ZIMMERMAN MOTOR CAR CO. Walnut and Lin ) \ Automobile Repairing in all its branches. / ' . f i ' Portable and Stationary Gas and Gasoline Engine Repairing. Light Machine Work Done. Ignition, Carburation, Lubrication, Lighting and Starting System Maintenance and Repairing. We maintain a service sta'ion for Eisemann Mag netos; and have a thoroughly equipped de partment for testing, overhauling and remagnetizing all makes and models of magnetos. When in need of advice or service consult us. All work guaranteed. PARK DEVELOPMENT W THE IMPORTANT FEATURES OF YEAR 1914 TUB year 1914 will witness an other great step in the work of park development in Harrisburg. The city now has SIOO,OOO at its com mand for the extension of its park system and the purchase of additional ground for playground purposes. A part of this money will be used, no doubt, to advance the playground work and to complete certain incom plete stretches of the parkway des tined eventually to encircle the entire city. But the playground work is considered most important. This SIOO,OOO will probably be the last to be borrowed for park purposes in Harrisburg for some time, as it will go a long way toward the com pletion of the park system so far as the purchase of land is concerned. One of the movements affoat is to clear that portion of Front street known as "Hardscrabble" of its houses and turn it into a public play ground. Then, too, the park com missioner will have to think of the parking of the river banks after the completion of the river wall. The story of park development in Harrisburg is one of much Interest. When the commission was organ ized in 1902 it found Itself without funds and with no land in its custody save the three acres of grass park and An unnamed plot of three-quar ters of an acre also along the river front. Reservoir park was then in charge of the water board. To-day the commission ministers over 900 acres of parks, parkways, playgrounds and athletic fields, is sponsor for num berless baseball, football and other athletic teams, conducts school and I\TOT how many pat rons we can get, but how well we can serve the interests of the clients we have, is the policy that has been responsible for the gratifying growth of our business. Brinton-Packer Co., Real Estate—lnsurance—Surety Bonds SECOND AND WALNUT STS. HARRISBURG, PA. \ v.. college field and track meets, con ducts public bathing beaches and operates an extensive nursery where all of the trees and other plants used for park ornamentation are raised. As late as 1902 municipal park ap propriations were unknown. Now $30,000 yearly is scarcely enough to provide for the needs of the people— demands would be a better word for the public of Harrisburg has been educated up to expect much from the park management. The real activities of the park com mission began with its election on January 20, 1903, of Warren H. Man ning as its landscape adviser. This election was not only for the best in the judgment of the commission, but in compliance with the earnest rep resentatives made to it by the several civic bodies which had to do with the improvement campaign. Tt has been contended and is still in full force. Under the advice of Mr. Manning a playground at Herr and Twelfth streets, was purchased April 22, 1903. being the first land acquired. This playground, including eight acres, was the only ground acquired during 1903 outside of the existing river parks. For the purposes of comparison it should be noted that the acreage of the park territory which came under the control of the commission at its formation was as previously stated three and three-quarters acres, and that when it had secured jurisdiction over the river front parks and Reser voir park the amount thus placed in its hands included a total of 42 acres. Following somewhat the lines of park development upon which the HARiIISBUR6 TELEGRAPH public had passed In the improve ment campaign of 1902, but paying more heed to the careful study of conditions prevailing about Harris | burg made by Mr. Manning as the adviser of the commission, it was early realized that the development of a park system in HarritJburg presented j peculiar and special conditions. The j city is relativelj narrow, and its chief ! distinction is in the magnificent river j front it possesses, practically un j touched by commerce or buildings. It | was seen therefore that the river ! front must be a matter of primary ! and careful attention. To provide j suitable recreation facilites was the | motive underlying the selection of the ! Twelfth street playground. The im ! provement of Reservoir Park and its I condition as the great scenic park, , including within its eventual limits ! the highest natural elevation close to j Harrisburg, was obviously required. ; The consideration of the great wood j land opportunity lying north of the ; city included in the territory generally j known as Wetzel's Swamp early en- I gaged the attention of the cormnis- I siorf. The possibilities of usefulness I in connection with the islands in the ; Susquehanna river focused upon Har gest's Island, being considered in 1904 as a possible place for the city's fil tration plant. As connecting in a sense all of these various park de velopments including the river front, ; the eastern border of the Wetzel i Swamp district, a connection from j there by way of the State Insane Hos -1 pital and the State Arsenal with Res ervoir Park, and thence by way of i Paxtang and South Hairlsburg with j the river front. The parkway scheme was of an exceptional character though directly in line with the modern ideals in the best park practice and tending to ward the continual purpose of the commission of bringing the parks close to the people rather than forc ing the people to seek the