, 1876-12-17
The Grand Bouleyards-.-1Iiles Of
Sewers and Leagues Of
Stately Avenues.
All About the Attractive Fea-
lures Of the Great
Breathing-Place.
The Botanical Gardens and Acres
Of Rare Plants and Cor
geous Flowers.
What the Managers Propose to Do II
the Near Fature-.-A Thing Of
Beauty Is a Joy Forever.

In this Centennial year, the one~hundredt
anniversary of our country, the historians III
[ tcntion is naturally drawn towards the broa
fields Of the American Republic, whose wonder
full deeds aud progress are now fully recognize
| bv every nation Of the globe.
Among all the great metropo1i Of this trn1
marvellous land, none affords so excellent an ex
| ample ;of the miraculous power Q
free institutions and, intrepid energ.
as the youthful City Of Chicago
Although of the comparatively Insignificant ass1
OF Is years, and subjected in its brief career II
| the most destructive disasters and devastating
! calamities that hare erer fallen to the lot @
mortal habitations; yet cycry trouble has Dcc1
| undauntingly surmounted, aud every barrier II
| prosperity broken down.
Is it then strange that she should combine TIL
| greatest grain and lumber nlarts, packing
houses, railroads, hotels, and parks OF the Tn
] iona
One Of the most remarkable traits of the cit,
is the almost Incredible perseverance Will
which her denizens have toiled and endured X
forward the great design of laying out the mos1
! extensive and magnificent system Of parks ant
bouleyards that ever originated in the brain O,
man. BY far the largest and most prominent
feature Of this vast pleasure-system Is that pos
ton designated by the term "South Parks"
TIE FIRST ATTEMPT
to found these parks was made in tho year 16Cl
BY the following prominent gentlemen: George
n. Kimbark, Paul Cornell, Chauucey T. Bowen
J. irving Pearce, ). Young Scammon, ind Mil
ton $. Patrick. Two park-bil1s were framel,-
the first taking the requisite acres as an adui-
ton to the city, and providing for the taxation
Of the entire community; the other stipulating
that the land be chosen fron tracts lying boti
within and without the city's limits, and rcgu.
Int Tim nf r.
its proximity to the park improvements. For
the reason that it was found impossible to OBJ.
tain the unanimous action Of the whole city in
the scheme, owing to a spirit Of jealousy and
rivalry ,s which ;s has long existed between cen
last bill was adopted by. the project
ors, and was laid before the Legislature
In the winter OF 1857. This bill provided for the
appointment OF five Commissioners, the first
Board to be chosen By the Governor, and all
subsequent ones by the Judges Of the Circuit
Court.
The location OF the parks was left to the Com
uais7ioners, and, as was universally anticipated,
they endeayored to acquire the 120~acre tract
known as Egandalc, lying east tpf Cottage Grove
avenue, between Fortg,seyenth and Fnty-irst
sisted OF high ground, and had previously been
materially Improved By its owner, Dr. Egan.
Their worthy designs, however, were frustrat-
cd By the opposition Of Mr.. DEcxel, then heir Of
the estate.
II hc could have foreseen the great enhance
ment of values, which immediately followed
would undoubtedly have; seized the
the chance to dispose Of this portion Of the 300
than he did in selling the land in small quanti-
tics during that and the following year.
Finding that Egandale could not be pur-
chased, the Commission amended the bill SO as
to place the location Of the parks west OF Cot
tage Grove avenue.
This Park bill was passed and submitted to
the people at the spring election Of 1868, but,
owing to misunderstanding, was defeated. In
the following spring, however, It was adopted
BY q very large majority.
The zeal ot those who had thus far taken the
lead in publicopi1lion did not END here. Patient
II awaiting the next session OF the Legislature
they introduced
4 SECOND BILL,
in which the location was definitely decided
x{pou { +,ay 6y a eonnittss OF a citizens eho:en
adv advocatcs ~era: poj j. scamnon sn George see9s e
Walker, Joseph II. Dakc, George r. Clark, J.
Irving Ptarcc, C. T. Bowen, II. H. Honore, A.
Enigh, 2: 3, Westfal, s. S. Benjamin, John
Fitch, and ]. Il. Jennings.
This bill was drawn up and intrt6ted to Mr..
Bowen for adoption at Springfield. This carr
est worker presented it before the Legislature,
and caused, in great measure, its adoption by
ll1s eloquent argument. John G. Dore, then q
Senator from Chicago, Insisted upon its ratitca-
ton By the residents OF Hyde Park, Lake, aud
vassiug was immediately begun, and resulted in
one Of the most exciting contests in the history
Of Chicago. The act was ultimately passed ty
u ma jor.ty OF 8 i37.
Palmer Immediately appointed John ". Wilson,
Leycrett 3. Stdway, Paul Cornell, George W.
Gage, aud Cbauueey 7, Bowen to constitute the
first Board Of South Park Commissioners.
At the same time the positions Of Secretary,
filed by A1essrs. Cornell, Gage, George ".
Smith. and George II. Waite. !
Bonds were at once negotiated, and Sl000oO Of
them had dbeen sold and 120 acres purchased, when
an action was commenced in the Circuit Court
to test the constitutionality Of the bill. By this
the Commission was dc1avcd IN the
exercise OF its duties, aud SO lost tue remainder
3f the year 1869. But the greatest loss was
caused by the rapid increase ID the value Of the
land to be procured, for When the Commission
Frs were berty 70 continue their purchases
rance on TUG figures previously demanded
The Commissioners consulted flye prominent
real estate firms in relation to the cost OF tue
land: The highest estimate placed upon the
1.lOo acres ana bonlevards was 81 1865, $50. The
upper or Wsst park Was valued at $3.50 per
acre, and the lower OR eastern at S700.. The
strip taken from kankakec avenue Tor the
GEaRd boulevard was placed at $50 per foot.
This Vas IN the winter OF 1S63-'70. Its present
value is e1o5 to $500 per foot.
ASSESSING PARK BENEFITs.
Inc Circuit Court appointed committee to
ascertain In what degree the property affected
you'd be benefited Iy the park improvements.
fAey reported the benefits ut SIS 6lD 0CO, before
plished. More recently the real benefits have
been estimated at nearly four times that
The assessment necessary to the pos-
session 1oT park purposes OF the requisite lands