Evening journal., 1894-02-13
NOTHING WRONG ABOUT IT.
INVESTIGATION OF THE PURCHASE
OF KlRKWOoD.PARK BY Mr.. MENTOR.

The Park commissioner Was Found to
Have Acted Bonorably in the Purchase
of the Property which He Was Ordered
TO Secure by City Council.
The Kirkwood Park Investigating
Committee composed d of Councilmen James
P. Ratledge, James Tyre and GEORGE
O'Neill met in the Council chamber yes
terday afternoon.
Daniel j. Mention, 'as a member Of the
park commission, made the purchase
When asked TO state what he knew
about the matter, Mr.. Mention said he
would make a statement when a charge
was made He added that Mayor Short
lidge had made the charges and should
now inform the committee what they
were The mayors statement WIS then
read by the clerk. IL was made at the
FIRST meeting to investigate the charges
in connection with the Wawaset Park
land aud in this statement the mayor
had said that there were rumors to the
effect that some one had made $4,000 by
the purchase.
Mr.. Mention said he could add but little
TO what had already been said. He had
been chosen by Council TO make the
purchase. He had advised the members
before he was appointed that they &C
slowly, because if it was known that
Council wanted TO purchase land this
price wonld go up He was then ap
pointed to buy the land.
1t was decided that Kirkwood Park
tract was the best suited for the purpose
Mr.. Mention then went to Samuel and
Augustus McCaulley, who had charge OF
| . 1.. las, I
belonged. They would not sell part OF
tine lot and wanted $25. 900 for it Finally
they agreed to take 500 GOO. When Mr.
| McCaulley offered this proposition Mr.
Mention ;cepted it and paid some money
to bind the bargain. That night th'
committee which had charge of th'
matter selected the portion which
/ It desired. The committee haC
| about l$l4 600 at its .option, anC
1t took the portion between Kirk wood
and Bennett streets and Eleventh street
and the Brandywine creek for S13 500
and Denpis J. Mention and Horace w
Cause purchased the lot bounded by Pin'
and Kirkwood streets and Eleventh
street and Pusey's lane for SO 500. TIT
lot purchased by the city contained 233.-
$50 squsre feet. and the portion pur-
chased by Mr. Mention and Mr.. Gaus
contained &C 2S4 square feet.
Mayor Shor5lidge said that he hsC
heard the rumors and be had not looked
up the records because he had asked Mr.
Candy about IL, and Mr.. Candy said b.
was sorry to say that it was true.
In 1891, Heald & Co as agents for Mr.
Mention, sold portion of the land 70
Si1. 500 There is 150 square feet of lam
left Most of the land left is unde
water part of the time. but it was as
sessed last year for 81 500.
Mr. Candy said that he did say yer
much what Mayor Shortlidge had cred
tied to him. He did not intend 70 refleC
on Mr. Mention by that statement, bu
the mayor might readily have so under
stood him. He had expressed regre
before that Mr.. Mention had not held th
land for park purposes. He regretted
, because he had understood, though
, was wrong, that the city was to have th
option on the land. The land retaine
! BY Mr.. Mention was the best for par
, purposes The whole matter was don
: by Council, and the Park Commissio
/ had little to do with 1t.
J Mr.. Tyre said that City Counc
seemed TO have been wholly responsib
for the matter, and Mr. Mention hs
offered TO Council its choice aud it too
g what it wanted.
In answer to questions Mr. Candy sal
e that the wall along the wharf line oftb
a kirkwood Park cost about $4,000 II
= supposed the park has cost $4,000
a addition to the price of the lot-$l3, so
r MIR. Mention said that under the oril
3 inal agreement be and Nc. Cause ha
g paid SO 500 for land for which the
y should have paid only $3.50
Mr.. Candy said that the Seidel al
Hastings Company had given soil for th
park free of charge, which was gre
y aid
n The report Of the committee will
., presented on Thursday night and vi
B" axonerota NJ Ma,to,,