The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-30
Council Receives Letter Written
by Norris L. Gage.
THE COUNTRY CLUB.
Its Use of Part of Ground Have
Good Effect.
Would Encourage Beautifica-
tfOn Of Rest of the Park.

It is quite probable that the sugges-
lions made by Mrs. Gage and Norris l.
Gage, who were responsible for the
carrying out of the expressed desire of
@. G. Gage, that the city should have
the property known as the Gage park
after his death will be carried out as
far as possible in the improvements to
be made in the park The suggestions
were embodied in the communication
which was submitted to the council at
its meeting on Monday evening. The
communication was written by Norris
/. Gage at Ashtabula, Ohio, and is as
Follows:
7 have been requested to give an
outline of my views as to the best plan
TO adopt in the matter of improving the
tract OF land recently presented to the
city and known as Gage park, and also
whether it would be best to lease 10, Is
or 20 acres of the same to the Country
club The future of the park is IN the
hands of the city authorities, but Sug-
gestiOns may not be out Of place
Though considerable money was ex-
pended by the former owner in imprOv-
ing the land. and all in the direction of
laying a foundation for a park, much
more must be used and used wisely and
systematically before Topeka has a
park worthy of the city, as it will exist
ten or twenty years hence In illustra-
tiOn of what may be done in a few
years. even on naked prairie, look at
POtWin addition. So well did Mr.. Pot
win do his work, that nearly every
tree which he planted lived, and had
he started a park instead of a city ad-
ditiOn, a finished one would have re-
suited by this time. fitted for picnicS,
holiday celebrations. the largest out
door meetings, and the like. with suit
able shade, shrubbery and flowers.
Again, the parzings in the resident part
of the city are the chief ornament of
Topeka today, and are largely the re-
suit of an aggressive crusade led by
Mr.. Edward Wilder only a few years
ago. though his efforts at the time met /
with strong opposition from many
sources.
a good landscape surveyor should
be employed TO survey and plat this
ground. and as surveyors are rarely /
landscape gardeners. his work should I
be done under the direction of com
mittee of persons of the widest expert
ence, who Will take time to study the
subject. Perhaps your park commits
s1oners, who. I am told, viii have
charge, under the law of such expendi- /
lures, would be the most suitable ones
TO devise and adopt a plan of improve /
ment. When this plan is once adopted, ]
it should be persistently- carried ont in
an economical and buSineSS-like man /
ner, by the aid of funds obtained by the (
aid OF a small. annual tax levy.
BY the time this tract of land be
comes full-hedged city park, with all
the term implies. Topeka will have
grown large enough. and the park will &
that it viii be profitable for the street (
car line to be extended that far, and /
forever after il will be available to the ,
poor and the well-to-dO classes alike I
and a source Of pleasure ana profit to
all
Additional driveways and walks. |
lined with trees, should be cOnstructed:
groups of trees and Sfrubberv laid ont I
here and there. with Intervening spaces /
for lawns; one large grove should be /
started TO be used for outdoor gath 4
eFlngs in summer time, and a large. !
level, unobsuucted space left on some
part Of the grounds for amateur ath- /
leI1c sports, such as tennis and baseball
The large grove I would suggest would .
be west extension of the present .
small grove bordering the west side of .
the lake. as here the ground is moister
Though by no means wet ground) and
trees would thrive better and grow fas-
ter there Gradually these results will .
come from year to year, but until they
do come very little can be expected in /
the way of advantages growing out of .
a free city park.
LAS to the proposed lease to the /
country club. I will say that more |
ground would have been conveyed TO /
the city in this grant. had not the /
granCOrS been deeply impressed with (
the fact that it is expensive to create
and maintain a handsome park. and /
that q smaller park. wei improved is
more desira bic in all ways than a larger
one poorly kept Experience in many
cases, in other cities. proves this to be
the case Eighty acres was deemed (
very ample, considering the size of To-
peka, and its burden of taxes. and
even so acres was thought sufficient
providing the city deemed it best to
lease the south part of the grant to a
ciub or Topeka citizens. having the dis
position and ability to enclose, improve
ana ornament the same Safeguards of
this kind should be Incorporated in any
such lease.
In this way the tract as a whole
would get the benefit. indirectly. of ths
cluo improvements and perhaps ar
engagements might be made on certain
GAYS IN the year when the club grounds
would be thrown open to the public.
Topeka has no wealthy class. but a
large middle class of hard working cit
liens VINO employ labor, pay the taxes.
support the schools. and uDoD I,~bOes
eXertions everything in the wav of the
future prosperity of the city depends