The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-02-18
THE PARK.
Public ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Oh
tue City.

Public ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OIL
tue City.
Editors TO the Register:
Is a park of any value, worth or COM
fort to the people of a city And, be-
yond this, does it give character, grace
or dignity to cities containing them
What is the most distinguishing feature
of the city of Baltimore =? Evidently its
fine park, aud Its institutions for public
education. What is almost the first
thing you are expected to see wheu you
visit New York ? Certainly its parks
and Its public squares, clustering with
trees, shrusbery, sc. And why is this I
Because they are the common ground IN
which all the citizens meet in commu-
nifty of right to enjoy nature, to JOIN IN
common ciyiIties and to meet in social
intercourse. 1t is a place of public re-
sort where there are never any orawis'
broi!s or disturbances Of the public peace,
and W here the people are educated to mu-
tusl Difference, forbearsbce, and ciyillty.
These are some only of the very paipas!e
results of the uses and enjoyments OF farKs
in cities. The first question then TO De
considered, if It'll at all an open question,
is has Wheeling arrived at that popula-
ton, and that dignity as city SO as 10
require or to be benefited by a Park.
| The question is not who are the owners
of property that are suitable for such
purposes. The matter is not to be, or
should not be disposed of upon any per-
sonal consideration OF this kind. Inc
interests are too great and too valuable
and meretorious to be sacrificed by the
personal piques of individuals, or by hos,
tilties to individuals. 1t is a base and
dirty spirit which would sacrifice public
Interests to private grudges or personal
malevolence. If the city is under the
necessity of contracting debt to con
struct or pay for gas. works, or water works
why. should she refuse to do so, because
perhaps, the money must be borrowed
from the Hubbards, and TO their advan'
tage as money-lerders? II the city
needs park, and Lewis Baker has q
small interest in a tract of land which Is
the most accessible to all the population
of the city, most approachaole and at the
least expense on foot, or in conveyance,
why shou d the city deny itself all the
advantages of park, and why deny itself
the only opportunity of securinga suitable
property for that purpose that 1t will
ereT havel Let the city extend in any
direction it may, the Peninsula will for
ever remain the most central and the
cheapest point of accessibility for such a
purpose But why make the stress OF
the argument on this subject the fact, or
the supposed fact, for how the fact is |
know not) that Lewis Baker has
some interest in the land2 | repeat
that it is a dirty, personal argument.
And it is very certain that if it is right
to injure Mr.. Baker pecuniarily in that
way, the writer's Of such articles are mis-
taken, tor in the necessary growth OF
Wheeling Lewis Baker will realize in a
few years more from other uses of the
property thon he will get by sale at the
price mentioned, or any thing like it. In
striking at Lewis Baker did the writer
also iuter TO strike at the widow lady
who is the real owner of the property
and who is fair and meritorious member
of society? Is there nothing that will re-
strain the malignant pens of such writers
and induce them to consult public inter.
ests in what they have to say on public
matters Wheeling is getting to be toe
old IN interests and in character to have
her public judgment addressed by such
base considerations Besides, Wheeling
has already lost enough from the counsel
of such men, and it would be easy Il
show that she could not have hac
million of taxable property OF
her lists, which she now has not, in con
sequence fsuch personal chickering's, anC
because her public interests were sacri
feed to private feelings. This is fruit
ful subject, whenever any one is dis
posed to make some review ofthe history
of Wheeling during the last Centennia
Deyi0T. AN OLD CITIZEN.