parks. Several inner parkways and a pos sible recreation park to meet the needs of South Harrisburg in the neighborhood of Cameron and £>ock streets were carefully considered in the general plan, as well as the develop ment of a playground in the Tenth ward. After much Inquiry as to the land values, and taking into account the relatively scanty resources at the command of the commission for the requirement of such great areas as would be Included in the above plans; realizing also the necessity of a de velopment which would as nearly as possible approximate the park ideal of an acre of land for each 100 of in habitants. a general plan was decided upon, Including practically all the items above mentioned. There was a demand that in har mony with the proceeding develop ment and the building of a new State Capitol, State street should be im proved, under which, and by plans, obtained from Mr. Manning the whole length of that wide st/reet, save be tween Filbert and Thirteenth streets, was distinguished by the creation of central and stone-curbed grass plots, in the early part of 1904. In the same year the Twelfth street playground was opened to the public. The wading pool, a novelty in Penn sylvania, was built and tennis courts provided. In 1906 a complete out door gymnasium of the best charac ter was added to this playground which has been of great and continual usefulness. It was in 1904 also that ground was purchased for the extension of the Reservoir Park to the extent of 45 acres. Negotiations for the purchase of a portion of the Doehne tract joining Renervoir Park having failed, the authority of the city solicitor was invoked and thirteen acres of that tract condemned for park purposes. In 1905 51 icres of land lying along Spring creek and extending eastward from Cameron street, was donated by ex-Senator J. Donald Cameron. The commission also received by gift slightly less than 13 acres of land in the Wetzel Swamp district from W. R. Fleming, and by purchase acquired a total of 252 acres at a cost of $21,- 970.78. During 1905 much work was done along the river front the path along the edge of the bank being completed and lighted, benches being provided and the park regularly policed. The commission acquired by gift from Rachel Cameron Hale and from John Hoffer a total of nine acres along the parkway east of Reservoir Park, and occupied by consent, pending completion of the necessary transfers, two and one-half acres as the prop erty of T. G. and W. J. Calder. Hargest's Island, from the Walnut street bridge to its southern point, a total of 23 acres, the Harrisburg Bridge Company leased to the com mission for twenty years, at a rental of one dollar per year. It was at once made useful in two important ways; first, In the establishment of a park nursery, in which trees and plants purchased elsewhere might be grown to proper planting condition, and in which also plants and trees might be propagated for the uses of the city. It may be remarked at this time that the operation of this nursery has been extremely satisfactory and notably profitable. At current prices 'which the commission had previously paid and would now have to pay for the necessary nursery stock, the island nursery has saved the city consider ably over fifty thousand dollars. That part of the island south of the Market street bridge was con verted into a recreation field, includ ing fpur baseball diamonds, two of which are diverted to football uses each autumn. A well arranged cinder running course, a basketball field and five tennis courts are also provided, as well as floating public baths. Island Park has afforded opportun ity for fostering various forms of sports. To be in line with modern progress the commission Installed early in 1907 floating baths at the southeast corner of Island Park, with the result that over fifteen thousand baths were there taken and the the facilities taxed to the utmost. An at tendant was provided and also such facilities as the meager means of the commission permitted. This bath house has been followed by two oth ers, one exclusively for mothers and girls. Having possession of the Island Park, opportunity was taken to fos ter water sports, with the result or holding a water carnival on Labor Day, September 2, 1907. On this oc casion there were swimming races, rowing races, canoe races and motor boat races, and fully fifteen thousand people enjoyed sports not before avail able in Harrisburg. The tennis courts in the various parks and playgrounds have been con stantly in use. There are twenty-one in all and on many occasions all were completely occupied, with many wait ing to be served. Many tournaments have been played on the courts in the parks. Harrisburg enjoys unique dis tinction of having the only public golf course In Pennsylvania, and one of the few in the United States. It was prepared in Reservoir Park during 1906 and was improved in 1907, with the result of enlisting the interest of, and providing recreation for, a large number of people, to whom such fa HARRISBURG IS BIG AUTOMOBILE CENTER Hundreds of Cars Have Been Sold Here and the Business Is Only in Its Infancy Harrlsburg's automobile business has grown In the past ten years from almost nothing to one of the most im portant branches of trade in the city. There Is no town in the land where more people of moderate means own and operate cars than In Harrisburg, and many enthusiasts own several. The automobile delivery trucks and cars are as numerous in the streets almost as horses and in time will ex ceed the number of horse-drawn vehicles, while the motorcycle is al most as numerous as the bicycle used to be. The number of cars'sold in this locality would total an Immense for tune. Differing from the bicycle, the auto has come to stay