The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-07
PLANNING FOR PARKS.
Meeting Of the Board of CON-
missioners.
TROUBLE IN GETTING TRACTS.
4 School Section Possibly Available
In september-smalI Parks to be
Beautified Immediately.

meeting OF the board of park commissioners
was held last night, Messrs. ID. Jones, ". r.
Bailey, Abrasn Barker and C. " Evans attending.
Mr. Bailey reported that the university COM
xnissioners had selected the best part OF the
school land on the north side OF Union bay, and
left little that would be desirable for a park
Dir. Jones thought q resolution ought 70 be
passed directing the committee on grounds to
conier with the university com niss1oners, and
RttesgF2t 20 persuade them to so arrange as to
leave ashare of tho water front, IN order that
Grsve could be constructed along the shore, with
Isfk grounds on either side
NT. Bailey SAID they ought 10 look for piece
OF land about GOO acres in extent
Mr. Barker moved that the committee meet
the commissioners as suggested, and 1t was
agreed 70.
Mr. Jones informed the board that he learned
nothing could be done until September about
section is on the west coast; but IL would not
be advisable TO take II unless they could also buy
eullivan's tract Sullivan said he did not want
TO sell, and would prefer 70 buy the school land
himself IL seemed 70 Mr.. Jones that the land
was very inaccessible and could not be made
accessible except Ct great expense. He pre-
ferred the Union bay site, and thought the
board should turn its attention to securing other
than the school land. They must have fine
driveway from the city. and it should be rs
nearly as possible along the lake front
Mr.. Bailey described the parx at Detroit de-
caring it to be one of the prettiest in the United
States. II contains about 500 acres; Central
park, New York, has 600, and Paramount about
loco The pretticst site for q park is to the
northwest OF Smiths cove, but the land was all
cut up into small tracts and held at prices be-
yond the reach OF the city.
Mr.. Evans advocated identifying Kinnear
park.
Mr.. Jones said the only piece OF land they
could hope 10 reach was the 100 acres IN section
sixteen, on the west side, above Smiths cove,
for which the first payment would
probably be 5000. There are many
unemployed men in the city, and he thought
they could probably employ them. There is
about $4,000 in the treasury, and 1t could not be
put TO better use. They ought TO employ COM
potent landscape gardener and put az many
men as possible TO work improving the small
parks. AT one of them they should put up a
greenhouse and begin TO grow plants for use ia
the larger PARK when IL was ready for planting.
The James street line viii donate 81 900 q year
toward the improvement Of the City park, and
Others had also promised TO aid the work with
annual contributions.
Mr. Jones called the attention OF the board to
the trespassing on Kinnear park by cattle.
Mayor White entered the room at this momen.
and IN reply 20 queFtions said he thought the
council would be fayorabley to the levy OF mill
for park purposes.
NJ Bailey said If that could be available for
identifying the small parks the proportion of
thc licenses TO which the parks were entitled
could be devoted to purchasing a large tract
The clerk read three communications asking
for appointment landscape gardener Mr.
Jones spoke highly OF James Taylor, one of the
applicants, and strong recommendations accom-
psnied the application of Mr.. Palmer They
were placed on file
After somc discussion as to the best stems to
take Immediately, 1t was resolved on motion OF
Xr hat ftoa
~ owners In the vicinity os the City park and
get from them, in writing, promise Of their
proposed subsidy. Estimates will also be asked
~ 30 the cost of doing preliminary work on tho
ANAL parks.
Mr. Barker advocated Mr.. Jones' original sug-
Eestion that the board employ 6rst-elass sngi-
neer with experience In laying out parks
Mr.. Evans feared that would be premature
until the city had acquired large tract aud
was prepared 90 lay down a system of boule-
yards.
Mr.. Bailey thought few thousand dollars
would be sufficient TO put the small parks in
very good condition. They would not Justify
the employment of a high priced landscape
gardener. He favored having a man of exper-
1ence TO lay out the general plan.
After this point had been thoroughly can
vassed IL was resolved that the board enter into
correspondence with eminent park engineers
aud ascertain the cost of an advisory visit
Mr.. Barker moved that the appropriate com
mitiee seek estimates for the partial improve
ment OF City, Kinnear and Denny park1
On suggestion OF Mr.. Jones the judiciary com
nnittea was directed TO prepare an ordinance for
submission to the city council providing for the
punishment OF persons .niuring trees or other
wise damaging the parks
IL was resolved, on motion OF Mr. Barker, to
ascertain II thu university regents can and win
donate portion OF the present grounds, eoual
at least TO a block, 10 be laid out az a public
aouare