The Portland daily press., 1879-02-22
City Government.
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY
COUNCIL.

COUNCIL.
The Deering Interest iu the Oaks Offered
to the City for Public Park.
A special meeting of the City Council was
held last evening to take into consideration the
generous proposal of the Dsering heirs offering
their interest in the Deering Oaks TO the city
for public park.
Immediately after the two branches were
called together they went into joint convention,
When Mayor Butler delivered the following
message:
To the City Council
have called thus special meeting to lay be-
fore YOU communication received by me from
the Deertng heirs, generously profferiDg, as
gift to the city, their share in behring's Oaks
for public park aud pleasure grounds, upon
certain conditions thereiL specified. Immedi-
ate action Is desired on the subject so that an
answer may be returned at en- early day Ga
examination of the communication it will be
found that more or less difficulties aud embar-
easements lie 10 the way of the acceptance of
the proposal, arising from the financial condi-
ton of the city. which will prevent any con-
siderable expenditures upon the grounds, at
least for the present, and also from the fact
that the share of the proposed donors in the
property is only one half part thereof in COM
mon and undivided, and the owners Of the 9th
er half are not prepared to join in the offer.
The city is not able to acquire this other half
by purchase and no Improvements can prudent
ly be made on the grounds while thus undi-
vided. A partition wonld be undesirable, and
If made the size, shape and situation of the
moiety set off to the city would be uncertain.
Remembering, however, that We are not legis-
latng for today only, but for prosperous fu-
ture, as we hope. for the city. 1 trust that some
means may be found to overcome these obsta-
cles, and to secure for park purposes this beau
tifu grove, the favorite resort of multitudes of
our iDhs bitants already. for which the city at
one time m sde cash offer of 900, and to
which Longfelow, ever regardtul of his native
"desr old town." BY the touch of genius has
added value not to be measured by money.
We all desire, take it, If practicable, that
''the breezy dome Of groves
The shadows OF Deering's woods
shall be preserved unto the city as lasting
possession. l therefore suggest that the COM
municstion be referred to joint select COM
mittee of five, two on the part of the Board of
Aldermen and three on tho part of the Com
mon Council, with directions to confer with
the reDres- natives of the Deering estate on
the subject and at an appointed public hearing
to give opportunity to our fellow citizens to
express their wishes and opinions on the
question Of acceptance of the gift upon the
conditions imposed, and to report at the next
regular meeting of the Council.
Aud whatever determination Is finally
arrived at, one thing is certain, that these
descendants of one of our ancient families are
entitled to the thanks of the city for their
proffered libersltv, and to graceful appreca-
tion OF the motives which have led them thus
to make the proposal to set apart, so far as
their interest Is concerned, ''the OAks," as a
place of pubic recreation aud Attractive resort
for health and pleasure. for the benefit of the in
habitauts of Portland III perpetuity, and at the
same time to baud down in plea ant association
Herewith to pJsterty the honored name of
their ancestor. M. M. BUTLER.
Mayor.
The Mayor then read the following condi.
tions:
PORTLAND, Feb. IL, 1879
Hon. N. M Butler, Mayor:
Sir,-Fue Oeerlog u-Irs, DESTROYS of preserv-
ing DeeriDg Oaks as public park for the citi
z.ns OF Pordaud, would say to the city
authorities that they will give their portion Of
the property, one half, to the City, upon the
following conditions:
Frst-That the property shall bs forever
preserved as public park, and that whenever
it shall cease 10 Do used for that purpose it
shall revert 70 the donors or their heirs.
Sec0nd-That the unimproved property of
the oonors while In their hands and remaining
unmproved, in the vicinity, n Deering pasture,
shall not Lave its present valuation increased
for period of ten wears.
lHUn-Inat Tue Guy Will take tina necessary
steps to preserve the timber and improve the
Oaks as park as soon as practicable, taking
into consideration the financial condition of
the city.
If the city should decide to accept the prop
erty upoC these terms, the owners will unite in
a conveyance of the same.
Very RESPECTFULLY,
N. Daering, Henry Deering, Harriet HI. Deer
ing, Margaret d. Gilman. Georgiana d.
Upham, Marion d. Noyes, by their attorney.
Henry Deeriag.
William 81 FessendeD, Francis Fessenden,
James D. Fessenden.
The Mayor then read the following order in
relation to the matter which he had proposed:
Ordered. That the communication of "the
Deerlpg heirs offering as gift to the city,
for public park, their share in Offerings
Oaks" upon certain conditions therein ex-
pressed, bs and the same HEREBY is referred to
joint select committee of five, two on the
the part of the Common Council; and said
committee are hereby directed to take into
consideration the whole subject, and confer
with the representatives of the Deering estate
thereon, and appoint public hearngin which
all Interested in the question of the acceptance
of tire gift upon the conditions imposed may
nave an opportunity to express their views,
Said committee to make report at the next reg
ular meeting of the City Council
Alderman Small moved that vote
be taken as to the sense of the convention on
the order, and the members voted for its pas.
sage.
The convention then dissolved.
In the Board of Mayor and Aldermen the
order relating to the Deering's Oaks was pas
sed and Aldermen Sn Ill and Brunei appoint
ed on the part of the board and the Mayor was
also joined. Ia the Common Council the or.
in nnn I'D limo
Swett HI sskel and Melaugh appointed on the
part of thai board, Counci'man Andrews de-
clining an appointment on account of business.
ICY SIDEWALKS.
A petition of JOHN P. Davis for compensa-
ton for injuries received by reason Of icy side
walks was referred to the Committee on
Claims.
PETITION GRANTED.
A petition of Jane Cain for permission to
erect an addition to house in rear Of No. 69
Pine street was granted.
POLICEMAN APPOINTED.
John Massure was appointed and confirmed
as policeman in place Of Seth Sterling, re.
signed.
COMMON COUNCIL.
10 t. absence Of President Chapman Mr..
Ridon, of 2, was elected president pro tenn, and
presided with ability. Papers from the upper
board passed in concurrence.
The Blues Masquerade.
The grand masquerade given by the Me-
chsnic Blues filled the galleries of City Hall
with spectators last night, while quite a num-
Der of ladies aud gentlemen occupied the set
tees on the floor of the house. Mayor Butler
AID the members of the City Council attended
after tie city meeting, and there were also del