Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-11-26

cease. II is a singular fact that a. home
and here, the most persistent and capuous
opposition usually comes from those who
either are taxed but little. or whp are best
able to meet such requirements. Our an
swer to thai was that the parks are the
gardens of the poor; that it was no SUI
ficient reason for neglecting improvements
of this character because their wealth en-
able: them to go elsewhere and enjoy the
beauties of landscape gardening and parks
in other cities: while the poor we have
with US always And in this connection.
while the idea OF one large park of gen
erous proportions seems always present in
the minds of the people and commissioners,
as the one thing desirable. yet it were
much better 10 have smaller areas, con-
veniently located about the city, which the
poorer people may reach without being
burdened with even a street car fare.
IAN interesting illustration of the bene-
fits derived, both TO the general treasury
and to the property specifically benefited
by park improvements, is furnished by the
Back Bay improvement nj the city OF Bos-
ton. as reported by the commissioners in
their report, 1852:
THE assessors valuation of the estate
upon which betterments were assessed for
the year Is77, not including buildings, was
81. .f43 T5l, ard for the year 1852 the same
property was assessed at $2O.sf7,500, making
a total increase in assessed valuation of
S97G3,749.
The valuation Of land IN the rest of
the city, from the year 1871 TO May l, 1882,
was reduced S23, ,456, ,2i9. The amount of bet
terments assessed upon the lands contigu-
Gus to the improvements was S42S, 1916,
'suggesting.' say the commissioners, that
the amount assessed was far below the
actual benefit derived from laying out the
park
The expenditures on account of the i'm
proVements from the commencement in
1877 to the close of the year 1882, were 81
jog. 1896
This statement shows that nearly the
whole cost of the park, including its i'm
provement, was reimbursed within five
years from its inception. The increase in
the value of the surrounding property by
park improvements, even while in their in
ception. is illustrated by the facts. devel-
oped in the operations of this board during
the past season.
while the Minneapolis board was de-
liberating upon the land for Loring park
in the month of June, it made Inquiries
respecting tho price for which the Cole
& Weeks Encouragement of lots and J, OF
]. s. Johnson's addition, could be acquired.
1t was sscertained that this property
would cost s25, CO., The board did not deem
that it would be justified in acquiring the
tract at that cost, and did not include It
in the designation of land for the park.
Having determined to assess the entire
cost of the LOring park upon the lands
especially benefited by it, the assessors
appointed by the court assessed upon the
Cole & Weeks tract the sum of $3.50 as
its proportion of the benefits.
Having received petitions from num-
ber of citizens interested in the locality
asking to have the Cole & Weeks tract
included in the park, the board in January
appointed appraisers TO ascertain its then
value who after examination and hearing
testimony submitted the report, appraising
the property exclusive of buildings, at the
sum of $.3 700, showing an increase in value
within six months after the location of the
park OF 70 per cent.
Professor Cleveland, In an address de-
livered to the Minneapolis Society of Fine
Arts, in the year 1888, and from which
take opportunity to quote, charmingly sets
forth the attractions of Paris, in terms ap-
propriate and foDcibIe.
" Not only that the scholar, the scientist,
the artist, the investigator of whatever
branch of knowledge the mind may crave,
will find in Paris such opportunities and ap-
plfances for the prosecution of his studies
or the indulgence of his tastes, as are no
where else so abundant or so easily ac-
cessible, but the machinery of daily life
in all its details Is clothed in beauty, and
relieved of the sense Of jarring friction,
which grinds the nerves, and rests the
wear ana tear OF DOly ana soul
1.-The annual increase to the winter pop
ulation of Paris exceeds 10000 and, of
course, the larger portion are people of
abundant means. If each of these visitors
expended only $500 it would add 80 coo. 800
to the city's annual income. If one cares
for no higher object it is evident that on
pecuniary grounds alone it is desirable to
make the city attractive
lone factor which the writer is especial
" desirous of impressing upon your peo-
pie is the difference in the distribution of
moneys expended upon your park system
for instance. The secretary's books
show that rs per cent of all
| our revenues go to labor account
alone, which goes into the hands Of our
merchants, manufacturers and banks, and
remains at home: while in the erection of
a public building the expenditures are dis
| tributed about as follows:
1.-The money for structural iron goes to
| Pittsburg; glass to Pittsburg or St Louis;
| lime to Red Wing or Sheboygan: slate 10
| Maine or Pennsylvania; hair to Chicago;
| bronze trimmings to New Haven or An
sonia, Conn: thing TO Ohio or Europe; tin
| roofing to Chicago: pressed brick to st,
| Louis or Philadelphia; gas fittings 10 New
| York city or St. Louis: furniture to Grand
Rapids, Mich: carpets to Hartford or Low
| ell; ornamental iron to Chicago: book racks
| to Louisville: radiators to Baltimore; lin
| oleum to New England; electric apparatus
| to New Jersey-while we simply stop lit
! tie toll on the construction.
mo one appreciates more fully than my
| self the burdens that have been borne foG
| the last few years by holders of unpro-
ductive property. and the objections neces-
| sarlly entertained against an increased
| burden. The reward of enterprise of late
! has been disaster: and yet, here in Kan
sas City, you have within quarter of Z
| century accomplished in a commercial
| manufacturing and educational way what
| would have been the result of 20) years II
| New England. 1 believe that you are
about entering again upon another period
of prosperity, in common with our whole
| Western country. You are almost without
| a competitor for the trade of the South
west. which empire is greater in extent, il
| agricultural and mineral and timber posi-
| bilities than that which built up the cite.
| Of New York and Philadelphia and Balti
more in the East.
THE Star of Empire which Bishop Berk
ley sang. is westward taking its course
as Montiscuer declared. as If driven 10y
the mighty hand of God CThe Star o
| Empire passed from Persia to Greece; from
/ Greece to Italy: from Italy to Great Brit
ain; and from Great Britain II is again de
parting: It is coming TO our mighty West
there TO remain, for there is no furthe
West beyond is the Orientl
And upon you. gentlemen OF the board
Is imposed the trust of building up an
1 developing a system Of parks for you
! magnificent city. You will find the pres
willing and anxious TO sustain You in ever,
proper effort. The people in large ma
/ apxiorE n hold lin yOFr