Fifteen Years In Ann Arbor

Ai+.ii a. -aio íii muí íilUUI. In Rev. Dr. Sunderland's fifteenth anniversary sermón he had this to say of the changes in Ann Arbor in the past fifteen years: "The changes in Ann Arbor wrought within these fifteen years have been many. In resident population it has increased about onethird; in student population it has more than doubled. This means that there has been considerable building going on all the while, - indeed our best residences have a large portion of them been erected during this decade and a half. Fifteen years ago our court house was not finished - though it was nearing completion; and taking the place as it did, of a building so stnall anc poor, it was probably the greatest single iraprovements in the architectual line known to our history. The opening of the Toledo and Ann Arbor railway falls within my memory as a resident here. The construction of the motor railway line to our neighboring city of Ypsilanti, falls within the last third of the fifteen years, as does that of our own electric street railwav. About the middle of the fifteen years carne the lighting of oar streets rby electricity, instead of by gas - a great advance. Near the same time carne our city water works, a still greater improvement, though lackit&g rnuch of giving us the perfect water supply that was promised. The repeated derelictions of the water company is one more lesson added to the hundreds and thousands of similar ones in this country, which ought at last to open the eyes (of the American people to the wis dom of the municipal ownership of all such local monopolies as water, gas, and the like. One of the great iraprovements of the fifteen years is our excellent fire department. I recollect that one of the curiosities that first attracted my attentioa on my arrival here was the oíd fire enginë, trundled about the streets by hand, by volunteer fïremen, and operated by hand, and about as effective in putting out a fire as an oíd woman With a teakettle. Ever since we have had a public water supply there has been a constant agitation of the very important subject of sewers, and it is gratifying that at last it has been settled that we are to have them. They cannot fail to be a benefit to the public health, and to add much to the desirableness of Ann Arbor as a jlace of residence. For years after I came here every one went to the postofïice for his mail. But our free delivery system vhich now we could not do without, came at last, though not until after manyefforts to secure it. l nave spoken of the growth of the town in population, and the steady iiuprovement that has been made in our buildings. Accompanying these there has naturally been a considerable extensión of área, in various directions, so that the city extends now over probably twice as much ground as it did fifeen years ago. At that time our beautiful Forest Hill Cemetery was spoken of as new, and was quite out of town. But now the town has crept up close to it, and is even spreading bevond it. And alas! how fast, too, has increased the population of that quiet city of the dead! Since the old cemetery, between Hurón and Washington streets, required to be removed, it was fitting that its ground should be made a public park. It is so central and accessible that it will always be an ornament and a benefit to the city. I cannot help regretting, however, that it could nothave been extended so as to take in the small and steep, but picturesque, hills and valleys to the east, north and south, including that unsightly pool of stagnant water, known as the "cat-hole," now a public nuisance and a hindrance to the growth of that part of the city, but so easily capable of being transformed into a pretty pond, one of the most attractive features of the public park, that ought to surround it. There is no greater wisdom in the management of a city than that which looks out in time for the addition of parks and open squares and features of permanent public attractiveness. Sometime it will be seen, even more clearly than it ís now. what lasting public factors were the men who laid out that charming walk and drive áround Cedar Bend, which we have christened as the Boulevard. But it should not stop where it does. Tiiat alone is a mere fragment. It should be extended to take in the whble circle of bluffs that line both sides of the river valley. Then we should have one of the most varied, ovély and picturesque drives to be found anywhere in the west. And such a drive would greatly hasten he time, sure to come sooner or ater, when all our bluffs and hills will be crowned with fin'e resilences." Branch 14, C. M. B. A., held their annual election of officers Tuesday, which resulted as foHovvs: Spiritual adviser, Rev. Fr. Kelly; president, George A. Fisher; first ice president, Dr. J. A. Wessinger; econd vice president, Thos. Hoven; ecording secretary, M. J. O'Brien: orresponding secretary, William Caspary, jr. ; financial secretary, J. C. Bdrns; treasurer, J. O'Brien; marshal, J. O'Connell; guard, M. Williams; trustees, D. J. Ross, J. Eisele, B. St. James, J. Manning, C. P. Carey. It may not be generally known that Mr. Ross G. Colé, director of the Ripon Conservatory of Music, was orie of those chosen by the World 's Fair Bureau of Music to write a set of chüdrens' songs to be sung by the great childrens' chorus at the World's Fair. These songs are published in the Childrens' Souvenir song book, together with those of such eminent composers as J. K. Paine, J. Barney, J. W. Chadwick, Arthur Foote, Ethelbert Nevin and others. It will therefore be of interest to Mr. Cole's many Ann Arbor friends to know that a concert made up entirely of his compositions will be given before the Inland League, Dec. 20. Mr. Cole will be assisted by Miss Fannie Louise Gwinner, director of the piano department at the Ripon Conservatory and his sister, Miss Lucy Cole, E. N. Bilbie and others. Uy special request the California Opera Co. will present the "Chimes of Normandy" at the matinee tomorrow afternoon. This is done especially to accomodate the ladies j and children.