Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 221, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 September 1913 — Admirable Suggestions for A City Beautiful. [ARTICLE]

Admirable Suggestions for A City Beautiful.

To the Editor: In response to The Republican’s invitation for comments on the park proposition* I offer the following: All authorities agree that the water front is the proper place for park improvement. Rensselaer has not much of a water front, yet how beautiful it could be made, if the city could acquire the banks ot the river on both sides right through the corporation from Matheson avenue to Melville street, widening out into parks where suitable tracts lying adjacent could be secured, such as the Strong property on College aven tie, advocated in your article: the Susan Strong property on Grace street, known as the hawthorne grove; the shallow lots on River street opposite Kannal avenue: or the point on Milroy avenue across from the cemetery, and connected by a riverside boulevard drive and a foot path or walk on each side of the stream. In time our hideous bridges could be replaced by cement arch bridges over*, looking this parked embankment, with new ones at the crossings ot Matheson avenue leading into the cemetery, and of Work street.- This long irregular park extending throughout the city, would be within easy distance of all localities and would be far more convenient to the people than a large park all in one compact body. This may seem like an ambitious plan, but it could be adapted as a policy and worked out in the future. With the rock as foundation, the boulevards would not be expensive. Another civic improvement that should be considered is the nomenclature of the streets. At present we have many duplicates, three Washingtons, two Harrisons, and most absurdly a South street, and a West South street. The founder of Rensselaer began with an admirable plan of recording history in the street names. I propose that West Harrison street be renamed Warner street In honor of Norman Warner; that West Washington street be renamed Abigail street in honor of Abbie Roberts, whose good deeds will never die; and that West South street be renamed Wasson street, in memory of that revered and beloved patriot, Capt. J. M. Wasson. City Beautiful.