The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-03
PARKS AND BOULEvAI.DS.

SEATTLE, jan 2, 1898
To THE EDITOR: Ny attention has teen called
to a Communication OF Mr.. T. 4. Fleming. pub
Iished in this mornings Posr-IST ELE IGENCaR,
in answer to my communication npof. the sub
iect of parks and boulevards, OF the s9th ult.,
published in both Of the morning papsrs OF the
city OF Seattle.
Mr.. Flemings lengthy and well-wrE.ten arti-
Gle does not como within gunshot OF reiuting
any position taken by me.
/ say the board of park commissioners have
no authority to establish any public highways
inside or outside of the city limits, and that
this board, without warrant or excuse. has
spent several thousand dollars of the money of
the city in making surveys and plats OF this
boulevard system.
Mr.. Fleming does not deny this. Watcher or
not the money thus Illegally expended by this
board can be recovered at the suit OF q taxpayer
will not discuss, but certain it is theexpendl-
ture is illegal.
1 say the city council alone can establish pub
lie highways, and that only within 1he city
limits. Mr. Fleming admits il.
/ say this scheme originated with the real es.
tate men. Mr.. Fleming does not deny Il
l say these real estate men desire sore recog-
milton of this scheme by the city couaciL Mr..
Fleming does not deny it
Why do they want this recognition, xnowing
they do that the city council has no surisdic-
ton outside of the city limits2
! say ii is to lay the foundation for grand
map of Seattle and vicinity, showing thsse parks
and bouevards with faint semblancs of au-
thority, which map would amount to tie worst
kind OF a false representation. Mr.. Fleming
does not deny it.
Why do they want this false map. II is is not
to aid them in selling property adiacene to these
fictitious parks and boulevardsr
say "this city is cursed now in a measure
beyond computation by these wildcat addi-
tiQns ~ Mr. Flaming does deny Il.
repeat, 1.-The whole thing smacks ana smells
OF fraud ana corruption, and is so wild and Wis
ionary that IL ought to be frowred ont Of exis-
tence st once" as believe it will be. ana here
by warn the city council against any hasty &C.
ton in the premises.
II the city needs additional parks ar7i boule-
wards within the city limits. as belevx it does,
let the proper city authorities calmly, deliber-
atsly and discreetly, as well publicly con-
slider the matter, and do, not threaten :or pre-
tend to do that which ought to be done
The covert slur in Mr.. Jennings letter az to
the writer being "behind the times" on The
'down grade" and adopting the dosothing
policy" was iil-becoming a raw recruitln seat.
ties service, and shows profound ignc:ance OF
the history, character and Temperament: OF the
pioneers who have made this city what Is is to-
fay.
When Mr.. Fleming plats 400 acres of lana within
the city limits OF the city of Seattle twelve lot
wide and alleys 20 feet wide. with an additional
avenue 50 feet wide, running diagonslly t1rough
these blocks; when he opens up an avenSie from
Elliott bay TO Lake Washington at his own sole
expense, and then fights town lot speCulstors for
years TO prevent them from plating tslis ave-
nue. ont OF existence; when he has dongted leo
OF these large lots to pioneer RAILROAD. in de-
fence of the very existence of our fa=r CITY,
which was so.ely beset by lis most bitter
enemies; when he has given eighty od;s other
of these large lots as subsidy TO street rail-
way; when he has given time and money to
promote other matters OF interest and impor-
tsnce to the city of Seattle and has spers nearly
thirty OF the best years of his life in the ci,ys
service, then, and not till then, Will permit
him TO dictate as to what may say or dg
am not in the habit OF psrading besore the
public my own acts, but there is one matter in
this connection that deem pertinent
AS the attorney of the city of Seattle, n 1875
Iappiisd for and on behalf OF the city, % enter
the east half OF the Maynard donation clslrn, $40
acres, under the town site act After contest
In the local land Office and before the commits
sio1er OF the general land Office in Washington
City, in 1870 succeeded in establishing the
citys claim and obtaining favorable dscision.
The city afterwards, by gross negligence
shamefully abandoned this claim and th:is lost
magnificent piece OF property Tor pax 81 other
purposes
It has got to be quite the fashion 1or the
young men, who style themselves the
kids. to attempt TO ignore the pioue:rs and
older men, and as they express it, run g4e ma.
chine themselves.
l am strongly tempted to quote the ole adaSe
here. but will torbesr, and simply say that if
some OF these ambitious kids could havs their
own way, they would noabe long IN sqeander-
ing what the pioneers have accumulated. and
then they would mortgage the future eseuera
ton to the full extent of their ability.
Some, tt least, OF tbs pioneers of Wash .ngton.
prefer recognition while living. 10 cheap and
tulsome praise after we have migrated
When a reasonable scheme for parks AM horl
evaEGs is presented Il will have my appro-al.
JOHN J. MCGIEyRA