men who have given the subject close attention, who have even de moted their Uvea to the following of park building: and landscape study as profession, the magnificent oppor tunlUea afforded here are a revelation. Nature has been lavish with favors to the Willamette -n.v both sides of the river there are views L. Rroaiesi variety and beauty im aginable, with winding rivers, snow capped ranges and stately mountain peaks to form an Impressive back ground and a framing to the diversi fied panorama of hill and valley, for est and lowland. To Colonel L T, Hawkins and Ir. , T. I EHot probably belongs the main credit for grasping the situation and bringing the possibility of a splendid Tr yl,tem within the reach of Port land. These men have unselfishly Mid enthusiastically put their shoul ders to the wheel, and with tho aid of others whose Interest has been roused they have accomplished a great work. For the outline of the plan b been drawn, the nucleus of ful fillment has been provided for and that success will eventually smile upon the undertaking is now a matter ad mitting of no doubt. Farks on Both Side. The plan provides for parks at ir regular distances all along both sides of the river. These will be connected tr roadways and boulevards, and when completed will form a system which for besuty. diversity of scenerv and truly Tttanlo grandeur cannot be matched in America, if In the world Two great mountain ranges, the Cas cades and the Coast ranges, will be tributary to this system. Two noble rlTers. the Willamette and the Colum bia, mill lend their beauty and ptctur esquenesa to the scope and breadth of the picture. And cloud-fringed and lofty mountain peaks, white with eter nal snows, will signal, with dawn and sunset, their messages of congratula tion. Coming to the dollars and cents as pect of the plan, there has been a million dollars voted for park extension- Half a million in park bonds has been disposed of. and at 11.01 89-1PO, . the highest price ever paid for park bonds. laods hv been selected by J" 4 I I ' ' - e.rf nil r '-ISS ill llll t, , 1, l - s-s X " k i- Ill I I E v . - M&&ejhi-i- , 1 II 5 i! N the Park Pnmm ininn a n . i tracts have been approved for pur chase by the City Council. It should be remembered that the park officials can only recommend the purchase of suitable sites for parks and connect ing roadways. The City Council must decide on all purchases, and when the Park Commission has made Its selec tions it has gone aa far as lies In Its power. Money Now Available. There Is money now available to buy additional park land, and activity on the part of the City Council will un doubtedly be a measure of economy, aa land values are rising. One of the important tracts to be developed and made a part of the proposed sys tem la the Mount Tabor site of 178 acres, crowned with a splendid growth of fir. still In many places entirely primitive in Its surroundings, and com manding from It eminences some of the most superb views that oould be Imag ined by the mind of poet or painter. To stand on the summit and look in any direction is to drink In new beau ties, and to know, with a aensa of unerring prescience, how exquisite will be the eternal change from season to season over these towering hills. Here the ground is carpeted with all kinds of wild flowers, the yellow of tho first violets ahowing Uk patines of gold snlut h i-v . ...j!.. -i - - - MWUlo ADVUl tnem. and the white of spotless tril llums. peering up to where the scar let fringes of wild currant blossoms hang like drops of fire against the deep green of clustering firs. In the trees a roein's wing may be seen here and there, and the aaucy challenge of a jay as he flies across a woodland path sounds querulously In the surrounding silence. In dense undergrowth the rustle of dead grasses marks a rabbit's hurried departure, and occasionally, from fields far below, comes up the stut tering crow of some wary old cock pheasant. In the open spaces spring beauties edge the paths and windings among the trees, and a perfect tapes try of mosses engirdles tree trunks and fallen logs with emerald tracings. Picturesque Panorama. It la as wild as solitude and wilderness can make It In many places, but, sud denly, you may come out from some path and see, nestled ia below, the valleys and slopes where the city stretches away, with streets like brown lines lead ing riverward and groups and clusters of human habitations scattered- every where. Checker-board squares where the farms lie can be easily picked out along the base of the hills and the reser voir nearest the summit of Mount Tabor until the broods like some dark 1ewel sun flashes in and fires its rfonrh. tn opaline splendor. The faraway mountains and mountain peaks Invest the various views with al most the sense of fairyland, as if the happy valley of Rasselas lay smiling to the vision, and that no doubt or trouble or touch of human unhapplness might Intrude on such a lovely vision. Te stand on Mount Tabor and breathe deep the mellow Spring air, looking In any direction and marking the wonders of beauty that unfold, is to never forget the dream. To trace the network of stream and forest and distant ranges as they cross and recross, is to lose oneself In a mase of enchantment which beckons you on to further climes. No vandal hands should mar this beauty when the park system ! begun. It should be left as It is. With path, ways and road to lead the strollers In and out of the still primeval woods, with the undergrowth and the woodsy tangle to remain as It is always, will be to keep the fresh, primeval touch to It all. the sense of creation, the mystery of the beginning. Many Tracts Are Needed. Mount Tabor, Sunnyside, . Sellwood. Montgomery and Smith are the other tracts contemplated as purchasable and necessary for toe East Side links of tho system, and each have rarely beautiful accessories which will add variety to the chain when completed. Sunnyside has one tract of 16 acres, already selected and approved by the Park Commission ers, which contains a magnificent stretch of forest and a natural basin between surrounding slopes where an artificial lake could be located The slopes in this tract should be left just as nature formed them and could be laid with paths leading from one knoll to another. Park Commissioner Miche, whose wide and accurate knowledge of the subject and whose enthusiasm and culture make him pre-eminently the man to judge of and push the work to a favorable con clusion, is of the opinion that nowhere Is the opportunity so great as It is In this proposed system of parks Mr. Mische believes that when the sys. tern Is finally complete It will be one of the wonders of the world. He is firm in his insistency on leaving the natural growth of timber and underbrush where it adds to .the b'auty of tne surroundings and he has in his calculations one park where acres of Portlands roses, set In one great garden, shall be a picture of bud and blossom bewildering in its glory of Summer loveliness. Reservoirs Practical Aids. The reservoirs already n Mount Tabor Park are to be reinforced by two extra receptacles of the same kind, each of which will be an additional practical aid to the city so far as its water supply U concerned. Mr. Mische believes that these reservoirs can be so protected aa to prevent any accident or contamina tion, and yet be artistically surrounded so as to present a picture pleasing to the eye. He suggests that the reservoirs can easily be made ornamental as well as useful and urges when the plans are submitted for the building of Vans basins that steps should be taken to prevent them from being left an unsight ly discord to the general Idea of the Dark system. The plan for the west side of the river. Including City Park, and the splendid and picturesque line of foothills and ro mantic views to the west, contemplates making all that section of the city a complement of the system on the East A further corollary of the plan will be river drives along the Willamette and possibly island connections in (he river channel, to be made park additions to the regular system. H Is a bold plan and a feasible one, so far as the mere mechanical effects are concerned. And for succeeding genera tions, as a measure to spread the fame of Portland to wherever grass grows or water runs., it is worthy of the genius of Napoleon himself, who, when tho memories of his battles have faded en the pages of history, still lives in the civic improvements he founded in Franco. Confuse the Respective Fields of Electric and Gasolene Automobiles The gasolene car holds first place for long runs and high speed. But the Electric -Car is supreme for use in city streets, in crowded traffic, for comparatively short runs with frequent stops. The Electric Car stands first for use by the physician visit ing patients, or the woman calling or shop ping. The Electric Car requires little at tention, no mechanical ability, no chauf feur. It is clean, free from vibration and requires no cranking. In the last five years the Electric Vehicle, both for pleasure and business purposes, has made enormous strides. In part, because of the thought, care and en terprise shown by its manufacturers. In part, because of the wider distribution of Electric Central Stations where charging ' can be done conveniently and economically. But above all, the progress and popularity of the Electric Car have been made possible by the rapid development of the storage battery. The reliability of the Electric pleasure or commercial vehicle makes it supreme in its particular field. This will be explained to you by the Electric Light Company or vehicle manufacturers. Portland Raflway, Light & Power Co. I ANGELL DID GREAT WORK AOSTIiE OF MERCY." W. T. SI LAN ATI AN MUDS LATE 'PORTL.AND, April 10. (To the Editor.) The sun slanting partly through the Winter woods deep in the hills of Western Massachusetts, fell upon a patch of whlto on the trunk of a chestnut tree. The bright spot challenged attention; It proved to be a notice offering rewards for evidence which should result In con victions for violations of the state laws protecting birds and their nests. It be gan with the pronoun "I" and ended with the signature, George T. Angell. These placards may be found scattered far and wide. The activities world-wide which centered In the gentle whitehaired man who has passed on at the age of 86 are In extern? and power almost beyond reckon ing. And showing what a man or woman setting out without money or riches or influential friends, may achieve if ani mated with a noble purpose. Mr.' Angell was the dominating force In the two societies whose foundations he laid and whose work he has ever since directed. The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the American Humane Education Society. Perhaps no other single person in the world, has exerted so powerful an influ ence for the amelioration of the lot of children and animals. The kindly eyes which held one spellbound as he talked, and the rather broad finely set mouth betokened the virile strength of the per Bistent fighter. "Nil desperandum" was the motto which Mr. Angell adopted when a boy. That he lived up to the world wide Influence exerted by the societies which he organised or which he inspired, la evidence. Today more than 73,000 Bands of Mercy encircle the earth. "Prom boyhood," said Mr. Angell. "I had a great love of animals, and I could not bear to see them suffer. And I al ways believed that the solution of such a problem is in education rather than in prosecution." What turned Mr. Angell to this humane work, was a horserace, February 22, 1868, from Brighton to Worcester, a diBtarce of 40 miles over rough roads, each horse drawing two men. Two of the best horses of the old Bay state competed, and both horses were driven to death. Mr. Angell was the founder of the little paper. "Our Dumb Animals," now in Its 1st year, and of its Initial number, 200. 000 copies were printed and given awav. Mr. Angell was one of the first to recog nize the menace to the public health of Impure food, and to take up the battle ror pure food legislation. It was started with a campaign against marbleized iron waI which a wealthy New York firm was putting out broadcast, and which con tained among the poisonous elements, a large amount of soluble lead. His at tack through the newspapers resulted In the closing of the factory. Poisonous wallpaper then received attention. Then milk and diseased meats, adulter ated sugar, tea. coffee, baking powder, soothing syrup, and many other articles detrimental to health. Then In 1S78 Presi dent Hayes 'did Mr. Angell the honor of Incorporating In his annual message to Congresi a passage written by Mr An gell. recommending more stringent laws regarding the transportation of animals. Mr. Angell was one of the most vigorous opponents of war. and was unshakable in his convictions that when the elements of mercy are thoroughly inculcated in the youth of the Nation, war will no longer be possible. Mr. Angell gave his time ard Influence during a period of 46 years to the cause of mercy which has extended over the civilized countries of the world. The poet's verse and sculptor" chisel may mark the resting place of this great apostle of kindly Influence and love of the dumb creatures, but the life work of this remarkable character will be eiv graven upon the hearts and minds of gen erations yet unborn, which will survive the ravages of the tooth of time upon the silent marble which bears the name of George T. Angell. W. T. 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