Morris tribune., 1899-01-28
TInELY COMMUNICATION.
rIorris Should Make Provisions For
Public Park Now.

l
To the Editor of The TRIBUNE:
/ noticed in your last weeks issue,
an article indicating that the Ladies'
Literary club" were endeavoring to
excite an interest in identifying the
railroad right of way. While am
in no way disposed to interfere with
any plans which the ladies have in
view, l would be pleased to call to
their attention. as well as the general
public, few facts in connection
Herewith which may be conducive to
their efforts as well as permanent
identifying of the village. Those OF
us who have spent score. of years IN
the Village of Morris and shot ducks
on the right of way in front OF }. D..
Goods store do not take kindly to
identifying of Mr.. Hills property
not for the reason that it is the prop
erty of the Great Northern but rather
for the reason that it is not the prop
erty of the Village of Morris. | can
readily understand why the ladies are
anxious that something should be
done to relieve our village OF this
pestilent receptacle; but we may as
we'll first consider the probable diff
culties surrounding it's adornment.
In the first place there is not a prop
erty owner, or even an occupant, OPP
posite the right of way on either ave-
nue. who would not willingly plant
shade trees in front Of his property if
ne was properly approached. Allan
tic avenue at one time, was lined with
shade trees, but the fires and John D.
Goods donkey destroyed them. The
right of way betweenFifth andEighth
streets, except the road bed which
was filled, is cesspool and always
will be until the village can afford
proper sewerage system, or the same
is brought to level with the. streets.
This might not be impossible, for
nothing is impossible with the lad les
but would it be practicable, being the
land of the railroad company and
subject at any time to be converted
by them into lumber yards, elevators
or track privileges. 1t would proba-
bly, require thousand car loads of
dirt to bring the right of way, be-
tween Fifth and Sixth streets on At
lantic avenue, to level with the
street and the railroad. | apprehend |
however that it is not intended to go |
into a general improvement of the
Great Northern. It is an inoppor-
tune time to even intimate the idea
that Morris will ever indulge in the |
luxury of public park, for the rea-
son that the absolute necessity of |
water system and a military company |
has made tax payers hold their breath |
whenever they saw Carl Buckentine
coming, but with the hazard of en-
the frowns of the oppon- j.
ents to the measure let me say few |
words as to an initiatory step in that
direction. The great mistake made
by cities in embryo is their DISPOSE |
ton to care only for the present. Sew
eral years ago Mr.. L. G. Spooner Of
fered to give block q to the Village
of Morris for park purposes if the
village would adorn it with shade
trees. A short time ago the village,
for nominal sum, purchased two
lots in said block of Judge Brown for
arm DRY purposes. I understand that
the county own the larger portion of
said block. Now if the good ladies
would make one of their bewitching
raids upon the county commission
ers, there is no doubt in my mind
that they would have to surrender
what right, title, or interest the coun-
ty had in said block to the Villag y |
of Morris for a park This having
been accomplished our way IS clear.
| am not unmindful of the fact
that we are fearfully in debt, but
there is one thing sure we will never
get land cheaper than it is at the
present time.
take this method, sir, of bringing
the matter before the public w It'll the
hope that something more tangible
then mere words may come out of it. |
CITIZEN.