Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-08-17

to be within the scope of its powers, it |
must secure the result through those upon
whom the duty properly rests.
IN eonclusioh, We may aau tnat We nave
~ in.ea ~ ~ IN. .mis niass 90 gu
as,d IL c ~, w tba witbdrswaf fran
rs use as park land Of a strip of land, |
which cost tile city more than $1,000. and |
the consequent isolation from the park of |
a tract which cost the city over 5000 more
we are bound by the Ns:y purpose OF our
eAis!enGe 10 Sons,iet t.ie m,loae su ~ .h
;aiIsrs " as c,n,,s,,,e1 Min the weil heinz
If tha narks.
BY order Of the Board of Park Commits
sioners.
WILLIAM NJ. CANDY, President.
Attest, JOSEPH A. RICHARDSON, Secretary.
Editor Gazette d journal: All pubic
bodies are properly the SUBJECTS OF Grill
cism, and members of the Park Com
mission have recently had their snare.
In accepting the position the members
of the commission recognize their le-
sponsibility to the public for their acts,
and are ready at any time to be called
to account for the management OF their
trust. All they ask is Fair play.
The parties who critlclse their acts
should first obtain correct information
\ on which to base their charges, before
bringing them before the public. As
member of the commission ask your
| indulgence in giving short statement
for the information Of the public.
The Park Commission has been in
existence about 10 years. 1t was created
to take charge of the park properties
purchased by the city, and to develop
them as fast as the funds granted by
the city for their support would allow.
The Brandywine Park was purchased
first In order to accommodate the differ
ent portions of the city, this purchase
was followed by that of kirkwood
Park, Eden Park and West Park. Each
purchase entailed an additional ex-
pense for improvement, as well as for a
guard for their protection, without the
funds of the commission being increased
accordingly. When kirkwood Park was
purchased the grant OF funds made was
conditioned on its Improvement. To do
( this it was necessary TO build either the
, sea wall, which would be permanent,
or a wooden wharf, which would soon
require constant repairs. The former
was built, at n cost of about S14,00(
tnot of $20,000l and the front was filled
in mostly by the city ashes.
! After Eden Park was bought it wa.
: found that the large building formerly
, occupied by the Garesche family, haC
been greatly damaged by the last ex
y plosion, which led them to abandon thu
o business and TO leave Wilmington; tina
q it was in most deldpidated condition
O SO that il would have been condemned
e by any building inspector, and that
l. had become the resort of tramps.
was necessary TO have a house Tor tn
$ guard, and very good arrange men
IL was made with builder to take dow
q and remove the old building and
rs build comfortable two-story house a
IN a small cost IN money, which is rente
~ to the guard at $S per month. TIL
lie was done after careful examination b
the executive committee, and by expert
- So much for the "large line buildin
10 with 40. rooms"
d Ii aman goes into the park and
le taken sick and lies down." he is above
to do so, so long as he behaves himsel
ne The rule Of the park referred to, is il
n tended TO apply TO tramps and hummer
u but as the park guards are not infalllb
h. they probably made a mistake in Il
re case referred to, which no doubt the
On are heartily sorry for, as they do the
tie best to make the park both safe and q
mt tractive to visitors.
ia But in regard to the expenses of b
Ve park. The City Council have alwa
~ acted with liberality in their appropri
pe tons, so far as they have been able to
ect So, and the best of feeling has exist
III between the Council and the comm
sion. On account of the very proper d
at sire of the Council to keep down
taxes, and the fact of not receiving al
~. ~ money from the Water Commission Il
nj year, as well as to the increased appl
he priation necessary to be made to {
.ct other departments, the Park Comm
ON sion received an appropriation of Oh
IL $4,000 for the present year. OF couI
oy they are Obliged to ''cut their coat
~ w cOrding to their cloth"
no The liked expenses have been as f
no. lows: For civil engineer and assstan
as who have been engaged in q tol
Elk, graphical survey of the parks, as "
hat as the laying out of roads, &C., $2,2
eet superintendent, $40; two park qua
~ ne on each side OF the Brandywine, {
each at Kirkwood, Eden, West r,
isis and Kentmere drive, $50 per month,
,lu. Guiding Sundays and extras, $4,S
an clothing for guards, $3.50; total, So
the This is now reduced by the appointm
SIX E OF one man as both superintendent q
6y engineer, at a cost Of $1,000, witt
t t probable reduction in assistants.
,ro. order to economize as much as possil
ect. the guards take turns in working in
PM park, keeping it in order and max
emit such improvements as are necessary.
'nts Edo not see how any furtherreduct