The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-18
PLEA FoE A LARGE PARK.
Mr. Bauey's Policy-Cost Of Laying Out
the Cfty's Breathing Spots.

The board OF park commissioners met in W.
Z. Bailey Office last evening and devoted its
attention chiefly 70 q discussion OF the adyisa-
bility OF going ahead with the work OF clearing
up the public parks and decorating them with
hoWefs, plants and shrubbery on an ex-
tensiVe scale. There were present Commis-
sioners Jones. Evans, Burgess and Bailey and
EnglneersJarnes Taylor, who acted as clerk M
Bailey, who was absent from the previous meet
ing at which Engineer Taylor was instructed to
proceed with the work OF clearing kinueNr
park--it having been held ON the evening Of the
day On which he was abdueted-tOok stand
against making such extensive Improvements AZ
present lie said II would eat up the income OF
the board and leave nothing with which 70 pur-
chase land tor large park such as the city
ought 10 BE provided with: and that nothing
could be expected from bonds for some time to
come. He said he had no objection 10 cleaning
up the parks 50 as 70 make IL possible to Walk
through them, but he was opposed 20 the
maintenance Of a dollhouse and nursery
and the extensive decoration Of the
PARKS at the present time, IL would
require too much 10 keep up the whole system;
That the public expenses are now TOO large IN
proportion to income, aud it would be much bet
ter ~ buy land. as there will never be better
opportunity.
Mr.. Evans and Chairman Jones argued that it
would be inexpedient to attempt to buy land
suitable Tor q park now, no tract could
be secured that would be acceptable
and that the city would have to be content with
a system Of small parks; that by laying out ana
decorating those parks already donated 70 the
city and making them attractive resorts, thus
advancing the value OF real estate in their I'm
mediate vicinities, they would encourage others
to make similar donations and In this way the
city would soon have q fine system OF small
parks.
Engineer Taylor was asked TO submit estl-
mates IN detail and plans showing the manner in
which he proposed to carry out his work. He
replied that the plans and estimates were about
completed and would have been ready had he
known the meeting was TO be held at such
early hour He said il would take his present
force OF men about two week 10 clear the brush
off KinDear park aud that an expenditure of
about 1900 would put the park in fair shape;
that 1t would require three men almost con-
stantly employed to maintain it afterwards, and
one or two men To maintain the Denny park:
that greenhouse 16xH feet would cost about
$50, and one man could take Gaze OF it with the
exception OF about two months each year; that
the erection and maintenance of the greenhouse
for the fret year would be about 5000 while
the cost OF plants for the two parks If purchased,
would be about 81 500 Mr.. Taylor said he would
submit a detailed report at the next meeting
which could serve for the guidance OF the beard.
Rooms 407 and 403 in the Bailey block were
rented as permanent quarters for the board at
go per month and Mr.. Evans was appointed 10
look after the furniture belonging to the board.
The board then adjourned to meet in Mr..
Bailey Office at o'clock next Monday evening.