, 1869-02-09
4HE LIErnLH PARK HrIf

T.c Lincoln Park bill was approved
ny the Governor yesterday, aud IL now
ls". We print Il in another place, and
Invite attention 10 It's provirions. We
arc not disposed to and lsutt with
measures which have for their object tho
securing Of grounds Tor public parks,
even though VIC cauuoi approve all their
features, yet wc sro bound to ssy That this
IL IN extremely impudcns bin. Il first
cont1sca,es all tho properly Of tho city
1yiDg iu tho vicinity or Lincoln Park.
tTht.e IL no oh)ecston 10 thls;l. emily
serves to hcigh.rn tho cflcct Q! tho rtsL>
II thcu provides for tho condemnation Of
sundry tracts OF land belonging 10 pri-
yatc individuals It then directs tho
Mayor and Comptroller to Issuo bonds Of
The city Of Chicago. "in such amount
as shall DO necessary" to pay for
tlc condemned lands; ard, finally, IL
contains an express provision tha: no
allowance or deduction shall be made In
ary case for bcEcflts or advantages sup
pcstd 10 Do conferred upon the adj AGENT
lands; that IL, when man'a land Is cut
in two rsr;e, and one portion is convert
I'd into park and the other portion into
"pa1k 'front.'" he shall be psid the full
value Of that which goes Into the park,
and no account shall be made Of the in
creased value Of the remainder. 1t is
safe 10 FAY thai, ii these, features were
embodied in the South Side Park bill and
passed by the Legislature. great com
molten would ensue. II the Lincoln
Park bill escapes popular wrath, it will
be bsczuse It's scope Is relatively small.
Tie people OF Chicago want parks.
There Is no doubt Of this. They
sre willing to be taxed to pay
tor them, il they see the prind-
pies of equity and justice embodied
in the laws under which they are created.
We have not the slightest doubt that The
Park bills of the South and West Di-
visions Of the city will be rntified by the
people if they provide for the assessment
Of btnefts as well as damages upon the
zeal estate affected by them. We have
not the smallest doubt that they will bf
rejected by an overwhelming msjority il
they proceed upon any differ
cnt principle. The projectors o
tie Lincoln Park bill were pruden
in not submitting their measure t
the people. II they had allowed mod
crate assessment on the adjoining propsrt
perhaps the city would have been willip
10 appropriate the money for the balance
} In view Of the fact that Lincoln Park
already An established and rather populs
institution. Il seenR to us that commo
prudence would have suggested
different policy from that which has bee
=. adopted.
But We shall hope that the benefits
be derived from the park will more ths
counterbslance the 1cprehensiblc feature
I of the bill. It Is no valid objection 10
! that somebody will make money by
We bopc that everybody In the Mort
0 Division may derive pccuutary. prof
{; IRON Il. The bill Is now law ;and viii
!. there may be some question as to tt
r rowtE Of The Legislature to compel tt
t issuance Of city bonds without the col
i sent Of the Common Council, VIC can 81
8 great AID important advantages to
i gained by the enlargement and improv'
/. ncnt Of Lincoln Park. Its location
= urrlvalltd. Tho beach which 1t W
C row possess constitutes lcatu
s Of surprising beauty. The twelve mil
., ions Of dollars expended upon Cent?
It Park, in New York, haye furnish
t nothing comparable to the fresh wav
u which will erect their crests upon
ia margin through all coming time. Let
g. not take narrow view oi the subject.
i. the bill were still pending VIC should
l. sist upon amtnding it, and taking {
IS, somc OF its selfish and uuseemly pl
es risio1s !; but it has passed and re m
Of lnake tic best Of it. Let the Lcgisla!l
he 60 on and give US the chance to n:
parks In the South and West Diyisi
lis ef:cr better fashion.