Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-11-29

In the year 1895 its population was 500
" g." 1881 &" -" l.l00
" " 1910 " " q" COL
" " 1850 q" " 1904
a." 1860 " " 1850
" 1855 {" " about 65, 900
showing more than 40 per cent. increase
in the past five years. Taking the past
| growth as a criterion, and even diminishing
The ratio of increase for each successive
period of five years, for the next thirty
years. the population Of the city at the eX-
piration Of that time, will undoubtedly be,
at least. as follows:
In 1870, S4,3f5: ratio Of increase IS p cent,
about the size of Buffalo at this time.
In 1873, I0g,677; ratio Of increase 30 p cent,
about the size of Chicago in 1860.
In 1850, I37 1856; ratio of increase IS "a cent,
about the size of New Orleans in 1856.
In 1885, iGI .4SG; ratio of increase 20 cent,
about the size of Cincinnati in 1860.
In 1890, IS9,1 5S ratio of increase 10 p cent,
about the size of Baltimore in 1860.
III 1895, 20s,073; ratio of increase 10 7 cent,
about the size of Cincinnati in 1865.
This estimate. it will readily be seen, is
moderate, when it is considered that the an
ticipated ratio of future increase is far less
than the actual ratio of increase has been
in the past.
The future wealth Of our city, according
to the well known law Of increase in the
value of real estate by growth in popula-
ton, Will be far greater in proportion to the
number Of its citizens, than at the present
time.
For the accommodation of this great fu-
ture population, our city has neither Parks
nor Markets adequate to its wants. In
these respects it Is far hahind most cities of
its class. It is not necessary for your Com
4 ----1-E a.. ---N e g--.-1-hF IN
not providing grounds for Parks and Mar
kets years ago, commensurate with the flu
ture growth Of the city, inasmueh as we are
all agreed upon that point. The necessity
for Parks was 81 little appreciated during
the early days of our city, that II IS said
that a plat Of ground of several acres in eN-
tent living on the bank of the Lake, was
given To the then village of Cleveland for
Lbe purpose Of a Park, On the sole condition
that the Trustees should take measures TO
fencs it in. Unfortunately there was not
sufficient enterprise or liberality on the part
ofthe Trustees TO appropriate a few dollars
to carry out this condition consequently
the land reverted to the donor.
Your Committee believe that the wisest
policy that c n now be adopted to remedy
the errors of the past, is for this Council to
take measures to secure land for Park pur-
poses nOW-before real estate increases any
further in value, and before it becomes an
im~possibility to secure a location on the
Lake at any price.
Unless this course is adopted, future gen
e%rations will inevitably condemn our lack Of
foresight and public spirit, in the same or
severer terms than those in which We now
speak of the short-sightedness of the early
settlers of our city for their neglect in not
providing suitable grounds for Parks, Mar
- - - $40 aAal4 hanR
been obtained for a merely nominal sum.
Your Committee have given this subject
their earnest and careful consideration, with
a full knowledge of the financial ability of
the city to meet the proposed expenditure,
and they have come to the conclusion that
it is e~Xpedient that three Parks should be
established, with the location and extent
h~ereinafte r specified
For the Lake Park-All the land situated
north OF Lake street, between Seneca street
and the centre of ten-acre lot No. l37, and
all the land north of o line that would be a
continuation of the southerly line of Sum-
nit street, between Bank and Seneca streets,
the whole containing about seventy-seven
acres.
For West Side Park-Seventy-fve acres
located within the following limits Detroit
street on the south, Oakland street on the
east, Lake Erie on the north, and lands
owned by W. P. Taft, on the west.
For Park in the Eastern Section of the
City-Fifty acres in any suitable location
between the following named streets Hud-
son On the west, Wilson avenue on the east,
Cedar street on the north, and kinsman
street on the south.
The following are ONE of reasons that
have Influenced your Committee TO make
the foregoing recommendations for three
Parks
First, 1t is generally conceded that if but
one additional Park is to be established, it
should be located on the East Side. In that
event, owing to the peculiar typographical
formation of the ground on which the city
i situated, and the distance from the ex-
IRENE western limit to the eastern side, this
location would be exceedingly in%conyenient
and out of the way for the people of the
West Side, composed as they are mainly OF
the working class who are not able to keep
conveyanees.
Under these circumstances your Com
mittee deem it expedient that aPark be es-
tablishcd on the West Side, located in ac-
eordanee with the recommendations EN-
braced in this report.
Second, That for the purpose of accom-
modating the business and central portions
Of our city, and also with the intention of
affording a place where 1.-THE people" can
obtain an unObstructed view of the Lake, it
is deemed of the most essential importance
that q Park should be also established on
the Lake Shore, as herein before described.
Third, That owing to the great distance
from the e%asterly limits of the city to the
proposed location for a Lake Park, it would
be incnnyenient for the residents of the for
mer section consisting largely of the work
ing class, to visit that Park often and
also owing to the fact that land in the east
ern part of the city can now be purchased at
a comparatively low price, and that several
gentlemen have already agreed 10 cOntri-
butte the sum of ten thousand dollars toward
the m of the same, and that undoubt-
edly still further amounts will be eontribut-
ed for that purpose. The outlay for such a
Park will not be unreasonable, especially
when we take into account the enjoyment it
will give to a large population that will ex-
ist in its vicinity. For the foregoing and
other reasons, your Committee recommend
the establishment of a Park, as before de
scribed, IN thst seation Of the city.
We are fully satisfied that it is universally
the desire of our people to have provided
more Park privileges, especially one located
on the Lake Shore. Your Committee feel
perfectly justified in making the foregoing
Recommendation on the following grounds:
That the establishment of the proposed
Park, more partieularlythe one on the Lake
shore, will add TO the beauty and attractive
ness of Cleveland to such an extent as TO in
vite from abroad many, especially men of
capital, who would make this city their flu
ture home, and add greatly to our tax dupli-
cate.
The Lake Park would increase the repqta-
ton of the city as a place of summer resort
to such a degree as TO make it a rival of New
port as a watering place. Our people, espe-
eially the women and children, would be in
elined to spend more time out of doors en-
joying themselves on these grounds. 1t will
be needless for your Committee to speak of
the impression the Lake Park would create
on the mind of the stranger unaccustomed
to such scenes. 1t can be imagined that
bis thoughts viii often revert to its beau
ties and to the prandeur of its