Daily Republican., 1885-06-25
rhs Park Comm mission. h..

A meeting Of the Park Comm ission
was held yesterday, at which there
was o full attendance, and q general
In regard to the best mode
to adopt in procuring grounds for park
purposes.
A communication to the City Coun-
oil embodying the views OF the Com.
m issi ion was agreed upon and will be-
presented to that body this
evening. Though the contents Of the
com mmunication will not been disclosed
until after the meeting of Council, 1T is
said that the Commis ission will ask the
City Council for the appointment Of 81
joint comm ittee to take the matter In
hand.
Tho following letter OF interest from
William M. Field was read at the meet
ing:
20.
WILLIAM P. BANCROFT, Esq, Of the
Park Commission.
Dear Sir: In furtherance Of your
munificent offer TO the city Of the valu.
and probably feeling some inspiration
from your noble example, Mrs. Field
and myself propose 10 give to the city
for the purpose of completing the chain
between the Brandywine valley and
your contemplated gift right OF way,
Of say 100 feet wide, beginning at the
mouth of Rattlesnake Run along the
Brandywine under the new iron bridge
of the b. & P. Railroad to the mouth of
Crooked Rum" thence following the
valley of said run to Wawaset street,
and by line to be hereafter designated
through our property to your land and
the proposed new park.
Owing to the peculiar for nation there
would be but little grading to be
done, and the road way could be opened
at hut little expense. This with the
drive continued down the Bandywine
and through the property offered by
you would give driveway Of several
m lies through q beautifully wooded
and romantic electromagnetic by
any place within my acknowledgement
would give to the city Of Wilmington a
park that would rival the best.
The conditions are few and simple:
First-if accepted-that work on tht
roadway be commenced during thu
present year and completed by January
l, 1887.
Second-That the avenue be namei
Kentmere Avenue" in memory o
4
road of the w. &c N. Railroad has beer
named by the directors The Kentmer
branch" and 1t is probable that . reRu
lar station will be located here.
Theye has notbeen, and probably will
not be again, a more favorable time b
Iconsummate this work than the pres
lent. Money can be had at very lov
rate OF interest, and the unemploye q
labor Of the city could be put to work
greatly to the benefit of their families
Neither is 1t probable that the sam
free offers will again be made; life i
brief, changes will come, and the sue
cessors may not feel disposed to be q
liberal as yourself.
Recently I had an offe- OF hig
lprice for lot of wooded property for
beer garden, which of course was d.
, clined others hereafter may fet
differently, and these beautiful ground
> may pass beyond the reach OF publ
purposes.
81 A few years ago while travelling
Europe was 30 impressed by the sim
larity of certain river valley there
!, that Of our Brandy wine-the differen'
being that the former was laid out
!, drives and walks. and crowded wi,
4 people who came from the adjacent cit
q that 7 wrote to one of our then " Cit
q Fathers" strongly urging him to u,
his influence in securing forever to Il
I cttizens of Wilmington the romant
and beautiful valley of the Brand
! wine.
But it seems he was not 30 enthusia
:. tic AS I, for the "City Fathers" hay
a continued to look with Indifference c
g this important subject.
- 1 shall be pleased to hear from ye
in this matter at your earliest CO
.Iveniepce.
.st Your f.iend, truly,
FL WILLIAM NJ. FIELD.