Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-11-20
shnII the square be opened ?

Within the last few days a petition to
the council has been circulating praying
that Superior street be opened through
the square as of old. This petition has
received the signature of many of our
principal citizens, and we should judge,
from all the indications we have, that in
view of the crowded state of the business
part of the town, and the scarcity of well
located business lots, a large majority of
our people are in favor of opening the
square. We are credibly informed that if
the Council decline to open the square,
suit will be instituted against the city
for the purpose of compelling that action.
How the court will decide, of course we
cannot say, but our opinion is that if the
matter should be contested the city will
be compelled to open the square to both
Superior and Ontario.
1t has been suggested as a sort of COM
promise that Superior street be opened
through, and that the two oblong squares
thus formed, be rounded on each corner,
making them oval shaped. It seems to us
that this would be the best plan decidedly.
By opening Superior street through, we
will obtain a long business street a Ia
Broadway, and thus prevent the rent of
our stores from going upto fabulous Pri-
ces. And having two oval shaped Parks,
one on each side of the street, with the
monument in the center, where it now is,
the Park will have fully as prominent an
appearance as it has now, and VIZ think it
will look better than it does now. By
opening Superior street through we will
have in the course of time, after the May
property is cleared of, n Of the most
magnificent business streets in the world,
extending in a straight line for three miles.
Its width will enable Us to have adouble
track street railway the whole length,
and a large number of first class vacant
lots will be much more accessible than
now, resulting eventually in Superior
street being a rival to Euclid Avenue as a
fashionable street.
The Square for the purpose of a Park
has nothing to entitle it to that appella-
ton. It's simply a small green plot, with
nosscenery excepting its fine shade trees
and the stone and brick edifces surround
ing it. What we need is a Park com
mensurate with the size and wealth of our
city-which should be located on the bank
of the Lake, where that sublime fresh wa.
ter sea can be viewed by our people and
BY strangers without stint. We are GLAD
to see that a resolution has been offered il
the Council to take into consideration the
~practicability Of appropriating 50 much o.
the land lying between Seneca street
and Erie, on the bank of the lake, ms may
be necessary for that purpose 1t would
seem, however, from the amount proposed
to be appropriated, viz 100000, that It'll:
contemplated to purchase only a narrow
strip Immediately on the brow 0 fthe lake
This would simply be laying out a park OF
amiserably contracted scale. 1t should in
cIude the land lying between the lake ant
Lake street and be at least one mill
long, However; half a loaf is better thar
none, and We will accept the half mile
The longer and larger the proposed park
the better it viii be, and in fveyears aftel
the city would not accept for it ten time
its cost Thirteen years age the city ISSUED
its bonds and purchased Woodland Gene
terry. Some people thought this proceed
ing awfully %extravagant then. Now th'
city would not accept five times the cos