, 1881-11-13
4 Conference with Senator Lo-
gan and Congressman
Atdrich
On the Bill for Defeating Dearborn
Park for the Use OF the
Library.
The Onnncil Committee Will Recommend
the Aldermen to Urge Its
Passage.


for ;,s ,,hI,.ct tho abandonment by the Emitted
tne t,f uuy interest or title it NAV have In the
Dearborn Park and its grant to the City Of ehl-
s.aci, IL be used the site OF the chicago Fuohc
Library, There were present Senator 3-osAn'
Congressman .A11rich and Messrs- !. L. Allen,
Dr. Walker, ". +. Poole. George H. Armstrong.
and I;ernard Caliashan. Of the Library Board.
and Aid. D.. L. Shorey-- .-.'.''-'
The meeting was called to order by Mr.. J. l..
Alien, who stated To the members OF the m
tional Legislature that the School Board hau
agreed us,on a bill TO be presented TO Congress
4or the purpose mentioned. and on behalf OF the
board be asked tho hearty cooperation VI the
Senator and tho Congressional delegation from
the CITY to secure its passage. Following IS the
text Of the bill:
us it e,tdcted, etc., That all the right and title
of the United Stutes in and to the streets anu
grounds dedicated to public use kn0WuAs Lear
l,oru Park, aud bounded as iolls,ws: By Ran-
tuIph street Ou the fiorth, by washington street
OF the south, ty Michigan avenue On the east.
nuo by Dearborn place on tne west, IN that f'aft
ii the City Of Chicago, in the state vi llhtlols.
known u Fos' Dearborn o 10 'f ie
Secretary vi War IN the year a. H. laf- oe ana
the sa,ue ;e hereby Ee1tIq''lshcd ana granted 10
sad city and its successors IL Greet. or canse 10
be crected .hercon, Il building TT buildings for
the use and benefit OF the Chicago luhlic LII
Drary. I1urldcd, That nothing herein con'aln
shall deprive the owners Of contiguous lots OF
ncy valid right or claim. If such cxs3t- to cotu-
pensntion account ct any change OF use 70
which the public ground herein granted to tue
saiu CRY vi Chicago Was Originally deaicateo o5
the United Stales-
SENATOR LOGAN
said that he had per5istcuily v,icd in Congress
that the land mentioned should be donated W
the Government TO the city. somewhat SIM
1iar bill, though larger in its scopc, had passed
the Senate with but two dissenting votes. IN
the House the hill was modified, but IN adjourn"
,uent WAS had before final action could be had.
He would always fa. or tho dedication OF the
property to the city. 1t was only change of
Use. but it will still be for the enjoyment OF the
puhlit:-
matter was sufficiently well known. hs had
kivcn it 4 great deal OF attention lie was
anxious for the lmssaxe of the till hy the Con-
ress of ycar n n. "iu nc" re ~" '',,f, hnS
technical title the Government hud anyhow,
and il has long ago been fulls paa tnr I'm, my m
liberal member Of Congress would enter opjec-
lions to the passage III the hill '''
Mr.. Allen regretted that Conxressmen DAVIS
aud Furwelt were unable to t,e present He was
Assurcd 1na1 the bill would meet with the hearty
cooperation Of The tw1 ConEress.nel1: Ata re-
cent E,cet,ng Of the Council AID Shorey pre-
eeuted un amended bill looking TO the relin-
<uishment to tue city Gy the Government of :ttl
title it may have 10 any public grounds IN the
city. ,,
substantially The some MS that amended by the
committee OF the House last winter Tho bill Is
MS tnllows:
HI aet vi Congress- CAUSED ccrl:!in lands in tnc
tract now known rs 1ha Fort Dearborn add
sold. excepting public grounds between RAN
iolph and Madison streets, fronting on Lake
Michigan, reserved as public grounds IN order
70 procure better sule Of The lots Ill sntd asldi-
lion, when were then i'll demand for residence
purpascs; and upon such sale the United
States received full compensation Tor all its IN
7ertSt in said lands: and
WHEREAS, Said lots nave ceased to be used fur
residence purposes: now. therefore, be it
Iicsolrtat. by the Eaty Council Of the City Of
Chicago. That the Congress OF the United States
Is hereby respect fully requested to relinquish
TO the Guy of Chicago all the right title. and
interest Of the Un.1ed States IN and 70 & tho
Dearborn Addition 10 Chicago. upon the terms
and conditions OF the following bill:
Be 1t enacted. etc, Ttlht all the right and title
Of the United States To tbs streets and grounds
dedicated to public use in that part Of the City
of Chicago, Sta1c Of Illinois, fnown as the
"Fort Dearborn Addition 10 Chicago" subdi-
vided and plated under the authority OF the
Secretary OF War III the yeAr lS;9. be and the
esule hereby is rclinqutshet and granted to the
said City OF Chicatso Alld its SUCCESSORS pf0cldtd,
that -nll that portion OF said public grounds
known as Fort Dearborn Square," bounded by
Randolph street. Michigan avenue, Washington
the uses of the Chicago Public Library; and
provided. further. that nothing herein contained
shall deprive the owners Of contiguous lots of
anv valid right or claim if any such exist, 10
t.oinnnsation on account Of any change VI use
r., 1vt,ich rhe n,1h1ic -r,nd herri, rtIiunuished
~ fho C,y II l.hi.svn ,yus ,,rirfna]Iy tltca1efl
~ rb. I;i,ftd Sta1es: ind 15t,ri1,sL furtnrr
,Ee+ ro.hIuv IL, fhs ucr con,,s,ned snail f4o hriG
-. 3nnair nr tn .,nr wnv tT,1.t tht. riwht or fite
- ~ ~ Tn;,nd Siarcs IN ~ m isaci i nr the
.tree,s nr wa,rr surrn,,ni,nv il. in said Fnrr
11enr3,orn at1d,tinn tn t,hicaro
49, .-, .
ME- eAoHEi slA1ED
in explanation that the bill gives the fee OF tho
streets OF the Fort Dearborn Addition to the
City of Chicago. 49,
Mr.. Alien, l,y way OF further explan
stated that the Library Doard could only urge
the passage u{ tie bill relative to dearborn
Park.
Nr. Catlaghn0 was called on ana, said tHat DC
had been informed by the owners of abultinE
property that the present use OF the Dearborn
Park WAS nuisance. and that they would be
glad to have public building erected on The
land One Of the largest propcrty-uwncrs ad-
joining had promised 10 give uberul subscrip-
Hon to the building fund.
Dr. Walker believed that if tho bill were re-
Ssflcted 10 tho iararS feature only u "outu be
adoi-ted by Congress without oPp0sitlon. Inc
other provision. which included MI tue other
public 1and, might he the cause OF much embar-
rassucnl- the board needs home
Mt. Armstrong StaIc1 1aat II Tue Frounu coui0
be secured there would bc no difficulty in Oh
tanning the funns to erect library build nK;
An nd 1ournsnent WAS tnen bad 70 tue CITY
Hall. where the L'brary Hoard and AID Shovey
ri n NhArFHS