Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-05-19
FRIENDS OF PARKS SHOULD REPEL
PERSISTENT ATTACKS.
so DECLARES ROBERT GILLIAN.
BETTER THAN MODI-
FTCATION IN ONE DISTRICT.
Vigorous Talk of Member of the
Park Board. Speaking as n CIti-
zen and i'm the Interests of
the City-ObjectOrs
Must he Met.

Il hardly know what to say, being a park
| commissioner" remarked Mr.. Robert GILL
Lam, to a reporter for The Journal yester-
day. when asked something as to his views
of the objections raised TO present park
plans. Il cannot well discuss the question
pUbIically as a commissioner. for The rea-
son that l may be misunderstood; and if l
discuss the question as a private citizen,
those opposed TO parks will say, he is now
speaking for the park board, and has no
right to speak thus publicly
No one in Kansas City. however is bet
| ter qualified TO speak than Mr.. Gillham.
A civil engineer of national reputation, he
has also made the subject of parks a
study. and is familiar with the pleasure
grounds of most of the great cities of the
country. His interest in Kansas City and
| his public spirit make any utterance from
him on the subject of additional value.
II am not convinced" he said, that the
public cares very much about my views,
yet on the other hand 1 am deeply con-
ccrDed about the views of the public on
the park question. Thus 1 am placed, in
some respects, in a condition of mind very
like uncertainty. l will. however, as a
citizen" he continued. after some urging
Indulge in a few observations. trusting
that what | say will not be treated harsh
ly on the part of the objectors. believing
that what l say is wholly for the good Of
Kansas City.
Il have made up my mind that not a few
of the park objectors have determined 10
defeat the public in acquiring parks. My
reason for this conclusion is that they have
never by committee or otherwise, present.
ed their case to the park board, but have
resGrted to political and other methods to
create prejudice in the minds of the pub
lie against the park board. They do not
want North terrace. West terrace or Penn
Valley parks. or any other park, and if
they thought they could. they would no
doubt fence up the boulevards.
They are giving all manner of reasons
why the park system should be defeated.
Since it has been clearly demonstrated that
there can be no reasonable grounds for
object to the establishment of North
Terrace park, and the improvements pro-
posed in the North park district, on the
ground of excessive taxation, they now
come forward with the claim that the
method of taxation for these improvements
is wrong. The objectors know the law
cannot be changed. and that these Ques-
tionS were all fully considered when the
law was presented to the people They al
so know that IL will require an amendment
Of the constitution of the state of missouri
in order TO change the method of taxation
embraced in the park law. They also know
that IL the questions should be resolved in
to ona. embracing the amendment of the
state constitution, that such amendment
would never pass. and would require two
o. three years before il could be presented
to the people. of the state; in the mean
time, our park system would die, ana never
again be resurrected.
"Where are the friends of parks? If they
wish parks, now is the time to make II
known. There should be an organized de-
fense against the legal attacks on North
terrace park. This case has been taken to
the supreme court by the objectors. The
people should organize and employ the best
legal talent and prepare to meet the at
tack, and cooperate with the park board
and its legal department in an effort to es-
tablish this park. There should be an ag
gressive and persistent fight made for
North terrace park. ana. IL possible. have
all the legal questions submitted to the up
per court determined in favor of the park
law. The people must show their interest
and make their demands for this park
thoroughly understood and felt otherwise
we may never be able TO establish North
terrace park.
'.This can be and will be made one of the
most beautiful parks in the world. There
is nothing like Tits charm is poetic, its
grandeur refining. Every man. woman and
child should do something 10 secure North
terrace park. There can be no well ground
ed objection to any of the improvements in
North park district. We should all use our
influence in favor of their execution.
IN the West park district there are
problems yet to solve, the solution of which
must develop no mistakes. As the park
board has not yet disposed of the questions
relating to West terrace and Penn valley
parks, | cannot discuss these. but will say
by way of suggestion that rather than sur
render the SUBMITS of West terrace park
north of Thirteenth street II would be bet
ter to abandon the entire proposition.
West terrace when finished will add new
charms to our municipal life. The embel-
Iishments will not be costly. Treated archi-
tecturally. the West bluff will be more at
tractive and beautiful than the terraces
and SUBMITS of Edinburgh, Scotland