Morning journal and courier., 1880-01-22
The Niagara Falls Park.
VhatiS Claimed 50 be the Value of ah Property Proposed 10 be Taken.

Property Proposed 10 be Takens From the Rochester Union.l
 The subject of the International Park at Ni- agara Falls is one that is destined to attract more or less attention during the coming winter as the Commissioners of State Sur vey, who have had several sessions on the subject, will undoubtedly send their report in to the Legislature for that body to act on. AS one of the most essential questions will be that of expense, a few figures in the pos session of the Union, and which have been received from reliable source, may not be without interest. The three graat pieces of property to be taken Goat Island, Pros pect Park, and the Cataract House property. If the scheme is eventually agreed upon, the
 whole of Goat Island and Prospect Park will
 be taken, but only poEtion of the hotel property. While the assessed value of the property is good guide to go by as to it's rel ative value, it cannot be used in the case of the Cataract, as the whole is assessed in 8
 bunch, and none but the proprietors know the value of the portion it is proposed to take. It is Of course fair to suppose that human ma ture is the same at the Falls as in other DOT tions of the globe, and that the proprietors will try and get out of the State as much for their land as possible, and they will not be backward in putting up the values One of the park stockholders recently stated that the capital stock was. $165,O00; that the stock was paying 10 per cent. interest; that they had expended enough In improvements to make it worth SS200, 900; and further, that they intended to value it at $25O, 900. A deliver into knowledge states that in 1879 the Park Directors reported their capital stock to the assessors at $150, GOO. The same inform ant also states that one-quarter of the ferry property was originally owned by Mrs. Townsend; that later she bought out the other owners at a valuation not to exceed $5O,O 900 for the entire property !; that when the stock company was formed the capital stock was $10O, ,OOO, of which Mrs. Townsend received $75, 1000 for the land. The other 1925, 900 were spent in improvements The stock was subsequently, watered $50,0 1000 more. The owners now think they should receive an amount that, when invested in 4 per cent. Government bonds, would bring them in the same income as the park stock. One question for the State to consider, if the purchase of the park property is decided on, IS the old question, that one of the public streets (Water street) runs directly through Prospect Park, and runs through 1t in such a manner as to have a good frontage on the edge of the bank. In 1873, Mrs. Townsend commenced 8 suit in the Supreme Court against E. L. Porter and others, for the partition of certain lands, among them being Water and Grove streets. Judge Daniels, in his opinion, states that the lands within the bounds of Water and Grove streets cannot be partitioned, and that as far as Water street was concerned 1t was public highway, which the village Board of Trustees had previously formally accepted and ordered It 10 De opened ana WOrK60. The parK-OWn- CTS, however, do not seem to have paid 8 great deal of attention to the decision, as they inelosed the street, and any one wishing to walk down 1t has to pay tax at the gate for the privilege It is understood that the will lage authorities are canvassing the propriety of taking legal measures to open the street, and 1t is something the Commissioners uld inquire into. Goat Island for years past has been miserably managed concern, the prin- cipal owners, two maiden ladies, residing in Europe, and leaving the management to an agent The revenues each year are considera- ble, but only on account of the location and natural beauty, as no money to amount to anything is spent to improve it. Its average income before the Centennial was $23, ,oOO 8 year, but since then the receipts have dropped to $15, 1000 or $16,OOO. In 1879, the island was assessed at $500, GOO, but our informant was not in position to state what value the owners placed on it. It will be seen from these figures that the expense of the Interna- tional Park will be heavy one at the best, and the Commissioners will have to exercise due caution in dealing with the interested parties.