The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-01

THE BELT BOULEVARD.

Seattle Sept y 1895
To the Editor: I have read your article
IN the Post Intellgencer relative 10 the
proposed official plan 81 a belt boulevard
10 he first accurately located and 10 be
constituted the Official plan of the city of
Seattle with reference 10 its future ex-
tension and improvements I heartily In
dorsc the ingenious plan as set forth by
Mr.. Schwagerl. believe It s the first
plan of its Kind concerning park improve
ments which has advocated plating In
conformity 10 the citys ideas, without
condemnation or compensation. II does
not cost the city a cent yet secures what
the land owners should have had long ago
"A plan Of the city laid out with refer
ence as a whole TO houlcvards so that
each property holder can plan and plat his
addition To the city in an intelligent and
rational manner and conform 10 the gem
eral plan. In this connection I wish to
mention the financial phase of this pro-
posed scheme. The earning capacity of
such public improvements is beyond ques-
ton proved by the experience of many of
the leading cities in this country. They
pay their own way. This fact is not gem
orally known by many people IN this busy
Western country. The leading cities OF
America have thoroughly demonstrated
this fact They have shown the wisdom
OF esta blishing such a boulevard az
good financial investment, even as a spec
health-giving and advertising features
with which It stamps the city In It's repu-
iation abroad 90 one of true enterprise
and refinement. The financial benefits ac-
cruing thereby commend themselves to
the careful consideration of all wide
awake and cautions business men, as the
following statistics gathered from park
commissioners reports Of the leading
cities of the United States viii show Cen
trial park I'm New York city. containing Ssl
acres, cost Sl6.0Na. 1nn. the improvements
cost Si4oa,Ao. between 1856 and 1873 in
Creasing the tax IN the three wards con-
cerned Igoa.@1 The assessed valuation
of these same wards In 1856 was so 00l.0 90;
now I'm 1873 the valuation had increased -
500. G00 coo, The natural increase Of three
other wards Of the city, based on an av-
erage Increase of all the wards. WAS only
So. 0n0 fsa. which shows that The three
park wards earned through that improves
ment during seventeen years Slsa no1,en0
In BROOKLYN we End the following reis-
tive 10 parks. Prospect park. OF bia acres.
COS, $50 000. assessed valuation Of thrse
wards in 1854 Was S1e.op1@0. The same
wards increased in value ia three years
81, 5nn 000 To he brief. however Buffalo,
Chicago. Boston. Philadelphia In fact.
every city in the United States which has
entered into boulevard and park improve
menfs gives proofs IN figures showing rs
the came immense financial benefits
which have accrued 10 tho cities through
such improvements.
4 most important. difference must how
ever he noticed between the plan pur-
sued ny All these cities and the plan pro-
posed rs Mr.. Schvagerl They forced
their way ny condemnation PROD eedings,
issuance OF bonds. etc. which The city Of
seattle can avoid hy this scheme once
orr landed citizens SEQ even small por-
ton az such q boulevard completed. they
VIII be in self-iuterest anxious 20 Join tho
citv IN plating. even IA REPEATING their
properties 20 conform 10 a plan which -
sure To result IN such Immense advant-
age fO them
The sooner thiR plan 81 pushed b our
city fathers into the form of positive
laws covering tnis Fubfect. the aeoner
will Seattle feanze re undoubted super
forltv in natural advsntag es over any city
tn the United states.
II wtU add one more salient feature 20
our alreafy promising array ri proposed
prominent public improvements, which
are calling Tire attention ~ fhe vhoie civ
ulzed world to this cftT on3 giving az n
e.idesnread reputation for being FUZZY
awake not only - our immediate necea-
atties and interests hut - our future well
fare. prosperity ara e9pernritv. Re-
spertf,illv. JOHN " TENNEf.