, 1873-04-23
Conference between Property.0 Owners md
tho Commissioners ... Interested
Parties DonlNnd tho I'M.
prorement Of Lake
Park. i.
"Es You Work On Thor Land, You Must Work on
Ours "....An Equal Expenditure Of
Money and Labor, or War

OBJECT OF tho mooting wne to impress tho Com
mtssionora with tho Importance Of improving at
least tho north onl Of tho Lnhe parl, during tic
coming summer. A1r. Morgan was olootcd
Chairman.
MIR. John Fitch submittod proposition to
construct road or driveway along tho south ond
OF tho onstern division OF tho park, from the
luke shore to Hyde Park avonue tho work to
be done nndor tho supervision Of the Board,
md to bo commenced as soon ag
the specifications aro prepared; to
bo completed during tho present
senson. He offered to ta1se In payment tho
certificates of tho Doard, iBuuod upon monthly
estimates, payable In ono year after dato and
bearing per cont inherent.
Commissioner Subway explained the theory OF
improvements contemplated by tho Board The
two boulovards loading to tho West Park wore to
bo completed first and connected by roadway
through tho north ond OF TINT park, fifty acres
Of which wero to he improved so that tho people
could havo resort In warm weather. Tho work
WAS almost done, and tho atrcot cara running
within block of It,; It was accessible to all who
desired to got q broatll Of frosh mir. Douloynrds
wero to bo constructed to the Eost Park.
MIR. ]. O. Doro did not think tho East Parls
ehould bo sacrincod for the benefit Of tho
West Park. Tllo formor waB tho moro
accessible, aa the steam cars ran very near It.
1t wns not right to construct tho boulevard load-
ing to tho East Park beforo the park ,gas I'M
proved. A grent expenditure Of money would 10
necessary before tho park waR reached ii that
idea WAS carried out. Tho plum waH an excellent
ono for tho rich men who owned horses but
tho tntorcsts Of tho .grcat mass Of tho people
the granting Of permission to ono Of tho nav
railway companies to 10y their track through tho
East Park. With o depot. within the grounds,
thousands OF pooplo would visit the park to on
joy themselves. As much money SHOULD be e1-
pcndod OIL ono rark M OIL tue otller; tho law ro-
quired that, and it should bo done.
Mr. Fitch had aeon thouuands Of pooplo within
the enclosure known as tho Ialio tark lust sum-
n prairie with n little grove Of trees in one cor
nor, half milo from tho dummy track. Nothing
could induce tho people to SO there. On tho
contrary, the Bteam cara carried thousands to
the Lake Park and spont tho afternoon under
the troca. If the Commissioners adllorod to their
idea Of improving tho West Park first, tthero
would bo war n their, camp; ;, The pooplo %, Of
money they had paid in as taxes md assosH-
ments expended on tho Weat Park, md tho
ono near thom neglected.. Tho eighty acres
in the East Park, about which there had been
80 much controversy, had been in tho posseH-
sion Of tho commissioners for four years; it was
fenced with their fenco; tho poople offered to
build o roal but MS soon as tho Improvement Of
tho East Park was mentioned. tho Commission
it.' Tliore wore 200 mon and thirty teams at
work IN tho Wost Park. He did not wiah to
criticise the work OF tho Board, but those who
arc Interested in tho East Park had voice, and
thoHso teams should DO sont to thoir park. Ho
did not ask tho Board to do moro than they we're
ablo, or mhnt tpoy were obliged to do by tho law
do Oh much work on one park as On tho othor.
Commissioner Gage imagined that tho gentlc-
men we're aware that the money raaed BY TAXA"
ton was to bo expended in improvements tho
assessments were for the purchase Of land. Tho
Commissioners dosirod to Becure tho goodwill
Of ohicago paid elglt-tonths Of tho taxes and o.
aossmonts, tho Town Of Lake one-tonth, md tho
Town Of Hylo Park loss. le considered tho
construction Of the Aankakeo boulevard m owl
denco Of good Judgment On TIC part Of tho Doa1a.
construction OF d aewer had been done in the
Town Of Lake, yot there vas no complaint from
tho people living within it's limits. The Doard
had doeidod to mako improvements In tho Lake
Park this year. Tho people who were ben.
Gifted by tho enhanceuent Of tho value Of
their property had not paid their taxoa:. II they
| did, tic money would undoubtedly bo expended
! where they were Interested. Ho presumed tho
Board would do its share IN carrying out Mr..
Fitcl1'a Plan would pay half OF tho coat Of tho
| roadway; tile property south Of it should be as
aoased far tho other half. Hydo Park ayenue
was improved insshat way. The park echcmo
WIS cxtonsIyot and there were many peculiar in
found unloaa there was aomo ground for it. The
Board Ind acted according to It's bent Judgment,
having Ia viow ouly tho public good.
Mr.. Doro did not understand that any one
complained OF what tho Board had dono
ConmiAsIonor Subway said tho persons WHO
owned the land facing tho proposed boulevard,
| GOO feot wide, intended to uavauce tho money
| for tho improvement.
WIS more benefited by tho boulevard than was
tho City Of Chicago. He simply deelrcd the
| commissioners to do tholr duty. Tho law was
in,porative-according to tho number OF acres
tho expenditure should DO pro rata.
pagsed IN order for the planting Of trees on the
north end Of Lako Park
hIr. Fitch did not think the ,queation OF taxes
should govern tho amount III work to bo done.
| Tho poop|o Interested in tho East Park wcro aa
rronpt-paying as those interested in tho Wost
| Park.
Commissioner Subway remarked that groat
mistake WAS mado by nBsocinting tho money ill.,
| tandod to pllrchaso land aud tlut to be used for
| improvements.
| Commissioner Gago anid not ovor ono-half OF
tho last asHos8asoat had beon paid; tho Board
relied upon it to carry out their plans md wore
| Commssiomor Dowon sai,l when tho Board
commenced itu work It was ostlmnted that uil the
land needed for park purposes could DO pur-
cllasol for - 600 0O0 Tho higlont Estimate Of
eight months tloy woro eniunol by tic courts.
aid did nothing. During that timo tho natural
growth of Tho city and tic excitement relative to
The parl.s Increased tho price Of laid: After the
conrta decided that the Park bill was con:
stitutiona, aud that tho bonds could
DO sold, - they were disposed Of at
| % ccnts. The l3oard bought ali tho property
they could buy before condemnation proceedings
woro oo,n1ncncel and, TO tllolr great surpriso,
evidence was produced in court showing land fol
| which they paid $4,000 nh nero 10 10 WORT,
$4,000 aud 38, 900. Tia vardicts wsso propor-
toately large, and the nonoy ut tho tllaposal cl
Tho Doarl was not sufficient 10 secure tho 1an1
The now Constitution Of tho 6tato wAn atlbso,
quanty adopted, aud tho Oom.nHBtQncrs Ind te
await tho raasage Of tho condemnation law,
I which wGs materially different, from the old one
The Grea. Fire came tllon, ard all the books, pa
hoard wpa burned up. the Commissioner
Ind bean obliged to borrow money and plodgt
tloir inliyidual credit to ray tho nterest on tht
~ s1-}1u IL If.4.