and is fast developing into one of the city's best lines of industry. In this vicinity the automobile has passed the luxury stage. Where it has not become a necessity it has at least taken on the air of a very desirable convenience. This is amply indicated by the ever-increasing sale of cars. A years ago dealers began to fear that the market would be 100 small to ac commodate the large number of firms and agencies that went into business, but the opposite has been the case. Not only have all of the old firms that have enjoyed good management pros pered, but new ones are appearing every year, and there seems to be no end to the business which their shrewd salesmen are capable of developing. Many Garages The large number of garages spring ing up on the side streets are ample proof that there Is an ever-increasing demand for housing room and repair shop facilities. Harrisburg is popular with touring parties and during the Spring, summer and Fall the local garages are con stantly tilled with cars stored for the night. As the road system of the State is developed these touring parties will increase in number. In time, it is pre dicted, Harrisburg will become as im portant an automobile stop-off as are many of the cities scattered through out New England which derive thou sands of dollars annually from the automobilists who spend their vaca tion in that picturesque region of splendid highways. Just now poor roads and inadequate hotel facilities are a bar to the rapid growth of this business. Scores of business trucks are also stored In these garages at reasonable rentals per month, the public garage having the advantage over the private storage place of possessing equipment for washing and repairing cars during the night when they are not in active use. The business when conducted along progressive lines is proving profitable and there is room for more of them as the number of cars in use in the city Increases. It is estimated that there are more than two score public garages in Har risburg and the small towns immedi ately surrounding. Business Is Good During the past two years the num ber of automobiles sold by Harrisburg and Dauphin county dealers has nearly doubled. The demand at present is good, but the selling season will not open properly until after the automo bile show, which will be held in March. All manner of cars will be shown and It Is expected that the sales will show a sharp increase as soon as the weather opens up and the buyers have had an op; ortunity to study fully the new styles in ma chines and equipment. The physician, minister or profes sional man of Harrisburg that does not own a car for use in connection with his business Is the exception rather than the rule and the Dauphin county farmer who is not up on the new wrinkles in 1914 models is looked upon by his neighbor with scorn. Thb horse is fast giving way to the auto in the rural regions surrounding Har risburg in favor of the roadster or the flve-oassenger car. The motorcycle is even more popu lar than the auto in the farming dis tricts as well as the city. The young man who cannot afford a car or fast horse now invests in a motorcvcle built for two and he and his "girl" can cover more ground on it in one evening than his lather used to do cilities would not otherwise have been accessible. For the maintenance of these sports the money has been provided for the most part by the people interested, and they have been maintained at a very trifling expense to the commis sion, aside from the interest and su pervision of the commission's super intendent and secretary. The development of amateur sports and the growth of playground work have been extensive and have come to be such important features of life in Harrisburg as to deserve separate treatment. They are too expensive to be passed with a paragraph or two. Including the reimbursement of fif teen thousand dollars by the board of public works, expended for lands ac quired to aid in its flood prevention scheme, and various other items, the total receipts of this commission have been $265,247.30 from loans, not in cluding the SIOO,OOO now at hand. This year also witnessed the pass ing of the old park commission and the substitution of a city councilman in control of the system, according to the provisions of the Clark small council act. The work of extending Capitol Park to take In all that section of land ly ing between North and Walnut streets and Fourth street and the railroad right of way will be pushed rapidly in 1914 by the commission having the task In charge. By the time the next Legislature convenes much bf the property ac quired will have been razed and the cellars leveled to street grade. Hun dreds of houses have been,already re moved and the work is moving along at a rapid rate. A large majority of the most important structures have been taken over by the State and a few of the most commodious are be ing used to house State departments. The old Keeley Cure building is hous ing one lot of clerks while a road ex periment station will be maintained in the Fourth street electric light plant until such time as the State needs the land for extension pur poses. The commission will In all likeli hood shortly suggest that some pre liminary plan be worked out for the beautiflcation of the land acquired. The appropriation made some years since was simply for the purchase of the property and was so understood. It will now become necessary to de vise a way to treat the new park in order to give the Capitol a proper setting and this will be taken up by the next Legislature, In all likelihood. There is some hint of an enlargement of the Capitol, also, due to the fact that It is already overcrowded and some of the departments have to be housed elsewhere than on the Hill, something