The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-31

crazes heretofore. and they have fallen of their
own weight, as this one. tho wildest OF them al,
will. Whenever the real estate brokers get
hungry for real estate to plat for sale, with mar
row streets and small lots, they start this boule-
ward craze.
The present movement originated at q meet
ing held in . real estate Office. This meeting
was adorned TO the rooms OF the Chamber OF
Commerce. At the adjourned meeting, COM
posed of members OF the Chamber and real es-
tate brokers called q citizens meeting). COM
mittee of ten was appointed TO promote this
park and boulevard scheme.
Seven out of ten OF the members OF this COM
mistee are real estate men. These men know
that the city has no jurisdiction TO establish
public highways outside of the city limits.
Why then DO they want these parks purchased
outside of the city limits, and this schwargerl
system of boulevards approved by some side
action of the city council, unless il be 20 give
sort of Quas; sanction to q map made 70 sell
real estate by.
This city is now cursed In measure beyond
computation by these wildcat additions, and
real estate has been already doomed until the
future 10 largely discounted. Neither are We
suffering for parks or breathing places. We
have more parks now than We have money 10
improve or enjoy There is the kinnear park
and two other city parks, that we have not the
money to improve as they should be.
Then there numerous private parks,
among which may be mentioned Leschi, Mad
roma, Madi son and Ravenna In addition to
these there are our lakes and bays, the most
beautiful and use full of all, already beautitied.
a adorned and kept in repair by nature. at no ex-
pense TO the tax-burdened citizens OF Seattle.
What We need is commerce and business. We
want shipping, wharves, warehouses. canals,
manufacturing establishments, etc, ETC., rather
thnx 49, ~A~s III -.
four months in the year in this climate, II they
were already provided and kept in repair free OF
expense TO the taxpayer.
The mayor OF this city. sort OF rough dia-
mond, whose head Is ordinarily level, has been
made TO believe that this park and boulevard
scheme is a grand conception, aud that in con-
nection therewitn he has now presented to him
the golden opportunity to link his name to the
car of fame, aud send it booming down to pos
terity; and therefore he is Lending his influence
and sanction to this illegal expenditure of the
city's money, and proposes, in the near future
to call a special meeting OF the city council to
rstify and confirm this unwarranted expendi-
ture OF the public funds and NO doubt, indorse
the general scheme. -
It remains to be seen whether or not the city
council OF the city OF Seattle can be used in this
way and this vicious scheme thus railroaded
through.
The city council was the proper authority to
apply to in the first place, openly and publicly,
SO that the taxpayers of the city might know
what was going on aud how their money was
being expended
The whole thing smacks and smells OF fraud
and corruption, and is 80 wild and visionary
that it ought to be frowned out of existence Ct
once.
But say these promoters, we do not propose to
carry out this scheme all at once; it is only the
adoption of plan to be carried out in the
course OF the years to come. 1t is to be guide
to control the plats OF additions to the city yet
to be made.
How about the miles and miles where these
contem plated boulevards run through lands al
ready plated and partly improved? Is this
threat, this cloud, this incubus of these boule-
wards to be held suspended over this plated
property for years, thus preventing its sale or
improvement?
A thousand times better establish the boule-
wards at once and have done with il
If the city council will let the people alone
they will beautify and adorn the shores of these
lakes with better park system than the city
can invent.
Expend slo,ooo,ooo, indeed, on a park and
boulevard system in city OF $1,000 people,
whose property is assessed at only $43. SOC, $50,
and which has a debt OF over $4,000, GOO now
hanging over its head, to say nothing of the
street grade warrants amounting TO over $500 0s0.
The people OF this city are today actually
grooming under the heavy burden of enormous
taxatlons. and in many cases upon . fictitious
valuation created by the speculation in real es-
tate. We are paying annually s1S2,o3o interest
on our present indebtedness
prudent person. natural or artificial, never
runs in debt when it can be avoided.
Any debt is much easier contracted than paid.
An honest person will not make false pre-
lenses, such as this map OF parks and boule-
wards would amount to on the part of the city
ii any attempt is made to validate the ridicu-
lous and impossible scheme
Neare today maintaining a large number of
paupsrs who have been attracted hither by
just such rose-colored falsshoods the map in
question would amount to-
II we need more avenues within the city
limits, let them be established regularly and
legally by the prescribed mode.
Ii the city limits are too contracted, let us
extend them in a lawful manner; although i,
would seem that thirty-fiye square miles was
a sufficient area for the accommodation of
10000 people.
As citizen and taxpayer I protest against
this park and boulevard scheme and the illegal
expenditure OF the city's money in connection
Herewith. JOHN j. MCGILvRA.