Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-11-26
PRESENTED TO BOARD OF PARK
COMMISSIONERS.
OVER FOUR THOUSAND SIGNERS
ASKS THAT THERE DE No SETTING
ASIDE OF PARK PROCEEDINGS.
Directors TO the North and West Ter
race Park Projects Also Had a
Petition Before the Board
We're Taken Under
AdYisement.


spent three hours discussing the outlook
OF the park enterprise. The discussion
was based upon two petitions, one repre-
senting the friends and the other the OPP
ponents of the movement The petition.
from the supporters OF park improvements
was much the larger Of the two. and con-
tained this supplementary note:
This petition contains the names and
addresses Of AIS citizens and taxpayers
Of Kansas City who favor parks. The Pc
tition is 157 feet long and all the names
thereon were secured within FIVE and one
half days"
President A. R Meyer explained that all
Of the opposition to the movement seemed
20 come from the owners of unimproved
real estate against which benefits had been
assessed, and from the owners of business
property in the heart OF the city. He went
on TO show that while the benefit TO these
classes Of taxpayers was not as directly
traceable as to others, that their property
was nevertheless enhanced in value in
common with all ether property Sy the
beautifying Of the city. Referring TO the
petition from the protesters. which re-
qUested that the ordinances establishing
the West and North Terrace. parks be re-
pealed, Mr.. Meyer said that compliance
was out Of the question. The city had
taken a step forward. and not until the
board was satisfied beyond q doubt that
the step was mistake. would It be re-
traced.
Final action, however, was not taken on
E,,
which to consider the matter.
The following letter from Jefferson Brum-
back, of the law firm Of Brumback &
Brumback, was read:
kansas City, No., Nov. q, 'sS.
"a. r. Meyer. Esq, President Park
Board. Dear Sir:- am told that the park
board is expected to make a final decision
next Wednesday on she protests or OBJ
3ections against the North Terrace park
and the West Terrace park. I have not
signed any protest, nor have signed any
contemplation on the subject 1 own
real estate in each park district. On be-
half Of clients and on my own behalf 1
desire to say that we prefer that the pro-
tests and objections should be overruled
by your board, and that the condemnations
in the cases Of the six parks, where turies
have reported. should stand and that the
CcrGemnations in the case of the other
three parks 10 be condemned should be
prosecuted vigorously.
"Our reasons are briefly as follows: II
the proceedings in the case OF the North
Terrace park and in the case of the West
Terrace park shall be abandoned now, with
a view 10 decreasing the limits of those
parks, the probability is that 1t will cost
as much TO condemn the land for a less
area in each case as property owners will
have 10 pay T. the present condemnations
shall stand. The sooner the amount to be
paid for each of the nine parks shall be
ascertained and charged up against the
real estate. the better it will be for all
parties; because. until the amounts shall
be ascertained there Is so much uncertain
ty in regard TO amounts that there Is more
or less Interference in business respecting
the buying and selling Of lands and i'm
proving the same. A certainty as TO what
must be paid IS in every way desirable.
PERSONALLY. I hope that the present
scheme as TO parks will go through, though
do not approve of some details anu be-
lieve the benefits therefrom will not equal
general expectation, and though feel that
J. with others, have been treated harshly,
because in some cases where verdicts have
been rendered, special benefits have been
assessed on lands fronting on or near one
park while in other cases, special benefits
ing on or near parks, when as 1 think,
Il should have been done. In some cases
very high assessments have been made on
business property far from all parks and
benefited but little, while property fronting
on or close to parks and largely benefited
Of parks benefit at alb, has been assessed
very lightly; 1. e, not assessed with any
benefits on account OF frontage on parks
or situation close to them, but assessed
only pro rata with all lands in the park
district, according to valuations for gen.
eral taxation.
These things are, however, for the Jury
in each case. and, while fnink much IN
justice has been done, because all juries
did not act on the same theory in making
assessments L believe all verd.ctS should
stand. I know that verdicts cannot be
rendered that will please everybody, OIL
work out exact justice in all cases.
Il take the liberty of writing this letter
because / may not meet you and state
verbally the substance OF Whist I have
written above. You are at liberty to show
this TO other members of the board. Very
respectfully,
"JEFFERsoN BRTNIBACK."
A letter from F. 2. Neal. vice president
OF the Union National bank. was read
Mr.. Neal thought that the board woulC
have 10 make a new start in the West Ter
race park case. He thought the area en-
braced excessive and the prices at which
bitant. He was better pleased with thl
North Terrace proposition, but referre,
10 the absurd price allowed Andrus'' 70
his property and thougSt the people /,
that park district should be informed tha
the rest OF the property condemned vii
not go in at relative valuss.
Robert GillEam said that II the peopl
knew 1t was the purpose Of the board &
70 slow in the matter Of park embellish
ule1lSs. 50 ~ not TO work a hardship upo,
them in the matter OF special taxes,
would remove much Of the opposition Z
the enterprise He said that most OF tn
opposition Is to the West Terrace park
He added that the taxes IN Kansas Cit
were lower than In any other city Of *
class in the country with the exception @
Denver In Minneapolis. for instance, tn
assessment g eo per cent OF the actua
value Of tho property, while in Kansa
CITY Il is only y per cent.
Mr. A. J. BoardmHu. eN-prssldent OF IN
Minneapolis park board. was present n
special invitation. He said that the enter
prise In his city hal met with the sam
opposition that conf,oats II here and fror
practically the same class of citizeEs
Mr.. Boardman read paper, which is a
follows;
''In tho Interest Of your work here 1
Kansas CITY ana TO uphold the hands {
the commission IN the good work whlc
has already begun, I wish 20 demonstrai
two fagt=-
"First-That II one has no high regar
for the educational and eSthctic devaloI
rrert which comes from identifying one
city. that as a pecuna-y factor parks al
profitable.
"second-That no other scheme Of tax,
tlon f0r whatever purpose IL may be d