The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-14
WILL BUY THE GARDENS
Good Start Made Towards Secur-
ing q Park.
PROPERTY OF THE PEOPLE
Meeting OF Leading Citizens H~eld-Sub-
scriptions VIII Be Solicited Among
the People Generally-Ac-
tive steps Taken.

At last the Columbia gardens, the
prettiest spot around Butte, is in a fair
way to become the property of the peo-
pie of Butte A meeting of leading citi-
zens was held yesterday at which it
was decided to solicit subscriptions
among the people generally for the pur-
chase of the gardens, which, after be-
ing purchased, will be turned by the
subscribers over to the city of Butte.
1t will be remembered that at a meet
ing held about two weeks ago the own
ers of the gardens. Messrs. Will Lewis
and IL. l.. Frank, expressed willingness
to sell the gardens so that they could
be turned into a public park to be used
for the children and the working people
of Butte who cannot afford 10 pay rail-
road fare everytime they want to see
green grass and s~hrubbery and running
water. The only question was whether
the city or the street railroad company
should purchase the gardens. IL was
conceded that under private ownership
IL was practically impossible to prevent
the gardens from becoming a resort for
the sporting class, which has been the
case heretofore.
As the outcome of the former meeting
a meeting of several prominent citizens
was held yesterday, the mayor being
present. As the city was not considered
i'm the proper financial condition to pur-
chase the gardens. and as the street
| railroad company was unwilling to buy
them. IL was decided that citizens should
subscribe the money for the purchase
of the gardens and that they should
then be turned over to the city. The
mayor said that if the citizens will pur-
chase the gardens, the city Will bear all
expense of running them and also of
repairing and restoring them to the
beauty which they possessed a few years
ago. Police will patrol the gardens. OBJ
iectionable characters will be kept
away, no saloons will be allowed, and
the grounds will be so improved that
they will be a delight to the people. The
owners of the gardens at the meeting
offered the gardens for $4,000.
A committee consisting of James II.
Lynch, Henry Mueller and Charles
Schatzlein was appointed to solicit SUBJ
scriptions for the purchase of the gar
dens. They will start in tomorrow
morning.
A good starter was made at the meet
ing toward the raising Of the sl5,0OO
Five men present subscribed $500 each
and a number of Others subscribed 500
so that no difficulty is apprehended in
raising the money.
The street railroad company has
agreed to start at work on the construc
ton of a new line to the park as soor
as the purchase is completed. and th'
restoring of the park will be started b,
the city as soon as the purchase is as
sured. 1t is possible that cars will b'
running TO the park once more in 1
month. The railroad company will re
duce its fare to 10 cents from the cit!
to the gardens, which reduction r
the old rate will do a great deal toward
making the gardens a popular publ,
park. The company will also give
cent of every 10-cent fare to the parl
fund of the city to be used in beautify
ing and improving the park.