The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-16
A SYSTEM OF PARKS.
Business Men Adopt Superin-
tendent Schwagerrs Plan.
FOUR MAIN PARKS PROPOSED.
HE Proposal to Lay Plans for the 1u.
turs Favored BY Mayor Ronald
and Large Mseting.

A Geli-attsnded meeting OF business men was
hsld at the Chamber Of Commerce yesterday,
ana steps were taken to perfect . general com.
prshensive plan for the securing OF public parks
Tor the city. II was the outgrowth Of . meeting
on Tuesday, held at the office OF Eshelman,
Lleweliyn & Co, ct which William ID. Wood, w.
n Leweiiyn, Andrew Knox. Robert E. Mccoy.
II. K elise aud Charles II. Pennington were
present Among those on hand were:
John Leary. d. Fl. Gilman, J. F. Eshelman. II.
h elise. Griffrh Davies, Andrew Knox, Daniel
Jones' Jones, David Denny. Jonn B. Denny. Thomas ".
Boone. Joseph ". Phillips, W. w. Kirkwood,
Judge J. r. Lewis, NJ. D. Ballard, William r
Ballard. II. N. Holmes, B. r. Day, George II.
xaais nisnear HAIL.. hssG SS George TyoB
Mayor J. 7. Ronald, A. D. Eshelman, Charles W.
saunders and Edwin W. Houghton.
John Leary was invited to the chair, stated
the purpose of the meeting and called on Eugene
y. Schwagerl, superintendent of parks, for
statement of the park commissions sugges.
tons
MI schwagerl had prepared q hand map OF
the city with broad red ink lines and marks to
illustrate his remarks and for nearly half an
hour received the closest attention. He began
by explaining the great nee essity for parks, the
unriyalied loc'tion in the city for such parks,
ana the great desirability of laying foundations
now fora system before advancing prices for
real estate rendered 1t infinitely more costly
ana troublesome. Then, pointing to his wall
map, be showed four spots which he deemed
almost ideal locations for parks. These loca-
lions were: On the northeast, the point Of
land extending into Lake Washington directly
opposite Kirkland, in section 2, township Is
north, range east The southeast was the
peninsula jutting out into Lake Warrington
just north of Brighton Beach and directly
opposite the middle Of Mercer island, about
two and one-half miles south of Yesier avenue.
The northwest site was that known as West
point or Lighthouse point in the Sound, just
below the mouth of Salmon bay; and the
southwest site was Alki point Particular at
tention WIS paid by Mr.. Schwagerl TO the sites
on the lake, and these he advised should be i'm
mediately sequestered and steps taken ut once
TO connect them with boulevard along
the lake shore. Along with the plan
was to be submitted one for the
establishment of extensive boulevards
or, as Mr.. Schwagerl called them, "attenuated
parks These were simply avenues 30 built
and planted with trees and grass plats as to
convey to those walking ON them the impress.
sion OF being in park In both the localities
selected Mr.. Schwagerl declared that the trees
had not been burned or destroyed. In his be-
lief this was one Of the greatest reasons for the
locations since the distinctive foliage OF this
climate could thus be kept up. point much to
be desired.
"How much money will this system take?
was asked
"Ten millions. may be, and years OF time:
but, remember, am only suggesting park
plan, to be be laid down by the city, The cues
eion OF laying out the parks and boulevards can
be left to time and the raising of money. All
say now is that this IL the time to adopt plan for
notice to future builders, buyers and plat own
ers. The parks and boulevards may not be car.
ried out for twenty years to come"
T. o. Graves made a motion declaring Il the
sense OF the meeting that the plan of Mr..
schwagerl should be approved in general way
and that councils be asked to ordain that in
future all plats of lots be made to conform with
1t. This was unanimously carried
Mayor Ronald. who came in after the meeting
came to order. spoke forcibiy in favor of the
proposition and said that the city authorities
would already have taken steps to make 4 tax
levy for park purposes had they been sure it
would have met with public approval He also
said that he was able to state that tho site Sc.
lected by the commission for the southeast park
was one which contained about IFS acres.
could be bought upon the city's own valuation
almost, for . small sum in cash and by giving
the city's note for the remainder for
long period and at comparatively
low rate OF interest He advised tho
purchase in the most strenuous terms.
He also declared that all that was needed was
to push the matter before councils and the
people in order to secure favorable action.
The meeting then appointed a committee to
act with the park commission in creating and
directing public sentiment favorable to the plan.
and adjourned. Tho committee consists of W.
u. Wood. DR.. q. H. Randell, w. II. Lewellyu.
c. I. Conover, Daniel Jones, F. F. Wittler w. 4
Niesx T. o. Graves, Theodore N. Halter and
Judge J. r. Lewis.