The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-01-11
TACATIN0 7,4S PARK FRONT

vASn41NO TIN PARK 'FRONT.'
A petition was circulated recently
asking for tho vacation Of tile Tenth
st. front Of Court House Park 80 that
1t might 10 available for building lets.
Ihe petition was signed by a majority
of tho property holders on feminist.
ana presented to the Board of County
commissioners at their recent meeting.
lie petition was granted, on certain
conditions. and if desirable arrange
ment can be made will. the Railroad
Land Company, from l25 to 40 feet
will be vacated and plated into town
lots.
IT this can be done, Messrs. Miller &
Thompson, bankers Of kock Rapids.
agree to erect brick block u cost
t'em $4,000 to $50, 900 on the Tenth st.
anu Ihlrd-av. corner, with n large pub
lie hal! above. 1t il proposed also to
have an ordinance prohibiting tie
erection Of any but brick or veneered
buildings on the grounds thus laid OF.
The scheme we telisvs to he an ex-
cellent one for both the village and the
county. 1t will tend to concentrate
the business Of the place, secure u com.
pact business street, and induce the in
vestment Of several hundred thousand
dollars capital in tho town during the
next few years. The county, if the
present plan succeeds, will re~lize
enough to build = fine new court house,
(which will he necessary in a few years)
and will still have a square or park 2O0
by 800 feet left for court house and
grounds. This is moro ground than
either Chicago or st. Paul have for
court house purposes.
The objection has been raised that
the county property is to be used for
the benefit of Worthington. But why
should Mobiles county ask % whole
square IN the business centre of the
town for court house purposes, when
half tho space 10 ample for both build
ing and grounds, and when tho people
Can realize enough from the sale of lots
to build them new court house? The
only good objection we have heard
raised is that the cutting up of Il Q
park will mar the beauty Of tho town.
This is \ fancy objection but it has
some weight nevertheless. We believe,
however, that row Of handsome brick
blocks on business street are much
handsomer aud mere to the credit of
the town than q few trees and a lawn.
Besides, the trees and lawn represent
only few Thousand dollars OF value,
while row Of brick blocks will rep
resent some hundreds Of thousands,
Admitting that the beauty" ques-
ton has soue force, it need not apply
to this particular square. Parks there
should 0e in every town. but they
should not be ia the centre or heart Of
he.busihsss portion.
Nine ont # every ten attempts to
force business ''around 4 square, have
been failures. 1t has succeeded in y
few college towns. where .ths:e il ::sev-
er much business. Or in few capital
cities like Madison, Wisconsin. 1t has
not succeeded i'll Warrington and
never will.
OF course, If the people of Mobiles
county are % much interested in pre-
serving the "bsauty" Of Werthington,
that they are willing to forego the
5000 to $4,000 which can be realized
from the sale Of the lets, they will op-
pose the scheme. But w believe, il it
could be put to vote, that nils cut Of
every ten voters would promptly en-
dorse the project.
Worth,ngton was planned by the
founders for An educational or college
town. The prohibition featurs and
the efforts to beautify the place wee
made with that end in view. But the
educational project was abandoned
years ago, and Worthington is shaping
for business and manufacturing Cell
tre. Let Us seize the opportunities
which arise to mould and build our
town with that end IN view. Fancy
ideas, impractical experiments in pro-
hibition. ETC., will i;ave to give way to
the stern necessities Of . business and
railroad ssatre.
Some Of the opponents Of the move
nent called it al ''ADvANCE scheme"
and seem to oppose it because We favor
it. Our connection with tbs matter 10
this:
The editor Of the ADVANCE ptepes-
ed this scheme fer vaeatt.g the Park
front to q number Of eur business men
last summer. but the time was not
then ripe. A month age. learning Il ct
parties were ready to invest considera-
bic in Worthin4ten il desirable build
ing lots could be had, We renewed the
suggestion, and 10 are glad to see that
4 large majority Of eur business men
favor it aud take = practical view Of
the matter.
Let " have parks BY al means, but
net in the business centre, or pivot on
which the place turns.
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