UNIV. OF CALIFORNIA

HIS important subject the inhabitants of large cities is so generally seems to be at length at- understood and admitted that a neglect to tracting the attention of provide them is considered not merely a our ci izens, and who does not venial oversight, but a positively disgraceful wish for a retreat of this kind du- characteristic in the constituted authorities ring the dog days? We have al- of a city. It is not merely a refusal to ready postponed action upon this subject stimulate the growth and prosperity of a too long, but continued delay only increases place, but a denial of justice to that class of the difficulty. I was forcibly struck with citizens whose labors contribute most to such the willfulness of cities in refusing proffered growth and prosperity. benefits of this kind, when, at Alleghany City, I heard that a noble bequest of more than one hundred acres, now in the heart of that city, had been variously appropriated to other objects, so that there remains only enough for a magnificent border, and which may be made highly ornamental.-ED. To the Hon., the City Council of Cincinnati: The subscribers, a committee appointed by the Cincinnati Horticultural Society to memorialize your honorable body on the subject of providing parks or promenade grounds for our city, beg leave respectfully to represent:

That the importance of pleasure grounds or promenades to the health and comfort of

The increased attraction of those institutions to which we refer, whereby the progress of population and consequent increase of wealth is promoted, has been so generally appreciated by the founders of towns and cities, that in most cases early provision has been made for them by the dedication of grounds for such purpose. This provision was supposed to have been made by the founders of our city, and though on a small scale, compared with its present wants, yet large enough for the expectations formed of its destinies at that time. Small, however, as was the appropriation, it was too large for the small men who have so managed, the concerns of the city, that all the grounds origin

ifications required in such grounds by any city in the Union, except, perhaps, New York, with its Battery.

ally intended for open squares have been diverted from their proper use, and we have now for public parks only those diminutive strips on Eighth street, given by the owners. It would be as narrow a policy which of the property adjoining the ground should decline making the purchase of these lately purchased for the city buildings, and grounds on account of their cost at this time, the small space of ground purchased with and as ill-judged a specimen of penny-wise the water-works, which last elicits com- parsimony, as was the refusal to purchase mendations of the city council from all for the city landing the river front, from classes, for the measures they have taken Deer creek to Western Row, when it could to embellish and make it an ornamental have been obtained for $80,000, or the neg. feature among our public works. lect to take the Burnet square when it was offered for $25,000, and of which less than one tenth part has lately been sold for $50,000.

There are within the city limits small tracts of ground belonging to the Episcopal, the Methodist, the Presbyterian and other denominations, which have been dedicated The avenues above referred to, which it to the purpose of burial grounds, and is proposed to the city to open and establish, which, since the establishment of Spring are: One from the city boundary, near the Grove and other public Cemeteries, will no Brighton House, to extend through the longer be used for that purpose, and if the grounds belonging to the heirs of Riddle, and city would aid in removing such of the mon- the proposed parks, along the brow of the uments and remains as it would be desirable hills north cf the city, as nearly as practito have removed, and then improve the cable, and terminating at Fulton on the cast, grounds suitably and keep them open for the near the river, and on the west, intended to public use, there can be but little doubt that be continued along the valley of Millcreek, the proprietors would consent to such a pub- on the sides of the hills adjoining, by the lic improvement. proprietors of the land through which it will The other avenue to commence

Hills.

pass.

The opportunities of procuring the necessary grounds for public purposes have been at the present termination of Sixth street, too much neglected, and this neglect can and to meet the main avenue on Walnut not too soon be remedied. This committee These avenues to be two hundred is informed that several tracts of land for and fifty or three hundred feet wide, and to public parks can now be obtained on terms be improved in a suitable manner, by plantvery advantageous to the city, on conditioning trees, and fitting them up for walks and of their being appropriated to such purposes, drives, whereby all classes of citizens might a list of which tracts is hereto annexed. be accommodated with the means of pleasThese grounds being pleasantly varied in ant and healthful recreation. These would surface, with a sufficient number of forest give us such a system of public grounds as trees, and from various points overlooking would justify the proud title which has been our city and the neighboring cities of Cov- assumed for our city, of Queen of the West, ington and Newport, in Kentucky, would, if and which title will be lost, or ironically cast suitably improved and connected with the in our teeth in derision of our high aspiraavenues proposed herein, give us public tions, and of the meanness of our attempts promenade grounds not excelled in all qual- to support them, if we continue, with the