Morning journal and courier., 1890-05-10
rALKIrG FOR BEAvEa POND.

Ninth ana Tenth Wards Argue Be. fore the Park Commlsslon for . Park h This Dissrlct-A Vast Improve mens rrophesied.
 In turn the park commission heard the residents of tho Ninth and Tenth wards in relation to the placing of park sites last night. The people of this vicinity are to | man in favor of the location of park at | Beaver pond, e district which has been | bugbsar to the northwestern part of tine city l for years. >s,..- s.. ., These residents claim 1t has retarded the growth of their district immeasurably. It is now little more than @ public dumping ground for the city's filth. '.
 The first speaker was Herbert E. Benton. He, said the representa- Nves of the Ninth and Tenth wards were present to ask the park commits sion to take possession of the Beaver pond district. This has been for years a barrier to the progress of the city in that vicinity and 1t has also been fertile source ot disease. Public officials and sanitary experts have long considered something should be done to this region to make 1t of some value instead ot detriment to the city. The place is of no value now and an excellent opportunity is offered to finely utilize this locality and thereby benefit the whole city. It seems ev- ident that if the park commission take pos session of this locality and improve it the surrounding property in @ few years would return enough in increase of value to tho tax list of the city to pay the interest on con siderable sum. This would compensate for any expense which could be derived there. Public policy demands in the first place that this eyesore shall be removed, both in the interests of health and the increased pros perity of that portion, and indirectly Of the whole of the city. Cities which have spent millions upon parks would consider as God send such region as Beaver pond to ina- prove. Even if the park commissioners should once make it park without in- provements it would end the place being used as public dumping ground, and the residents of the western part of the city would be immeasurably thankful for 1t. There are many varying opinions as to how the property should be utilized. This Is i'm The main object is to make 1t park site.
 E. 0. Dow said tho region about Beaver pond has been an annoyance to the city for many years. Even ss far back as 1770, 1t Is known that efforts were made to drain the district. Appeals have repeatedly been made to local authorities for an amelioration of the condition of the place. Nothing has been QOIo. II bu0 phIh OOLuMAbsAuA buy sAo AeAu | the nuisanoes will be immediately abated. It l is not cared what ia done 80 long as the dis trict is taken for park purposes. Then the value of surrounding property will rise many times. The district can be bought for about | what 1t would cost the oity to extend the streets which abutt the land. Take the land and hold 1t, if you do not wish to improve future. If it is not done with the park bonds 1t must be done with the general taxes. This part of the city has no park and the residents unite to ask that one be provided.
 Alderman Avis of the Ninth ward said it was a matter of indifference to the citizens of the section whether the Beaver pond dis- trict be filled in or flooded. A lake there
 would be pleasant thing. and park and a lake would be more SO. Something is im- perative at once.
 Joel A. Sperry said he had raised his voice against the nuisances of Beaver pond for over twenty years. He was most enthu- astic over the capabilities of the property in and around the district. He had never seen . place in any city of the Union where property could be taken and made so much of for so little money as this district. He chance slip through its fingers. His theory
 was to flood the place. He believed the city ought to take the property, lay it out on 6 liberal 6cale and continue slowly to improve 1t. It would take years. but the result would bt one of the prettiest spots iu the city. It 1.
 now pest hole and will continue 50 unti
 something is done. No one will buy or built
 on property in the vicinity. To drain i
 would probably be unsuccessful and to fill il
 up would be expensive. A lake and drive
 way with trees and beautifying appendages
 would make c most valuable piece of prop
 erty. The interests of the city seem to de- ) mand such course by the commission.
 Charles Fl. Fowler stated that within ever!
 second house in the Beaver pond vicinit!
 cases of what Is called malaria are found yer pond. It should be the healthiest par ? of the city. And, further, the town propert.
 on the old poorhouse farm is also in thi region, and If the district was put in sanitar.
 condition the town property could be sold an advance sufficient to more than repay fo the outlay. No matter what it costs, i
 would pay the city or the town to remov'
 this nuisance. Looking at 1t alone from thu
 standpoint of dollars and cents 1t will b,
 money in the pocket of the community tt
 buy this property for park purposes.
 | Ex-Alderman Henry R. Hill, chairman o
 the committee appointed by the mass meet ing of the two wards, spoke strongly in favo 1; of the project.
 Birdsey Warner thought the project o | u0OulnB tn6 beaver ponu uibtkict was not s feasible as that of drainage and filling. H thought this could be done with small ex pense. He had not suffered poor healtl since his residence there, but others undoubt
 sdly had.
 Joel A. Sperry stated that some years az the city engineer had made surveys to fill i and drain the pond. but this had not prove
 practicable. There had been found severs
 springs in the pond which were 6fty-tw faak daan and many other smaller oneS The flow of water Is considerable and coul
 be damned in 90 as to provide material for very pretty sheet of water.