International Peace Garden, History and Progress

              sections, and the National Flags fly, one to the north and the other to the south, of
the Cairn. The Homemakers organizations of the two countries have assumed the
cost of developing and maintaining the areas north and south of the entrance
roads. Ornamental shrubs, together with spring, summer and autumn flowers, make
this part of the Garden particularly attractive during the season of growth.
West of the Cairn and beyond the roads connecting the Canadian and Ameri­can
sides are two large turf plots, one on each side of the International Line,
sponsored by the Junior Red Cross of the two countries. These extensive lawns are
enclosed by ornamental hedges and between the hedges and the parking lots are
extensive plantings of trees and shrubs. The ground slopes gently upward to the
west for almost the full length of the Peace Panel. The drop, however, is much
more rapid on the Terrace Panel, averaging four per cent.
The Terrace Panel has seven terraced stone walls, these being built chiefly to
check soil erosion and to maintain the earth at the desired grades. When com­pleted,
the terraces are to be a combination of stonework and water in pools, as
well as flowing down the International Line, banked by thousands of trees and
shrubs, with a high terrace from which an excellent view of the whole of the
Formal Area of the Garden can be obtained. The Province of Manitoba through
its Highway Department supplied the large scrapers and engineering services that
were used to establish the earth grades shown on the architect's plans. The top
soil was saved and spread back after levelling of the clay was completed.
The first or upper terrace is almost completed. The pilasters in the massive
stone walls rise two and a half feet above the main stone walls and support heavy
iron balustrades, that not only add beauty and finish but they prevent the unwary
from dropping several feet to the next terrace. The central feature in the upper
terrace is a large concrete pool, half on each side of the International Line. At
each end of the terrace, framed by the stone retaining walls, is to be a stone
summer house. Between each of these and the pool is to be a turf plot. The
remainder of the terrace will be covered with flagstone. This terrace, over three
hundred feet long, w i l l be a promenade from which visitors can look back over the
Peace Panel and down into the terraces below and, when the Garden is complete,
into the Sunken Garden in the valley, and spread before them on the sloping h i l l ­side
beyond w i l l be the Cascade Panel, the Reflecting Pool section, and the Peace
Tower on the hilltop.
The second ten- ace is also nearing completion. Two massive stone stairways
lead from the upper to the lower terrace. These stairs are thirteen feet wide and
sixty- seven feet long. The treads are sawn granite and the four landings i n each
stair are asphalt. These stairs partially encircle the large pool and this lower
terrace. A n alcove in the stone retaining wall back of the pool is on the Inter­national
Line. In this, a fountain fed from the upper pool will play, the water
overflowing along with that from a separate feed line into the second pool over a
series of low stone curbs. A good depth of top soil has been spread between the
pool and the stairs in preparation for planting trees and shrubs.
The Governments of the State of North Dakota and the Province of Manitoba
are active participants i n the development of this huge project and the municipali­ties
of Manitoba take out yearly memberships. Neighboring Chambers of Com­merce
i n both countries are aiding, the Boissevain Chamber having recehdy com­pleted
a campaign to raise $ 1,500 to help finance the Peace Garden. Womens
organizations have given wonderful encouragement. The Federated Women's
Institutes of Canada, and the Homemakers of the United States, the Imperial
Order Daughters of the Empire, the Order of the Eastern Star and the Busi­ness
and Professional Women's Clubs have not only assisted financially but they
have also used Peace Garden literature i n then study groups. These Women's
Organizations recognize the part that this International Peace Garden can play in
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