PARKS. The system embraces about 4000 acres. Public interest has been aroused of late in the development also of parkways. William Penn expressed the desire to make Philadelphia a 'greene country towne;' and his surveyor Bohm placed on the plan. near its four angles, rectangu lar open spaces, now Logan (northwest), Ritten house (southwest) Franklin (northeast). and Washington (southeast) squares, containing an aggregate of 281:2 acres. These, together with Central Square, the site of the original water works. but now of City Hall, formed a cherished precedent. In 1903 there were under the care of the Bureau of City Property more than 50 small parks and plots containing over 600 acres. The largest was League Island Park (300 acres), contiguous to the League Island Navy Yard. In Independence Square the Declaration of Inde pendence was read to the populace. Penn Treaty Square marks the site of the great elm under which, according to tradition, the founder made his famous compact with the Indians. In Logan Square was held in the summer of 1,864 the great Sanitary Fair. Bartram's Garden (27 acres), on the banks of the Schuylkill, was the first botani cal garden in the New World. Its noteworthy arboreal collection has been preserved.
The city's greatest pleasure ground is Fair mount Park, rich in natural beauties. The Schuyl kill divides it into East Park, with over 633 acres, and West Park, with 1323 acres. Along the Wissahickon is the Wissahickon Valley exten sion of 1010 acres. The acquisition in 1812 of 'five acres on Morris's Hill, the original Fair Mount, for water-works and park purposes, led to the formation of the park. To this were added areas of woodland, and country seats, the Lans downe estate of Governor John Penn. Eaglesfield, Sweet Briar. and Solitude; the Belmont home of .Judge Peters of the Supreme Court, where Wash ington. Franklin, Jefferson. Lafayette. and others visited; Mount Pleasant, the residence of Bene dict Arnold; George's Hill (S3 acres). presented by Jesse and Rebecca George; Strawberry Man sion. Lemon Hill. Ormiston. and Edgely. The miniature Letitia House, built by William Penn for his discontented daughter, was transported from the city. The Gardens are main tained by private subscription, admission re ceipts, and municipal appropriations contingent upon the free admission of school children. The Centennial Exposition of 1876 brought many noteworthy structures into the park, the most important that remain being Horticultural Hall, with a fine exotic collection, and Memorial Hall, where are exhibited the \Wilstac•h Art Collection and the display of the Pennsylvania ..\luseum and
School of Industrial Art. A trolley line, below grade. eight miles long, extends to the chief points of attraction. A speedway, one mile in length, is being completed. The Sehuylkill is frequently the scene of regattas, and there are handsome stone boat houses on its eastern bank.
Many fine monuments have been placed in the park. The Washington Monument by Sieniering of Berlin is the most imposing. Funds for its erection were provided by the Society of the Cin cinnati. the subscriptions, begun in 1519. ag gregating $250,000 when the monument was un veiled in May, 1S97. It stands at the Green Street entrance, the termination of the Park Boulevard. This thoroughfare, projected in 1903, is to be 160 feet wide from City Hall to Logan Square, and thence 300 feet wide to the park. In the same year was authorized the construction of the Torresdale Boulevard. 300 feet wide and 15 miles long. from North Broad Street to Torres dale. Of note are the statue- of Lincoln, Garfield, Grant, Meade. Humboldt. Schiller, Goethe. Columbus. Joan of Are, Witherspoon. and Father Mathew: and the Catholic Total Abstinence Fnion Fountain, and the Smith Memorial Arch. Grant's Cabin, occupied as headquarters at City Point. is here preserved. In the city proper are comparatively few works of art, the most impor tant being statues of Washington in front of In dependence Hall. of Franklin on the post-Mae pavement, and of McClellan and Reynolds on City Hall Plaza.
The Wissahickon Valley, a deep wooded ravine, which has been left almost in its original will state. is of interest for its memories and legends of Indian braves and my-tic German monks who made it their retreat. The first paper mill in America was erected on its banks in 1690. In Fairmount Park there arc 20 small streams, several lakes, and more than 150 spring; over• 66 miles of drives. 10 of bridle paths, and 40 of smaller road-. The boundary line is 30 miles long. The entire cost approxi mates $7,000,000, and $3.500,000 has been ex pended in permanent improvements.
The Laurel Hill cemeteries are contiguous to the park. In the city are numerous burial places, many of historic associations.