The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-15
SHAMEFUL ACT.
Thirty -four Beautiful Trees in
Garfield Park
Cut Down for Use as FirewOOd
by the ParamOres.
Vandalism is Result of Spite
and Hatred
BECAUSE OF THE SALE
Of a Three-fourths Interest in
the Park
To Marshall's Band a Few Days
Ago.
BECAUSE OF THE SALE

Garfield park is being shorn of the
natural beauty it possesses by the
work of a vandaL. Thirty-four good
sized trees in various portions of the
park have been cut down and chopped
into fire wood, and the appearance of
the park has been greatly damaged.
This week the three-quarter interest
in the park property was purchased by
MarshalPs band. The band intends
making a beautiful park of it and Civ
ing summer concerts and entertain
ments. The public is to have the ben
eft of going there for picnics free of
charge. The remaining One-fourth in
tereSt in the property is held by G. w.
ParamOre, a ParamOre heir and son
of A. J. ParamOre. Mr.. ParamOre sew
eraI months ago built q small unpa1nt-
ed frame house in the west part of the
park, south of the main entrance. and
is occupying it. This he claims as his
homestead" and he hopes to ward off
legal foreclosure proceedings which
will probab bly, be instituted against him
soon. On this state of affairs the
band officers have decided to ask their
legal rights in the matter.
The trees in Garfield park are not
any too plentiful Cutting them down
at random is not calculated to i'm
prove the appearance or utility of it.
Not over 100 feet east of the Kansas
avenue fence the work of destruction
has been carried on. Especially in the
=
edge has the vandalism been practiced.
In the west half of the park ten good
sized trees were cut down. Most of
these have been cut very recently, as
the wood is not yet diScOlOred by the
weather. Around the band stand with
in a radius of 100 feet, trees have been
taken out wherever two or more stood
near. One large tree. two feet in diam
eter at the base. which rose majestical-
Iy by the side of the band stand and
spread it's limbs and branches over the
stand in a graceful umbrella shape, has
been brought low. Evidently the axe
used in this operation was a dull one,
and the one who used it must have
been in a great hurry. The stump re-
naming looks as if a huge animal had
gnaWed it off.
South and west of the stand. and on
a line toward the ParamOre house, the
heaviest destruction has been doRe.
Clumps of trees in this part were taken
out and only the rough stumps re-
main to show what once were beauti-
full trees. Near the old boat house,
northeast of the band stand, an i'm
mense tree was cut down but very re-
Gently. However, all around the house
the trees are missing In the north
part huge limbs were trimmed off and
cut into fire wood. On the creek bank
where trees are most needed and are
the prettieSt-the Vandal has gotten in
his work of spite. In all, "a trees, vary
ing in diameter from seven inches to
two feet, have been cut down. All the
wood thus obtained was cut up into fire
wood. A large log still lies in the
north part of the park which has been
used as a chOpping block for the fall
en- trees. Street car conductors say
they have seen Mr.. ParamOre storing
away green wood at his shanty. One
of them said today:
For the last two or three days Par
amore has had a lot of green wood at
his back door. 1t was chopped up for
burning"
MarshaIs band has filed suit in the
district court asking that a receiver be
appointed for the park for the purpose
of preventing Mr. Paramore from de-
strOying the trees in the park. The pc
tition sets forth that the defendant has
destroyed trees there without the per
mission of the present owners of 4
hree-fOurths interest.
One of the band officers said today:
I'VE had to bring suit in order to
protect ourselves. We want to make
the park a beautiful place. It seems
that this man ParamOre for pure spite
has been cutting down trees there and
taking the wood to burn. We want our
rights in the matter. Paramore will
DrOba bly, lose his interest in the park
to get all he could out of it. 1t is
shame and a disgrace to do such a
thing. for we want to give the people
of Topeka a first class park, where
they can enjoy our concerts and sum
mer entertainments. With trees cut
down all over the park, we cannot do it
and for this reason we will ask for
our legal rights of Judge Hazen."