The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-29


the West Is Attractive and How the
People Make 1t So-W.chita Needs
Park, the People Want 1t and the
County Commissioners Have a Chance
toCet One, and What's the Matter Any
way Would Seem to Suggest.
The matter of taking Griswold Park
for what the Wichita National bank
owes the county is under consideration
bv the county commissioners. 4 report
er for the Eagle got the following ex-
preston yesterday in regard to the mat
ter:
Up. Campbell have read an article
in the Eagle over the signature of DR..
Matthews in regard to parks, bathing
places, etc Also an interview from ex-
Mayor Cox on the same subject; and the
other day an article very heartily en-
dorsing the scheme from you.
Having just recently returned from
the Pacific coast, and having studied the
conditions in both city and country out
there 10 some extent, L was particularly
reason. Il semmed to me while in Cali
fornia, that nature had done very niue
for that country but that man mad done
much
"AlI the towns and cities in California,
excepting San Francisco, depend very
largely upon the stranger for their sue
cess; and nothing has been left undone
to make their cities and towns attract
i've and inviting. One going into those
towns will not be shown their manufac-
turing industries, their great shops or
packing houses, but their parks, summer
resorts, bath houses, swimming pools,
hotels, etc. Everything possible has
been done throughout California to
make the places attractive to strangers
In the very heart of Los Angeles S a
magnificent park covering PROBABLY TWO
blocks. There are numerous other small
parks throughout the city. Street cars
are run out in all directions from all the
cities Of any consequence TO small neigh
boring towns where all kinds of attrac-
tons in the way OF bathing, swimming
and park lettering are found.
What is Manitou and even Colorado
Springs except places highly ornament
ed 50 as to be pleasing to the visitors,
the principal luxury being water. So
that l come back to Wichita deeply i'm
pressed with the conviction that this
phase of city building above referred to
has been grossly neglected in Wichita,
and indeed throughout Kansas. No
place on the continent has as lovely and
healthgiving evenings as Southern Kan
sas, and no place can be found where the
people turn out to such an extent in the
evenings to find recreation and rest.
Why should we not spend a little money
and q good deal Of energy and effort TO
have some inviting and real attractive
places in our city where during the hot
weather, people could resort, as they
would doubtless do 10 a much greater ex-
tent than in the towns and cities Of
California.
In the towns near the sea coast in |
California the nights are too cool to en- |
Joy riding or boating. In the inland |
towns they are too not and the mosqui- |
tos too large. In Wichita they are just
right.
Let US to work as a city and as indi-
viduals and do a little beautifying along
the aforesaid lines. Perhaps no place in
the state could be made a lovelier re- |
sort, fixed for swimming. bathing, skat- |
ing, boating, with finer banks and more |
attractive parks, than the Little river; |
and this too at very little expense.
Let us fix it up. and make it free to |
all VINO wish to use it. Let us quit driv- |
ing our boys two or three miles out OF |
town TO find a swimming hole as
though going a swimming was q very |
bad habit, and one that should be care |
fully guarded against. And when We /
get the Little river made attractive on |
the west side, then we will do something |
for the east side"
Mr.. Hewlett of Hewlett & Wheeler-I
think the county ought to take Griswoli
Park and fix it up. 1t would perhaps
take several thousand dollars TO put it in
shape but the people of this city need
such a place and would appreciate it.
The trade ought to be made.
J. A. Bishop, wholesale paper house-The
plan to take Griswold Park for what the
county has due from the Wichita Ma
Jionsl bank is good one.
Jim Tapp. Red Front Racket-The
county should take Griswold Park by all
means.
A z. Helm-I am in favor OF taking
the park.
Mr.. Freeman. OF Freeman & Lawrence
The county ought TO take that park
ana improve it.
Joe Brubacher-We ought to have the
mark and GTe want jF |