The normal precipitation by months by the Weather Bureau: January, 5.10 inches; February, 5.23; March, 5.65; April, 4.23; May, 3.38; June, 4.04; July, 4.22; August, 4.58; September, 3.51; October, 2.36; November, 3.49; December, 4.29. The annual average rainfall is 50.08. Parks. Atlanta has several fine parks and places of resort. The L. P. Grant Park, on the edge of the city near a battle-field of 1864, is a sylvan retreat of rare beauty, with a Zoo and Cyclorama added to the attractions of nature. It is the resort of picnic parties from the surrounding towns for many miles. Piedmont Park, the site of fairs and expositions, is in the suburbs, half a mile beyond the city limits, on one of the battle-grounds of the Civil War. It has a lake and a picturesque site, with a number of large buildings. Lakewood, as its name suggests, affords opportunity for aquatic sports. The same is true of East Lake, where there is elaborate provision for bathing. Ponce de Leon Springs, within the city limits, and the Chattahoochee River, eight miles out, are places of resort. The Kirkwood Land Company has in preparation one of the most beautiful residence parks in America, and Atkins Park will be another place of loveliness. To all these parks and places of resort there is an excellent street-car service. The exposition grounds at Piedmont Park also have connection with the city by the Southern Railway. Department of the Gulf. In 1903 the Department of the Gulf, U. S. Army, was re-established and headquarters located at Atlanta, and the following officers are in command: Brigadier-General Thomas H. Berry, commanding; Major Millard F. Waltz, Adjutant General; Major Lewis E. Goodier, Judge-Advocate; Lieut.-Colonel Samuel R. Jones, Chief Quartermaster; Lieut.-Colonel Henry B. Osgood, Chief Commissary; Lieut.-Colonel Edwin F. Gardiner, Chief Surgeon; Major Elijah W. Halford, Chief Paymaster; Captain Manly B. Curry, Paymaster; Lieut. H. H. Sheen, A. D. C.; Lieut. A. M. Ferguson, A. D. C. Fort McPherson. An Army post is always an attraction because of the parades and the music, and its disbursements add materially to a city's income. Fort McPherson, four miles out on the Central of Georgia Railway and two car lines, is one of the best-constructed posts in the United States and much visited by citizens. It is a community in itself, with an independent waterworks system and a complete system of sewerage. There are permanent barracks, ample for one regiment, and during the Spanish War several thousand soldiers were quartered here at one time by using wooden barracks in addition. The officers' quarters are unusually good, and there is a well-appointed hospital. [Illustration: CAPITOL AVENUE--VIEW FROM WOODWARD AVENUE.] [Illustration: RESIDENCE OF ASA G. CANDLER.] Hospitals.