Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-22
BOOMING The BOULEVARD
South Siders Adopt Enthusiastic Resolu-
tions FavOring the Improvement.
CORNISH OUTLINES PLANS FOR THE WORK
Project to Connect Hnnscom and Riy-
erside Parks with n Driveway
Receives Impetus in the
Right Direction.

The mass meeting OF the South Side I'M
provement club held last night at Mueller's
hall for the purpose OF discussing the new
boulevard to connect Rivervlew and Hanscom
parks was well attended. Upon vote John
Powers was elected chairman of the meeting
with Lee Bridges secretary.
e, j. Cornish member OF the park beard
upon being invited to lay the plans of the
contemplated improvement before those pres
ent. said that the meeting was not held as
Il regular session of the club but more par.
ticularly to feel the pulse of the South Sid
ers as to their views in supporting the new
project. He said that in all large cities, such
as Chicago, Boston, New York and San Fran
cisco, where boulevards had been constructed,
property adjacent had been enhanced in
value to large extent The South Side
boulevard in Omaha as planned would be
through land which at the present time
was of very small value. In case the boulo-
ward were built there would be no question
but that it would prove a good investment
for all property holders having lands which
1t would traverse. The speaker said that the
street railway officials had treated the South
Siders unfairly in not putting line through
to their favorlte breathing spot and that 1t
was now time for these people to make q
move in the way of supplanting this loss by
Il driveway by which people could visit the
park.
1t was a fact that Riverview and Hanscom
parks were the only thoroughly improved
public grounds in the city and it was fitting
that they should be connected by boule-
ward. He said that working to this end the
park commissioners had condemned the land
near Riverview park which once Joined to
the present tract would make possible an
entrance on Tenth street opening onto Val.
c A lie nirt thorn
which extended almost directly west which
was available on account of its little value
for boulevard purposes. According TO plans
drafted 1t was intended to make this drive
way 150 feet wide from Tenth to Fifteenth
street. From this point to Twentieth street
the valley widened out to 300 feet 1t was
proposed that an area comprising seventy
three lots should be condemned and that the
roadway separate at Fifteenth street and fol-
low the curves of the hills, leaving in the
center small deer park five blocks long.
From Twentieth street to Twenty fourth
street the driveway would follow Boulevard
street, which would be widened for the pur-
pose, and from this point to the railroad
tracks either Vnton street or Il circular read
following the crest of land would be followed.
VIADUCT NEEDED.
A vladuct situated just over the line in
South Omaha, or at the west end of Vnton
street, would be necessary, and from here
the drive would follow the hilItCps to the
southwest corner Of Hanscom park. Mr..
Cornish then proceeded to explain at length
the rest of the boulevard system extending
west from the park crossing Leavenworth
street at Thirty fourth, thence through
Redlck's addition to the Charles Turner's
donation north Of Farnam street across
Davenport street at Thirtieth and finally ter
minating on Burt street at the intersection
OF Twenty-seventh. The speaker concluded
with an earnest request that all present do
their utmost to further the scheme.
A. p Turkey of the park board followed in
a short address, in which he concurred with
the remarks of Mr.. Cornish and pledged his
support in behalf of the project.
Earnest STUNT talked along the same lines
and said he would do his utmost in the coun-
Gil to see that the scheme was not side
tracked by others who were pushing i'm
provements for different sections of the city.
w. w. Bingham WIS also in favor of the
new boulevard but was OF the opinion that
before the South Siders voted an additional
tax levy to put through the project they
should be given some assurance by the park
commissioners that the money would be ex-
pended upon their pet scheme.
AT the conclusion of a general discussion
which followed r. C. Craven offered the fol-
lowing resolution. which was passed.
Resolved, That We, the citizens of the
First, Second md Seventh wards, in mass
meeting assembled, do indorse the plan of
the Improvement prepared and request the
wards to act in unison with the Board of
Park Commissioners in promoting the prof.
ect."
Upon motion Of Mr. Bingham 1t was de-
cided to hold another mass meeting OF the
South Siders at Muellers hall next Friday,
January 2S, and in order to place the project
in better shape, also to more thoroughly dis
cuss it; that the mayor city council and
Board of Park Commissioners be invited to
attend.
At the conclusion of the meeting DR.. w. II.
Hanchette read communication from Con-
gressman David H. Mercer. in which the in
dorsement of the club was asked to II bill
presented by him to congress for the appro-
priatlOn of $4,000, the sum to be expended
upon a road to Fort Crook. AS Is was too
late to take action in the matter a COM
mittee consisting of Messrs lHanchette
Cornish and Butler, was selected to draft
proper resolutions which will be presented
at the next meeting