The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-08
tensions and inferences on his pa. which are

without real foundation.
A We understand, the park boesd, 80 far a.
relates to new parks and boulevasis. is simply
investigating the best locations AID routes, as
10 their duty under the city eha.teE
Not an acre can be purchased oS condemned
Tor parks nor foot of boulevard be: located and
adopted until approved by both hs,uses of the
city council. Not park bond en- be issued
without the consent of three tifths II the voters
OF the city at an election held for Eaat purpose.
The city is not in immediate DANCE. at least
Judge McGilvra il seems 10 Us, aassed hasty
judgment upon the park board ans city officers
in charging them with unauthorizea and Illegal
expenditure of park funds, in making preiimi-
nary surveys for parks and boulevar.is
He says: "They are squanderinss the money
OF the city in direct violation OF Flaw. They
have no moro right or authority 4 expend the
money of the city in surveying backwards in
side or outside of the city limits III the board
OF police comm sioners"
Section 5 Of the act Of the legislat,sre approved
February g. 1890. gives cities of ;ts, first class
power "to purchase or appropri.ts private
property within or without its coryE,rate limits
for its corporate uses" and "to acquire by pur-
chase or otherwise lands for public lssrks within
or without the limits of such city. and to i'm
prove the same"
Section of article XIII, of the civ charter az
amended in March. 1892. reads as to:sows:
SECTION 5. The PARK commiss on: shall have
power, and it shall be its duty, to eavise, adop.
aud maintain parks, park ways snG bouevards
in aud adj acent TO the city of Seattle, and from
time 20 time to add thereto; TO iesSgnste snds
and grounds to be used or approyrisse ed Tor such
purposes: to cause the same to be :,etted, sur
veyed, and the plats thereof filed in1he Office of
the secretary of said commission AID the Office
OF the city engineer OF said city, sndshe right 20
take possession, upon obtaining sitle 10 the
same. or any part thereof; to holI, improve,
govern and administer the same izr such pur,
poses. The park commission shall gave power
and is hereby authorized to obtain -ite for and
in the name of seattle to any lands g. designate
by 1t for the purpose OF this act byift, devise,
purchase or lease. Said commis5io.S may enter
into any contract, in the name Of said city, for
the purchase OF any lands. TO be paie for in such
time or times and in such manueras the COM
mission may agree upon: and said commission
may accept title to lands and give Eack mort
gage or mortgages in the name oi5said city TO
secure the unpaid purchase price, crowded no
personal or general liability Ihe@part OF said
city shall be created by any such Contract be-
yond the means at the time avs;lazle therefor
And provided further, that there shiSl be ex-
press agreement contained in any such mort
gage, nor any separate instrument sven for the
payment Of the sums secured theresy. but the
property mortgagcd provided, tnasthe powers
above conferred be subject to ratification or re-
lection by the city council
And section 8 OF the same article q the char
ter provides that the park comm ssion shall
alone have the authority to spend the public
park funds except as otherwise provided in til 9
charter, and the commission shall Certify every
such expenditure to the city coInpgsoller who
shall issue his warrants to the ct.y treasurer
therefor, and the same shall be PAID by the city
treasurer out of any money in tie city park
fund not otherwise appropriated.
Very wisely, indeed, did the city council and
the people. in the charter amendmsns of last
March, make it tho duty of the psxk commits
sion to devise and "adopt" sparks. parkways
and boulevards in and adjacent TO ,i:o city"
The city council must. it is true-:pass upon
the final adoption of plans and Purchases of
lands, but If the park department is Got the pro-
per branch of the city government to investi-
gate, devise and recommend parks End boule-
wards, pray what part of our munic< pal service
should do 1t? And If the expense Of. such work
be not payable out of the park fund what fund
should it come from? And If out q the park
fund, who should expend it ana approve the
bills and cause them to be paid? It must be
the park board. The city council cannot ex.
pend a dollar of the park funds.
No park and boulevard plan can ssceive the
support OF the city council of the :,eopIe that
is not based on common sense anu Conservative
business principles. nor would it be: OF use to
the city.
Wear glad of the free discussion shis matter
10 meeting. Let US all think and tax about it.
Our progress in it must necessarily be slow
for some time. but 1t ought not logger to be
wholly neglected.
The opinion OF our citizens seems - be unan-
imous so far, that Seattle ought at ONE to begin
and as far as practicable devise and aocate her
parks and drives before it is forever TO late and
too costly to do so.
committee are working to that enc; and will,
from time to time, no doubt, submit their re-
commentators for public discussions: Respect
fully, WILLIAM y. WooD.