The herald., 1898-12-28
PARK SITE SELECTED
THE SIXTH WARD PLEASURE
GROUND CHOSEN
AFTER A HOT W0RDY BATTLE
Council Transacts Big Days Busi-
ness-Fire Engine House Sites
Chosen-Tunnel Bids

II lOOh approximately Il three HOuTS yesttl-
day, in two spells" for the crowd of in
terested Sixth warders to tell the council all
they knew and didn't know about the proper
place for park site in their neighborhood.
Interest in the subject was intense, and ac-
tive partisans on both sides INDUCED in some
rather ''caustic verbiage" at times. Coun-
Gilman Griden who represents that ward,
came in for a roasting at the hands of both
L. Wiesendanger and IL. M. Conger, who
were opposed to his selection for park,
and appeared as special pleaders for the So
called kysor proposition.
At its session week ago the park com
mission heard the arguments of property
owners and bidders on park site for the
ward, and decided to recommend the pur-
chase of the Kysor property, or old Cen
tral park, out near the end of Central ave
nue.. This park" comprises some eight
acres, and is to a certain extent improved
by shade trees, palms and shrubs. The title
to the property is in litigation in the supreme
court, the city claiming that the land
has already been dedicated to park pur-
poses. However, Mr. Kysor offered to
settle the whole matter if the city would
pay him $45O0, cheap price, when the
value of adjoining property is considered.
In opposition to the acceptance of this
tract was large number of the residents
of the section affected, headed by Council
man Grider, who wanted the location to be
somewhere nearer the center of the district,
and especially favored the property of 20
acres offered by Herman Boettcher, at the
corner of Golden and Stanley avenues. The
fight, by the time the council was ready to
take the matter up yesterday, had really
narrowed down to contest between the
champions of these two propositions.
1t was nearly IL noon when the matter
was reached by the reading of the recon.
mendation OF the park commissioners in
dorsing the Kysor offer. Mr.. Grider was
at once on his feet with motion that the
report be received and filed, and that the
council accept the bid of Herman Boettcher
for 20 acres at $4,000; also that the city
attorney be instructed to prepare the deed,
and that Boettcher be notified to furnish at
once IA clear certificate of title. Mr.. Ashman
seconded the motion.
As there was an evident and irrepressible
desire on the part of the hostile forces to
rush into the verbal fray the question at
once arose whether it were better to tackle
the forensic flights of the land owners on an
empty stomach or not. Mr.. Mathuss
wanted to postpone the agony until 2
o'clock, but majority were ready to sac
rifice themselves and their lunches for the
cty's good, and the amendment was voted
down. Then the decks were cleared for
action.
Attorney Bacon was the first of the in
terested parties to secure a hearing, and
read a petition signed by some lis residents
of the Sixth ward. They asked that the
council purchase the east half of the 30H-
acre piece Of land offered by Francis Win
stel. This property is situated on Stanley
avenue, Just below the Boettcher tract.
short argument was offered by Mr.. Bacon,
who then made way for the real contestants,
the adherents of the Boettcher and Kysor
propositions.
Then Attorney Batcheler, who was
prominent in the discussion before the park
commissioners, stepped to the front, and in
a fifteen minues' speech reviewed the pro-
ceedings already taken, speaking in favor OF
q selection ON Stanley avenue, either the
Boettcher, Winstel or Pallett offers. II.
M. Conger, who appeared in the interest of
Mr.. Kysor made a short speech, and read
long statement of what he and some other
of the residents had expected would be done
when they voted for the park bonds. He
was reinforced by Richard Duval, who, in
the heat of his remarks, asserted that Coun
Gilman Grider had violated his ante-election
pledges by not supporting the Kysor
site, as he had secured several hundred votes
upon the implied understanding that he
would do all he could to secure the park for
the Central avnue residents. Here Mr..
Grider interrupted Mr. Duval to enter
denial that he ever pledged himself to vote
for the Kysor proposition, and little skir-
mish ensued, which the president stopped
with his gavel. 1t was now / o'clock, and
the councilmen had become too hungry to
proceed, so halt was called until 3 o'clock
to allow for rest and refreshments.
1t was $3.50 before the discussion was
again taken upJa nearly before the de-
Gliding vote was taken. First of the after
moons speakers was T. Wiesendanger, who
loudly declaimed for the Kysor bid and got
into dispute with Councilman Grider and
was called down by the chairman for in
dulging in personalities. When he had
finished, Attorney Bacon Sided in once more
and mildly suggested that his clients prop
erty be taken as compromise measure, but
his suggestion fell fiat.
M. F. O'Dea and Prof. w. G. Bowman
made lengthy addresses favoring the Cen
tral avenue park, while H. c. braves, Mr..
Hanna and number of residents voiced
their approval of the Boettcher site.
The disgruntled ones declared that the