Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-06-20
GOAT ISLAND
Commodore VancerouCs Projects
fOr frs Improvement.
- ths Oid asl Trisd 80 Purchase ths
islsad fiftssa ss4rs Ago fbs Price
Asked foF the Property Tss4
s4d Nov

Of t1e Aele appf9pFialng mya@y q pay
for the lands embraced iu the Niagara
Falls Park came laaT sisl zlterllz that
oll ia the Senate recently TIE opponents
% -Le cll H. n1l number over gue- thir.
of -he members. bat they embrace the
4oiesr msu in the Senate, AMI tbey under
stool al the maneayers necessary ro de-
feat the measure. either - direct modes or
~ Amendment that shall Hlaks % iaOpera-
EFe They use their talents skulfuuy Ia
tle latter ilr,ctaon. as " Ell a. prevented It's
belng ordered Jo a third reading to-day.
" hen it ~as al ia tansis bo-h sides con-
seated u make it special order Tor next
Tuesday, hen some OF It's supporters Wis
were absent to-day eui he here % help the
measure aloag AMI straighten it out.
The consideration ~ this measure recalls
the scheme that the late Commodore Van
der0Ilt once had Tor the purchase Of Goat
ISLAND, ~ hieh forms a large area of the
proposed park. aud the expenditure OF 81
$4,000 there o. make 10 an attractive resort.
Ia i,ll a friend oi the Commodore took
q trip with his family o. Niagara, and
thence down the 81 Lawrence bringing
up az Saratoga, where the Commodore was
stopping. The gentleman while - the
Falls met John 7 Bush, who suggested %
h.m that a fortune could be- made ia the
purchase of Goat Island and Utilizing II as
a resort as well as the water power adja-
cent thereto, stating that one OF the Porter
family. who owns 10. said that they would
sell 10 for ,a10.9o0. While other gentlemen
were al Saratoga Commodore Vanderbilt
received the news Of the purchase Of a
plot Of ground on Erie street, Niagara
Falls by Fisk and Gould, then in control
of the Erie Railroad. and OF their intention
% erect upon il summer houses, places for
dancing, aud all eonveniences necessary 70
make IL attractive 20 picnic and excursion
parties, intending % make IL a feature 20
induce such parties pass over the line Of
the Erie leading 20 the Falls. The scheme
was, by the way, never carried out, being
Frustrated by the tragical ending of Fisk's
career.
\ group OF persons sat one afternoon on
the piazza Of Congress Hall at Saratoga
discussing this new project OF Fisk and
Could. Among them, and the center OF
the group, was Commodore Vanderbilt, 2.
I. Barnum, Mr. Koesel father of the pro-
prietor OF the Arlington. surrounded by
cluding the Commodore's frieni. who had
just returned from the Falls. The Com
modcre was speculating as - the probable
effect of the carving out OF Fisk's schemes
iu diyerting travel from Buffalo and other
points in Western New York from the
Central % the Erie Road and referred 10
10 as matter of some Importance. His
friend then said. "Whv don't YOU pur-
chase Goat Island and establish place for
excursion parties That viii make Fisk's
scheme of ~ account, or at least outrival
il IN attraction"
THAT can't be done. The owner Of Goat
Island won't sell it for Sl,OO0,0OO," replied
the Commodore.
" understand that they viii sell it for
10000" said his friend, who then relat
ed the statement that had been made TO
h.m by Mr. Bush.
This piece of news caused the Commo-
dore TO take deep interest in the sugges-
any Of the owners Of the island. He was
informed IN the affirmative.
win YOU 90 out there and buy the
isla.d for me-"
Il viii 20 and try" was the reply.
The Commodore at once filed out a pass
for him o. the Falls and back. and want
ed him % start that night. 1t was finally
arranged that ne should start next day.
Having settled. as be supposed, that he
was the owner of Goat Island the Commo-
dore al once set az work talking over the
plan for the Improvement and utilizing
OF his purchase. Before the group separat-
Ell be had outlined plans for the expendi-
ture of >i,000.01O on the island, with the
erection OF a hotel that would rival Sara
toga's best, AMI buildings for the especial
accommodation of picnic parties. the hotel
20 be- placed under the charge Of Roesel.
Baruum was to establish a geological
garden on one end of the island and main
tain permanent show there during the
summer months.
When the Commodore stated that he
would establish free admission TO the ISL
and and an places Of interest in it be was
asked how be expected 10 obtain any re
turn for his Investment.
II viii rake toll for it on the whole
length of the Central Road"
His friend started for the Falls on the
time fixed. ami az once opened negotia-
tons for The purchase. There were sew
sral heirs who held an interest. II was
found impossible to get them all together.
AMI negotiations had 90 be carried on with
each separately rhe first ~ the owners
approached offered So ssll for the >20.ooo
n the others would consent. The next one
approached. finding that some one wanted
20 buy. wouli NOT sell short Of $4,000 or
AZ chat ratio.
The Commodore was notified AMI be or
dered the purchase NJ that price. The
others then raised the price. and each new
member Of fha family called on kept rails
ing until they zot up 20 $4,000. The
Commodore ordered che purchase AZ that
figure. bur when bis friend undertook 20
close tine bargain ONE ~ the number refused
t1 consent unless che price was made sso.-
000 After some pariev nh agreed to sign
a writing giving the refusal ~ the prop
ertv for a specified reriod for that price.
Al ~ these facts were sent to the Commo-
iora. who bad ty th.s nme become iis-
zusted vith the constant rsisin- 1f the 6g-
ures. AMI be nc once telszraphed n hi-
friend
~ II -he parties to e. 20 the devil with
Ceat IsIsnt Come hacs on frst brain"