With the ending of the year we may say that the work of reconstructing Niagara Square around the McKinley Monument will be finished in all its details as previously planned.

One additional piece of work contained in the original plan has been added and is nearing completion, i. e., a granite coping around each of the eight grass plots.

On the 6th day of September, 1907, the McKinley Monument was formally dedicated with imposing and solemn ceremonies, Charles E. Hughes, Governor of the State of New York, making the principal address. The following is a history of the McKinley Monument.

THE M'KINLEY MONUMENT.

Towering ninety-three feet above Niagara Square is the McKinley Monument, one of the most imposing shafts in the world. Its plain simplicity typifies the character of the beloved President, in memory of whom it was built by the people of the State.

Four inscriptions cut in the stone on the sides of the Monument announce to the world the story of the life of the Twenty-fifth President of the United States.

On the south side of the Monument the tablet is inscribed as follows:

"This shaft was erected by the State of New York to honor the memory of William McKinley, Twenty-fifth President

of the United States of America.''

The tablet on the west side tells of McKinley's honorable war record. It reads:

"William McKinley was born at Niles, Ohio, January 29, 1843; was enlisted in the 23d Ohio Volunteers June 11, 1861, as a private; was mustered out July 26, 1865, as a Major by brevet for gallantry under fire.''

On the north side a brief recital of McKinley's political advancement is inscribed:

"William McKinley was elected to Congress as a Representative from Ohio in 1876, '78, '82, '84, '86, '88. Was elected Governor of Ohio in 1891 and 1893, and President

of the United States in 1896 and 1900."

The tablet on the east side bears this inscription:

"William McKinley died in Buffalo September 14, 1901, victim of a treacherous assassin, who shot the President as he was extending the hand of courtesy."

The shaft is built of carefully selected Vermont marble. From the base to the pinnacle there is not a flaw. Four lions, chiseled out of Italian marble and weighing fifteen tons each, are constantly on guard at the base. They face the points of the compass. The base is twenty-four feet high. The shaft is seven feet square at the bottom and tapers symmetrically to the top. It is sixtynine feet high.

Flanking the base are pools of crystal water, which sparkles unceasingly from graceful fountains. Altogether the splendid pile cost $105,000. It became possible by an act of the Legislature, passed on January 27, 1902, authorizing the expenditure of $100,000 of the State's funds. During the following April Governor Odell appointed a commission to carry out the provisions of the bill. The members chosen were Edward H. Butler, Chairman; George E. Matthews, Secretary, and Wilson S. Bissell, all of Buffalo; and John G. Milburn, New York City, and A. E. Curtice of Fredonia.

Under the terms of the contract, contractors George W. Maltby & Sons were to have possession of the site by July 1, 1904. Owing to litigation, they did not get possession until June 30, 1905. They finished the construction by July 1, 1906. Carrere & Hastings, of New York City, were the architects. The lions were sculptured by A. Phinister Proctor, who made a study from life at the New York Zoo. Other carving was done by Newman & Evans of New York City.

PARKWAYS AND APPPROACHES.

Lincoln, Chapin and Bidwell Parkways have been greatly improved in condition and appearance by the work done upon them a year ago and the year just ending.

One of the changes made in Lincoln Parkway was the removal of the double line of cycle paths which has very greatly improved the looks of the Parkway, and their removal will be a great benefit to the fine trees.

The asphalt pavement in Richmond Avenue is in very bad condition. The plans and specifications to pave this park approach have been prepared, and it is expected that it will be repaved its entire length very soon.

In Front, Porter, and Massachusetts Avenues, the asphalt pavements have been thoroughly repaired and are now in good condition.

Southside and Red Jacket Parkways have their roadways in very good condition by persistent work and the

addition of large quantities of very good gravel, taken from the bed of Cazenovia Creek.

The application of oil and the use of a heavy steam road-roller have benefited those parkways.

Thirty new signs have been placed at prominent points on all the parkways, directing attention to the ordinance that forbids business traffic on the roadways of the parks and parkways.

The signs, however, do not wholly prevent the encroachment of heavy or business traffic. It takes policemen to do that, and we have only a few policemen.

Much work still remains to be done upon a number of the parkways to complete them in a finished condition as originally planned, viz.: To construct curbing, pave the gutters, build silt-basins and receivers, and the complete macadamizing of a number of the roadways.

HEACOCK PARK

Is situated at the entrance to Southside Parkway, at the interesection of South Park Avenue and the Abbott Road.

It has been kept in excellent condition and with its many fine trees and shrubbery is a very pretty little Park.

NORTH STREET CIRCLE.

No additional improvements have been made the past year in this very beautiful place. Continuous daily work is required to care for these grounds, its trees and the extensive floral display,

LANIGAN PARK.

The principal work in this new Park was the planting of a limited number of well-grown trees, and a large number of shrubs. An iron fence was built along the Park front on Elk and Fulton Streets, and with the work of one man daily the whole year the little Park is improv

residents of that section of the City; in fact, they are so well pleased with their Park that an effort is being made by them to secure more land and increase the size of the present Park.

ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN.

Few changes have been made the past year in this department in the way of permanent structures or additions.

Changes have been made in some of the paddocks and some have been made in one or two of the buildings for greater security of the public.

For details of the "Collections" see Curator's report.

PLANTING.

The planting of trees and shrubs, etc., has been done on as large a scale all over the system as was needed and made possible with the means at our disposal.

In connection with the above we would say that our nurseries are kept well supplied with young stock to replace the matured stock, which is withdrawn each year for planting in the parks. By this method a constant supply of well-grown trees and shrubbery is always on hand for planting in the proper season.

FLORICULTURE.

As we have remarked in former reports, the display of plants and flowers increases in quantity as well as in quality each year. Much of this increased demand arises from the improvement of new grounds and of the addition of small parks and triangles to the department.

With larger propagating facilities we have been able the past year to provide a much larger number of budding plants than ever before and we have been able to supply all the plants needed and required in the parks and places in the jurisdiction of the department.

Twenty-seven band concerts were given during the months of June, July and August.

All the concerts were given on Sunday afternoons between the hours of four and six. The concerts were apportioned as follows: Front Park, six; Humboldt Park, six; Delaware Park, six; Cazenovia Park, five; Riverside Park, one; Bennett Park, one, and Elk Street Market, two.

POLICE.

The duties of our numerically small police force have been exacting both Summer and Winter, and they have been well and satisfactorily performed.

The number of men at our disposal was less than in former years, and at this time is considerably less than is absolutely needed to cover the parks and parkways, and to protect the property under their care, and to prevent rowdyism in some of the parks that would not be permitted for a moment in the public streets of our City. When we consider the number of the large parks, the large number of the parkways, the still larger number of the small parks and triangles distributed all over the City, it is painfully evident that the small force at our disposal is utterly inadequate to cover and protect the property and preserve order and secure safety to those who visit the parks.

Some positive action should be taken very soon to increase the number of our men and render the parks safe both day and night, and protect the parkways from injury from the constant encroachment of heavy traffic upon them.

CONCLUSION.

It is with a great deal of satisfaction that we realize that there is a growing feeling among all classes of our citizens in favor of continually improving and enlarging