Daily Republican., 1883-04-27
The Park.

AhC WY SouitiA II ihue' Wv
first movement of Importance towards
securing land for a public park upon
the Brandy by the introduction of
an ordinance authorizing such pur-
chase. The merits of the ordinance were
ably set forth by William c. Spruance,
Esa., on behalf of the Park Commission,
he having been granted an opportunity
by the City Council for that purpose.
The ordinance was read second time
and referred to the law committee, and
next Saturday the members of the City
Council will meet conformity with the
Park Commission on the grounds near
Mt Salem Church, to further consult
in regard to the purchase. 1t is to be
regretted that spirit of opposition to
the measure manifested itself during
the reading Of the ordinance, but it is
hoped that it will not be sufficient to
defeat the measure.
Wilmington never before had such a
anuniticent offer for the nucleus of a
great park along the Brandywine asshe
now has, and if the present offer is re-
jeCted she will probably never have
such an offer again. 1t is not denied
that the ground offered to the city is not
exactly where it would be most con-
Venient at the present time, but then 1t
must be considered that the purchase
being exempt from taxation will he no
expense to the city beyond the purchase
money for thirty acres, whatever amount
that may be. A wise provision OF the
Park Commission law prohibits the
city from appropriating more Than ten
thousand dollars in one year for the
purchase of park land.
What the city will have to pay for the
thirty acres it proposes to purchase will
be no offset to what the city will gain
by the bequest of forty seven acres by
the Bancroft family in fee simple and
FIVE thousand dollars thrown in by the
Brinckle family. If the city had to
purchase the whole seyrpIy-seven acres
in question, and pay tn full value OF
every acre, we would then join Mr.
Quisn in opposing the passage of the
ordinance. But here ninety thousand
I'll ,,l ,t,, vi land otFnrIjD A
the way land is rated in that vicinity.
Is offered to the city for Ornothing, provided
the city purchase adjoining property
belonging to other parties enough to
make respectfully sized park, by pay
ing its value, whatever that is. Sup
pose thirty acres the city will have to
purchase would he va ell at sixty
thousand dollars, for Every dollar the
city would expenl il would receive
back in the forty seven acres 1t would
not have to pay for, one dollar and thir-
ty-four cents, not taking into considera-
tiOn the Brinckle donation Of five
Thousand NOlldTS.
An objection to the purchase is that
il is too far up the Brand wine, and poor
working people, who would be- most
benefited would find il eXpenSiv" and
troublesome in reaching. If il was To-
Gated lower down abo It Rattesnakc
run and from that on DOM there would
be no objection. We will not brush
aside this objection as having no weight
for it must he confessed that th"r" i,
merit in the objection. l;ut i,"H It
must b rrrulected that here i, uO Of
fer Of fOrty.Srven acr"- pt land A. lMt-
tlesnakr run to the city for nothing, -
That land is farthe up the creek. But
because it is not "Nact.y whrr" = l..
wanted most at the present time should
he 10 argumen, against accepting IT,.
1t will be- in the right place ,'lue day
not far distant. Wilmington vii. not
always be barred i'll by Union street
But few years will elapsc before it Will
extend to Mt. Salem lane, with a~ biz a
population as now Ocrupie, that part OF
II from the cemetery to uion street, -
As Wilmington grows all the lard bor-
cemetery to the High bridge At Rising
sun will be wanted tor a park ,dnI lutct-
t,-aIlI '...,l II,
whatever part Of this land may I've offer
ed t. the city free Ot cost
If we cannot commence down the
Brandywne and NOV" upwards, let lis
conn cnce at the other end and move
dowuwards if neither, let Il, commence
IN The c"I tire as We ar" commencing and
mOv" buth mp and down The creek. We
regret T." see an attempt mad" +" create
,ympg hy for tine Law heirs, the
nr"A"tloHu ucr- ottIr thirty acres the
city Is a>i,'d IN pu,ua~" and pay for,
hy representing thu they are ~ he
rh"atru u.' ut 70 part Of their aud, hy
not gI'u- them full value Nohudy.
50 far Is .p.r nuoNI,ogr extends, "v
per's an, 'iun- rD~" than ro pay III" full
value t,'.r" acr" IT rhI, property III,
rOmm,-Ju may r'Iuir" tDr park pur.
poses. i'n t, worth ixry-thousaud
dolIms, 1, 'rre ntrd by 'hc heir.
themNIyr-. '.ry will get 'ha' Tor ii if
the Cmuu..> ,u"r. appointed to com
dcrur ,.pII "Idr 'Ia' il il worth that
mach ark commission ha}, IL,
utru'u rhra nt hoiv-ru..rrd
NuuIa .u -o + j. Aa- IN 'h"J, Io ,or.
rI, ru 'af"m"ut u III" rt,"i,
lu.i tn- ~. " are srrup three hundred
a.rl-.ur .,t more or less. n5urg Jhr
Hraul ,u", "a hing from III" ,rur-
'r 'i'I ny Sun, SuitahJ" for park
.,.TrI.t.- ~ .uliuDtbn need. a Irit / I,