The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-04-08
Stark Electric Road Try
Ing to Purchase Por-
ton Of Park.
PROPOSITION TO
COMMISSIONERS
Entrance to Heart OF Canton
May Be Made ey the Com
pany Through the North
Section OF Grounds.

The Stark Electric Railway company.
whose line from Alliance to Canton Is
now under process of construction, has
made a proposition to the park COM
mission of Canton in order to secure
right of way into the heart of the city
through Nimisila park. strip OF
land 20 feet in width and extending
along the right Of way of the Wheeling
e Lake Erie railroad Is asked from the
city in consideration of the sum of
81, 900 an acre, $50 for each tree re-
moved and several other minor pro-
positions in fixing the driveways and
platform.
This proposition was made at the
meeting of the park commissioners In
the committee room in the city hall on
Friday afternoon. No decision has
been reached by the commissioners.
who have taken the matter under ad-
visement.
A SECRET SESSION.
During the conference between the
park commissioners and the railroad
people, the session was held in secret
and beyond the demands of the rail-
| road company, nothing was given out
on either side. Attorneys Harry Web
ber and Tom Turner are representing
the company in Canton. Mr.. Turner
said that the company was considering
two separate routes into the city. One
takes in the route for which they are
asking the right of way from the city
along the Wheeling & Lake Erie tracks.
The road follows this railroad right of
way into the city, but the two routes
which are under consideration diverge
just north of the Stark county work.
house. The one circles around north
of the Park and the other cuts In at
Lake street and runs the length OF
the pleasure ground. w
From one of the stockholders who ts
largely interested in the company was
obtained the following, which is copy
of the proposition submitted to the
park commissioners for approval:
THE PROPOSITION.
Gentlemen The undersigned, The
Stark Electric Railway Company. now
constructing its road through the city
of Canton desires to secure from said
city through your honorable body,
strip of land 20 feet in width imme-
diately adjoining the south line of the
right of way of the w. G. L. e. r. r.
Co., and extending from the east line
of said park. to the point in the west
line thereof, so intersected by said
road, and at your request now make
the following proposition:
First, we will pay for the land TAX
en- at the rate of $4,000 per acre and
the amount of such acreage to be de-
termined by an accurate survey to be
made by the city civil engineer Of Can
ton.
Second. for all trees taken or de-
stroyed we will pay at the rate Of fifty
dollars each, large or small.
Third In addition to this, we will
pay whatever expense there is incident
to changing the present driveway and
cular strip of ground or SO near there
as to be interfered with.
Fourth. we will provide in the Syed
that the slope of our right Of way shall
be sodded and SO perpetually maintain
ed and that we will also construct and
maintain q suitable fence, the kind Of
which shall be determined by you be-
tween our right Of way and said park
ground.
Fifth, we will also erect and main
tain upon the park grounds, and such
point as you may designate q substan-
tial, neat platform covering the same
by suitable shelter which shall at all
times be kept in neat condition of re-
pair and in suitable keeping with the
park, the control of which shall be
under your honorable body. This plat
form and shelter shall Immediately ad-
join the right of way of our road.
"(Signed G. r. MORLEY.
President"
UNDER CONSIDERATION.
F. M. Reed. superintendent of parks,
verified the story that the railroad had
asked for the 20 foot strip of ground.
but refused to state what the price
was that had been offered by the rail-
way company. The ground which they
ask for, he said, comprised about one
third of an acre. This then would
bring the sum of $1,000, besides the
money for the trees. to the. city In the
event OF the contamination of the deal.
Mr.. Reed said that he would say moth
Ing at present regarding the advisabil-
ity of the deal, as this was now being
considered by the commissioners. A
meeting of this body will be held some
time next week at the call Of the presi-
dent
What the value of the park property
Is at present, has not been definitely
estimated. At the time of the pur-
chase Of the ground by the city during
the hard times In the early '90's at
about $4,000 an acre was paid. All au-
thorities admit that the property is
much more valuable at the present
time.
officers OF the park commissioners
were elected at the meeting yesterday
afternoon. They are: President. Chss
y. Laiblin; vice president. Frank AIox-
ander; secretary. II. 8. Schaub: su-
perintendent. F. M. Reed w