The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-31
THINK AND VOTE.
Great Question to Be Decided
on Tuesday.
Shall Topeka Keep Up With the
Procession.
WHAT THE PARKS MEAN
Cost Is Almost Trifiing to In
diVidual Taxpayers.
Standard of Best City in Kan
sas to Be Sustained.

AL liliDOl ldAL SClp Tic DIOSICSS u
Topeka is before the voters. It is the
question as to whether Topeka shall
have a park system for the benefit of
her people or not. The decision of the
voters on next Tuesday will probably
be final for years to come.
The usual objection has been raised
to the park bond issue that it will great
~ increase the taxes. The people who
believe this statement evidently have
not stopped to find out just how much
it will increase them The interest on
the bonds cannot be over per cent.
and even if the entire $4,000 worth of
bonds should be issued at once. the
taxes would only be increased sufh-
GENTLY to raise $1,000 a year. This
would mean a tax of less than u cents
on an assessed valuation of $780, The
great majority of people in Topeka do
not pay taxes on $500 assessed valua-
ton. so that most people will not have
to pay two street car fares per year for
the entire park system If the bonds
are voted. Any man who is not willing
to pay 10 cents a year for parks for his
children to play in, even if they do
not visit the parks Oftener than once
a year, certainly does not have their
welfare at heart
Vote for Progress and Parksi
The park system as proposed by
Mayor Drew. in addition to what has
been definitely decided upon by the park
commission. will give the city of Topeka
a. complete circle of parks, with the
city park in the center.
Mayor Drew's idea is for a park OPP
posite Garfield Park in North Topeka,
another at Klein's Grove on the Shun-
ganunga in Parkdale, a small park at
the intersection of Sixth and Tenth
avenues in the eastern part of the city,
Central Park at Thirteenth land Fill
more streets, the park in Martin q
Dennis addition, and Gage Park. This
furnishes a complete circle Of the city.
The city park will be easily accessible
for people who live in the central part
of the city. AS soon as there is g. de-
mand for it the street car system will
doubtless be extended to Gage Park, as
it win be an ideal place for holding
Labor Day celebrations and big picnlcs
If it is made attractive it will doubt
less draw large excursions here from
all parts of the state which now go 10
Kansas City or to Leavenworth to visit
the soldiers home and fort.
There is not q person in Topeka who
viii not be glad that the park bonds
carried after the parks have once been
established. It has been the history
in every city which has gone through
park campaign that after the parks
have been established, the poor people
especially wonder how they ever got
along without them before.
Vote for Progress and Parks!
A park meeting was held last evening
by the American Labor union at its hall
on East Seventh street, at which ad-
dresses were made by Edward Wilder,
Z. w. Harrison and others.
Mr.. Wilder said the park commission
is NOT promising parks to any partcu-
lar portion of the city in order to Sc
cure votes for the park proposition, be-
cause he did not believe in that way Of
doing, but the park commission intends
to lay out a system that will be OF beE-
eft to the entire city, and one that the
whole city can be proud of. When ask
ed what he thought of Klein grove,
Mr.. Wilder said he thought 1t would
make an admirable park and he saw
no reason why the commission should
not purchase it
Mayor Drew explained that the park
bond issue will increase the tax levy
less than One-fOurth of one MILL and
that the average taxpayer would not be
able to Sc any difference in his taxes.
Fred ROundtree, A. D. Bauer, T. W.
Harrison and J. F. Snyder also spoke in
favor of the proposition.
Another park meeting will be held at
the Branner school building in Park
dale on Monday evening, at which Mr..
Wilder will again speak
Vote for Progress and Parks!
Just because the park commission
has talked about certain improvements
it is no sign that it will make no 9th
ers," said NJ c. Holman, the North To-
peka member of the park commission,
today. Certain tracts have been
brought to our attention and we have
recommended their purchase and told
the people how we planned to improve
them in order that the public might get
an idea of what would be done, but
this does not mean that there will be
no parks except these. I believe the
people Of North Topeka and Parkdale
should also have parks in those locali-
ties, but that docs not keep me from
being in favor of buying other tracts
when we can secure them so cheapIy as
they have been offered to u.s.
Personally, 1 can get along without
parks as well as anyone, but am will
ling to pay taxes in order that the rest
of the people Of Topeka, particularly
the poorer people may have the ben
eft of parks. I believe it will be a
great mistake if we do not begin our
park system now. because I know that
our options on some of these locations