that would have been be lieved to be entirely unnecessary when the new building was erected. behind his "fast stepper" in a whole season. An Evening In Reading As an example, a young man and woman aboard one of these machines paused at the Market street toll gate on their way from Mechanicsburg. "Hello, George," called a friend, "where are you bound?" "Oh," replied George in a matter of fact way, "Mary and I are just running over to Reading to spend the evening." Which was indeed the re markable little journev they had In mind. Several thousand of these machines are owned in this immediate vicinity and many suourbanites use them in going to and from their work. Dealers in used cars have always found an open market in the country districts for the sale of used auto dlstrlcts for the sale of used automo biles. Many Dauphin county farmers, especially truck growers, find the com bination delivery and pleasure car an aceptable and reliable conveyance be cause of the ease with which the bodies may be converted to suit their diversi fied uses. The farmer-purchaser, by an ingenious system in which he has the body supports arranged on the chassis, with but little time and assistance, changes this combination car into any style he may desire. On market days quite a number of cars of this type may be observed in this city. Local dealers predict that it will be only a question of a few years when farmers living in this and adjoining counties will rely almost entirely on the auto mobile lor the transport of thuir prod ucts to their various destinations. The increase in sales throughout the rural districts resulted in the erection of many garages in many boroughs and villages. The styles of architecture and the modern equipment of some of these structures have often been the subject of favorable comment among enthusiasts. Harrisburg truck dealers say the past year was an exceptionally brisk one. Business in general was far in advance of the year preceding. Deal ers have already mapped out their selling plans in anticipation of a busy season this year. The outlook from all appearances is exceptionaly bright. Many dealers who handled nothing but pleasure ears for a number of years, observing that there was an open market in Harrisburg for some time with signs of a continuance for an indefinite period, recently launched into the motor truck business, which is easily handled without interference with the pleasure car trade. Harrisburg merchants use trucks extensively for delivery purposes. Hardly a week passes that a new motor truck, belonging to some enter prising merchant, does not make its appearance in the steeets. Depart ment stores, wholesale and retail gro cers, Ice cream manufacturers, cater ers, furniture dealers, transfer agents, butchers, confectioners, milliners, shoe dealers, and even undertaking establishments, as well as the mer chant of limited means, are gradually replacing their horses with the more up-to-date and convenient motor truck. There is not a department firm in this city that does not at pres ent have a well-regulated auto deliv ery service. The system of the horse and van delivery service is fast be coming inadequate to meet the needs of the many merchants In Harrisburg. Besides makin- better progress, motor service to some extent has been found to be of great advertising value among merchants. Competition in some lines almost demands the innovation, the time saved and great carrying capacity of these machines overshadowing all methods of delivery. For suburban deliveries, where the matter of dis tance once denied the merchant trado because of use of horse deliveries, he is now able to reach many outlying districts of the city and county in an incredibly short space of time. The small merchant is greatly benefited in tills respect and can afford to be in dependent In regard to uncertain freight deliveries placed in the hands of others, the question of mileage not handicapping him. Altogether Harrlsburg's auto busi ness is excellent, with bright prospects ! for 1914, MADE IN HARRISBURG Few people know that all of the turbine wheels used in the operation of the Panama canal were made in Harrisburg. The order was the larg est of its kind ever turned out in the United States and was obtained by the local works only after sharp competi tion. PLANS FOR SUMMER The newly organized Clover Motor cycle Club, of Chicago, is making prepa rations for great times this summer. Funds are now being raised for the purchase of a half acre of ground on Cedar Lake. A number of tents and other camping equipment will also be purchased, and the club members ex pect to spend their week-ends this sum mer on the lake, fishing, swimming, and boating. They also expect to stnge a number of endurance runs during the summer, the destination of each to be at the camp. WINTER HUNTING TRIP A motorcycle hunting trip, which they all declare the most enjoyable ever, has just been completed by four enthusiasts of Toledo, Ohio, including State Commissioner Jess Campbell One member of the party owned a cabin some miles from Toledo. With this as headquarters they spent the week scouting about the countrv on the two wheelers In search of game. Kach evening, efter a supper made of their day's catch, the quartet smoked their pipes before an open fireplace, and made plans for the coming season's tours. MOTORCYCLE NOTES The members of the Rockford (111.) Motorcycle Club is now more than 150. OeKalb, 111., is to have a motorcycle club. It is said that more than fifty add! t'onal members w,n J° ln the Peoria (111.) Motorcycle Club as a result of the recent membership campaign. Peoria is trying to secure the State F. A. M convention this year. A membership campaign which Is ex pected to bring every motorcycle rider in the