Charities.—Among the benevolent and phil anthropic institutions are the Toledo State Hos pital for the Insane, supported by the State. This is an institution on the cottage plan, with accommodations for 1,700 inmates; the Toledo Hospital, a large institution supported by the voluntary contributions of citizens; Saint Vin cent's Hospital and Saint Anthony's Orphans' Home, conducted by the Gray Nuns; Lutheran Orphans' Home; Old Ladies' Home; a Roman Catholic hospital for the aged, conducted by the Little Sisters of the Poor; Mercy Hospital; Robinwood Hospital; Flower Hospital; Mater nity Hospital; the Country Children's Home; the Young Men's Christian Association and Young Woman's Christian Association; the day nursery, a home for foundlings, training school for nurses and a number of private hospitals.
Parks.— The park system of Toledo em braces a total of 1,532 acres; beginning at the city limits up the river on the west side is Walbridge Park, 64 acres, on a bluff 75 feet high, with an unrivaled river view; Ottawa Park, on the western side of the city, 280 acres; Willys Park, 100 acres; Bay View Park, 202 acres, at the point where the river empties into the bay. Further up the river on this side is Riverside Park, 63 acres, fronting the stream. On the east side are Collins Park, 90 acres, and Navarre Park, 62 acres. Besides these, there are 44 smaller parks and triangular spaces, ranging from one-eighth of an acre to seven acres area. The large parks are con nected by a boulevard, which is 10 miles long on the west side, 150 to 200 feet wide, now under construction, extending in a serni-circle from Walbridge to Bay View parks, the most of the necessary land being donated by property owners. On the east side a similar semi-circle is projected and partially completed. Recrea tion centres and parks are being increased in number as rapidly as the city budget permits.
Recreation.-- Toledo offers all the advan tages of a summer resort, because of its prox imity to Lake Erie and its fine beaches. Just 45 minutes from the heart of the city is located Toledo Beach. Here will be found many com fortable summer homes along the edge of Lake Erie, extending for a distance of several miles. Hundreds of Toledo people spend the summer months at the beach, going to and from work each day. The street car company maintains a half-hour service to this resort. Point Place arid Edgewater, located on the bay just outside the city limits, are meccas for fishermen. On the south shore of Maumee Bay will be found Harbor View Beach, with many cozy summer homes nestled among the groves which border the bay shore. In the city Walbridge, Riverside and Bay View parks are located on the banks of the Maumee River. These are easy of access
and daily, during the summer time, attract thou sands of people. Yachting and canoeing are favorite sports in Toledo. The river and bay are dotted with small crafts of all kinds. More than $5,000,000 has been invested by the people of Toledo in sailboats, motorboats, canoes and cruising yachts. There are three yacht clubs and a power boat club. Toledo Yacht Club maintains one of the finest buildings of its kind in the country at the mouth of the Maumee River. This club adjoins Bay View Park. The Toledo Power Boat Club is situated on the bay near Bay View Park. The Maumee River Yacht Club is located at the southerly end of Walbridge Park. The Ottawa River Yacht Club has headquarters on Ottawa River near the bay. The city maintains a municipal club house at Riverside Park. There are many other smaller club houses supported by canoe clubs, etc. In the winter time ice boating and skating are the leading outdoor sports. Practi cally all of Toledo's parks have public swim-. ming pools and the most modem playgrounds equipped for the children. In Ottawa Park there is one of the finest municipal golf courses in the United States. Public tennis courts also are maintained by the city. Fine golf courses are maintained by the Inverness Club, Country Club, South Shore Country Club and the Syl vania Golf Club. There is a keen interest in Toledo in baseball. Toledo supports a team in the American Association, and Swayne Field, the home of the Toledo team, is one of the finest ball parks in the league. There are many semi-professional teams which have large fol lowings. The city maintains ball diamonds in several of its parks. Toledo is a Mecca for excursions dunng the summer months; people come for hundreds of miles to take trips on the water. Three passenger steamship lines main tain regular service to Sugar Island, Detroit, Mackinac,, Put-in-Bay, Cedar Point, Cleveland, Buffalo and other points on the Great Lakes.
Government— Toledo has a simplified form of the Federal form of government. The people elect the mayor, vice-mayor and one ward councilman. All other city officers are ap pointed by the mayor, with the exception of the city clerk, who is elected by council. All city offices are for a term of two years. There are 16 wards. The vice-mayor presides over council, but has no vote except in case of a tie. The mayor's cabinet, appointed by him, consists of the heads of various city depart ments; these are a director of law, director of public service, director of public safety, director of public welfare, director of finance.