The morning news., 1898-12-30
FUTURE OF ESTILL PARK.
WILL IT BE ALLOWED TO REVERT
TO THE COUNTY:

derman Guckenheimer Considers
the annual Expenditure Upon the
Park UseIeSs-Mayor MeIdrim Has
the Matter Under Consideration
and May Bring IL TO the Attention
OF COunciI-NOt Altogether Pleased
with the budget as IL stands.
The action of Council in cutting off the
appropriation 10 Esun Park and in effect
relinquishing the title of the city to the
park created considerable surprise. The
matter was generally discussed yesterday
and many We're of the opinion that Coun-
oil had acted without due consideration of
the matter and that possibly a further
consideration would lead the aldermen to
see the matter in a different light.
it is not every city that has 275 acre
parks offered to it without charge merely
on the condition that it must expend a
certain sum annually in improvements
upon the property. AS the city has al
ready expended nearly half the sum re-
quired 10 perfect its title TO the park the
action Of Council in apparently relinquish-
ing uue did not appear to many people
like good business policy.
Estnl Park consists of about 275 acres,
about three miles south of the city, and
was decided to the city by the county in
1885 On an air line the park Is about two
miles south of Estm avenue. BY the rail
way 10 Isle Of Hope it is about three mites.
The park was acquired with other prop
erty by the county about 1889, nominally
as a poor farm. but as a matter of facl
as a part of the drainage scheme which
had already been inaugurated in order that
the new Casey canal might be completed
through the property acquired, there were
about l,1O0 acres in the original purchase,
OF which something over 800 are now be-
ing used for the purpose for which the
land was purchased, as a poor farm.
Early in 1893 the County Commissioners
offered a portion of the tract to the city
for use as a public park, and after con
sideration, Council decided 10 accept the
offer with the conditions attached The
conditions specified in the deed to the city
from the county are that the tract shall
be forever dedicated TO be used as a public
park for the free use and enjoyment of the
pubic; that the city shall take charge of
of it as a public park and shall eXpend
thereon, for the Improvement of the same
every year. for the first five years, begin
ming with Jan. l. 1893, a sum of money
not less than $500 a year and for the next
ensuing five years not less than the sum
of 81 900 a year, and thereafter such sums
as the city may see proper to eXpend in
its Improvement.
1T is hereby expressly stipulated" says
the last paragraph OF the deed, that in
the event the conditions just expressed are
not fully met and complied with in all re-
a I..., !,
to the said county Of Chatham, and all
rights of the said municipal corporation
therein SHAH at once cease and deter
mine
The donors of the park evidently consid-
cred that the city would place such value
upon it that it would not willingly allow
the deed TO lapse through failure to COM
ply with its conditions. Judging by the
expressions of members of Council who
were seen yesterday it was evidently their
intention to allow the deed to lapse and
the park to revert to the possession of
the county in failing to make the required
appropriation. AS one who was at the
Council meeting said. in speaking of the
matter, the reason that the aldermen did
not make the appropriation, was simply
that they didn't want the park.
Alderman Guckenheimer, who seems to
have taken the initiative in the unfavor-
! himself to that effect.
Il do not see why the city should pay out
| 81 eco year to be expended on a park four
or five miles south of the city which no
! one visits and which is no benefit to our
| citizens" he said The expenditure of
| $500 or S1,O0O a year ON such a large body
| of land effects no Improvement. There is
| practically nothing to show for the money
! which has been expended, and should the
/ .ft 10 a
year to be expended would effect little.
! To really make a park of the property
would cost something like $4,000 to $4,000
and as the city is in no position to ex-
pend such an amount do not see why il
should go ahead wasting $1,000 year and
accomplishing nothing"
LAS a matter of fact" continued Alder
man Guckenheimer, "the city has already
technically violated its contract with the
| county. The appropriation for 1898 should
| have been $l,0O0, whereas only $500 was ap-
propriated The present year IS the sixth
since the contract was entered into and
under the deed the appropriation should
have been $1,000"
BY the general oversight of everybody
concerned, including the Park and Tree
Commission, the appropriation TO Estl
park for the present year was only $500
when by the terms of the deed il shoulc
have been 81, 600. At any rate, however
the city has already expended 5000 OF
$500 year for six years and to perfect its
title to the park it is only necessary tl
expend $45O0 more, including the $500 bach
dues for 1898. The Park and Tree Commis
sion might make a claim for the latter
amount as properly due for the presen
year
Mayor Meldrim, when seen about tho
matter. said that he had il under con.
sideration. and that he intended giving il
his serious attention. Mayor Meldrim eX
pressed himself as not being entirely salts
fed with the action of Council in making
up next years budget. There was pos
sibii.ty that he might veto it. he said
81 do not like to say either that ] woull
, veto it," said Mayor Meldrim, speakins
OF the budget. The budget represent
the work of a number of gentlemen who's,
, financial ability may be readily credited T.,
being equal 10 my own Hence, / woult
feel more hesitation ia overruling theh
Judgment in a matter OF this kind than II
something else Of a different nature"