city Into the local club, has been started In Ft. "Wayne, Ind. The Chesapeake Motorcycle Club, of Baltimore, Md., has decided to purchase a nine-room club house. In Switzerland there are said to be I more motorcycles than automobiles there being 4,964 two-wheelers In that country. The Rev. Victor H. Wachs, missionary of Korea, uses a motorcycle in covering his field, out of Yeng Ryen. Motorcycles in France must be regis tered with the War Department, so that they mav be requisitioned for army service if necessary. Marshal Vernon Blssell, Af Kenmore, Ohio, has decided to purchase a side car for his motorcycle, in which he ex pects to carry lawbreakers to Jail. The 1914 Helping Hand Book of the Federation of American Motorcyclists, Is now ready for distribution. Any F. A. M. member who desires a copy of tary G. B. Oibson, Wostboro, Mass. The Harrisburg Manufacturing and Boiler Company One of Harrisburg** Chief Manufacturing Industries *][ The Harrisburg Manufactur- Til lng and Boiler Company, al though not so well-known as some other industries of the Capital City, is by far, not the least in Importance. They have been successful in every point of the business In which they are engaged, and the past year has been one that has marked the beginning of another epoch in their history. The nature and quality of their products has alone been the secret of their success, in that not only the highest grade material is used. \ and the best skilled workman- \ ship used in executing orders, but that they stand head and shoulders above their contem poraries In the prompt filling of orders. #IJ The plant of the company is Til located at Nineteenth and Xaudain streets, and on account of ever-growing trade,a machine shop has been erected which from the very first has been crowded to its full capacity. For this reason, the Morton Truck and Tractor Company, which had been operating under the same roof was compelled to take up now quarters, in order to re lieve the congested conditions of the boiler business. Besides the Boilers, which are of the sectional water tube and star safety water tube types, the company manufactures the Pel ton-Francis turbines and Pelton water wheels. The Star safety water tube boiler is one which has forced its way to the front in the industrial world. This model, under the patent name of the "Harrisburg Star Safety Water Tube Boiler" is finished in the shop, and is not taken from the buildings until It Is assem bled ready for firing as soon as installed. In this condition, they are shipped to all parts of the world, and reports from pur chasers as to the satisfactory workings of these boilers, they have by far exceeded the ex pectations of the company wtiich has been instrumental in placing this product on the market. The thing that makes this particular type of boiler in dividual is the fact that they have the shaking grates, and are internally fired. These fea tures alone go a great way in the cutting down of the running expenses of the consumer. An other advantage is that they are only about one-half the size, but at the same time are capable of producing the same, and in some cases a greater horse-power than the so-called standard type of boiler manufactured by other lirms. f]T These facts alone show that Til it is real economy to use this model of boiler, from the stand point of fuel and labor, as well as the saving of room. HI These "Little Big" boilers, as TU they are termed are ever increasing in their popularity. The shop Is at this time being run to Its full capacity, and nt times is being worked at niglit so that tiie orders can be filled promptly. JTT Another of the products o! Til this company is tho stee plate pipe. The pipe is manu factured in all gauges fron six inches to ten feet In diame ter, and the workmen in this de partment have developed sucl skill in the art of pipe making, that an enormous quantity car be rushed through on short no tice. These pipes are now being shipped to all parts of th« United States as well as to manj points in Europe, and as far ai India and Africa. Great quan tities have been used in Panama during the building of the canal, and they have proven satisfac tory in every respect. tf]T The foundry department is TD about the best known end of this industry. Its fame for high grade iron castings has reached almost every port In this and other countries, and the pur chasers are satisfied in every particular. *ll The pattern shop also de- Til serves mention. On account of the peculiar nature of th< castings, this department cat not get along with the mere pat ternmaker, but demands th« highest point of efficiency from skilled mechanics. f]T The Company has also TU adopted the acet.yline weld ing process, which is the most modern. Not only have they in stalled a large stationary outfit, but also a portable one which can be used to advantage on large work that cannot be taken to the welding department. On account of the neatness and sta bility of the material produced by this welding process, this particular work has an ever-in creasing demand. *T[ The officers of the company Til also deserve much praise for the manner in which they con duct the business of the estab lishment. They use fairness as their policy, and this alone goes a long way toward promoting unity and harmony in the entire plant. The officers of the com pany are: S. F. Dunkle, presi dent and manager; E. L. Bray ton, vice-president; John Camp bell, second vice-president, and J. V. Kunze, treasurer. (II One the whole, the outlook Is TU very bright, and the peopls of Harrisburg may well be proud of this growing industry, which Is doing so much toward the industrial and manufacturing as well as commercial progress of the city.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers