The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-16
WOODLAND PARK PURCHASE.
CITY COUNCIL WILL TAKE DECIS-
I'VE ACTION TONIGHT.
Protest Filed BY Citizens and
TaxDayers-0ver $4,000 spent In

The proposition made by the council 70
purchase Woodland park from Mrs Guy C.
Fainney VIII come before the city COUNCIL
for hnai action tonight. TIE friends OF The
measure believe THAI the ordinance viii
carry. 1t will bs presented with q favorA-
bic report from the finance and park COM
mittees. which considered the proposition
a; a meeting Saturday.
Since las, spring the matter OF the pur-
chase OF the park has been before The
council and has been discussed IN ali its de-
tails In addition. the counctimeu have
visited the park themselves and are there
fore familiar with the property which II
IL proposed to make into a city park, 10 be
dedicated 10 the use OF the public.
Woodland park consists OF tract
Of land 1sa acres In extent, including
what has lately been added TO the
park by Mrs. Phtnney. II was owned by
the late Guy c. Phinney. a Seattle pioneer.
and is a part CT the Psinney estate. Mrs.
Phinney. as executrix OF the estate, sub
United. through her agent Daniel Jones a
proposition 10 the council last spring, for
the sale of the tract TO the city TO be used
public park.
Regarding the proposed purchase by the
city and the objections filed by certain
business men and property owners TO It's
purchase Mr.. Jones said yesterday:
Eleven years ago Guy c. Phinney start
every ons knows is one of the prettiest and
sightiiest tracts OF land In the city limits.
His hrst intention was to make the park
a private one, after the style Of the large
English estates. He expended between
$4,000 and 5000 In improving the prop
erty and lived there up to the time OF his
death. Since then the estate has main
tanned the tract with such means as was
at the disposal OF those In charge Of 1t.
Of
particular tract Of land that be once offer
ed 10 give the University Of Washington a
lease of the park for ninety-ninc years on
payment OF the taxes ana 81 per year rent.
This was practically making the land
present to the university. His belief was
that the city would at enc day or another
own the park and make II Of benef, to thu
public when Seattle came to be great
city
Last winter / made Mrs. Phinney an
offer OF $50 600 for the park. in behalf OF
group of Boston capitalists. She was then
a, San Francisco. She wrote me from that
city. under date Of February lss last, IN
which she said
Tin regard 10 the sale OF Woodland park,
do not like the idea of letting 1t go for
80 90 after holding IL so long and through
all our hard times ! have thought. how
ever that when the park would bring
slonoo would let 1t 90. although IT was
AR. Phinneys expressed wish that 1t should
be the last thing that should SELL
Some time In April the members OF the
city council were invited by President Geo.
b. Blanchard 70 make q trip over the line
OF the Seattle Traction Company. on one OF
the new cars. The councilmen did so. visit
Ing Woodland park. few days later soma
Of them waited upon me and asked for
what the park could be purchased. read
them the extract from Mrs. Ph!nnsy's let.
Thereafter. II
I invited the council 10 go in body 20
visit Woodland park and this was the be-
ginning OF negotiations which have since
been about concluded.
III there has been any disposition TO
railroad this matter through the city coun-
ell as has been charged. I wish some one
would rotnt II out The councinTen. after
that visit were almost to man In favor
Of the city acquiring Il az time when "
could be obtained on very reasonable terms.
and especially as Il was offered On terms
such az any private citizen or investor
would have been glad to avail themselves
OF
Mrs Phtnneys offer TO sell the park.
made Mt this time was for s1oo01o on which
SO GO was To be paid In cash and the bal
ance IN annual payments OF Soo" each.
with interest at 5 per cent on all deferred
payments
'srhe finance committee. which consider
Cd the Offer made 4 counter proposition TO
p.v s. 900 cash which is but per cent. OF
the purchase price. $. 90 on January l. 1871.
ard $1,000 annually thereafter with In
,erest on the deferred payments al per
cent. y being expressly understood and
agreed that the city should have no lahil-
fly eo- the deferred payments further thar
"a represented by the ieIl OF the property
ttsif Tho proposition was then accepted by
Mrs, phinney and an ordinance drawn 10
that effect.
by reason Of a mistake in the number
Of acres n the park. 4 beiog believed that
there were something like as acres in the
tract Mrs phinney asked leave 70 with
draw her offer This being done she pur-
chased fifteen acres increasing ths water
frnutage on Green lake from lsa feat %
: 40 feet ard thus making the acreage
80 acres The ordinance. az you know.
was introduced again las; Monday night
and was yesterday favoraely acted upon
farres
Now. ,his matter - re purchase BY the
CITY 81 Woodland park has been before the
council ard the public For practically Sx
months. ]: has been published tn The news
narers The terms 81 the sale are public
property. There has been 10 ero-t Nhs:-
ever 10 hurry matters and until iss past
two a- three days no objection whstevsr ~
its contamination has beeu ueas, Now
th-re appear - Re number CT property
owners WAC sre opposed to the purchase
u am informed tctzy ny Mr. SpaGi1tug
= tie Pacific Meat Company. one ~ the
ssxuers - the protest that - never saw
Woodland park arr that ~ does not know
+ne merits - tie proposition, Others have
tnta me- practically the same .niD.. I van
- know T. there j. oue - th0S~ VINO sign
~ ths protest 10 the council wfo wo8is 500
q similar tracs - acreage similarly I4catet
under ~l-n term. ! venture - s&y thevs
* ACRE among them wro wGnE - 50.
As - ne ps~ks being 49, eSslh =. Offers
s9- a ease so me grounds have beer u,ata
- Nj StYcst II behalf - ~ COlt ciub
A-A IS members az TIA Sesttte Athlete
CTub WIN wished - PIX 81 Il track ara
ether corvertscces t5r use tsrine ;Hs x1i'v-
r,er yusntha Z, IS reached BY enc cf Ire
has; street a. i4v~~ - the rfty and IA
h~~aif a.. t',e connoi~.ats street railway
company a. &9a'trar7n has beer uss.s -
,ee park opners - :rsneat>e ar0uai
s,~e~n lake ara extending through ne
park