The Topeka state journal., 1902-03-04
Board Shows Why Bond Issue
Should Be Voted.
The Minimum Limit Is Placed
at $4,000.

stated to the council that he hoped the
council would deem it adviSa BILE to SUBJ
NIT to the next general election pro
position TO vote bonds to pay for the
future development of the parks. Mr..
Wilder'S report shows exactly how the
park commissioners propose to expend
the money raised in this way. The re-
port was referred by the council to the
committee on ways and means, with in
structions to report on the advisa bilfty
OF submitting a bond proposition to the
people of Topeka.
The report first gives a. summary Of
the financial status of the commission.
1t states that the total amount received
from all sources during 1900, 1901 and
1902, has been $12, ,660.71. This does not
of course include the special leVieS to
pay for Central park
The expenditures on parks from May
10, 1900, to February IS. 1902, are given
in detail for each park. The following
is the total for the various parks:
Gage park, $4,204.51.
City park, Sc, 3,146.71.
Holiday park, S645. 80.
HuntOon park, 1885,. Al.
CheSney park, 1851.
Potwin park S112.25.
Central park, 1896.
Strip, HuntOOn and Taylor, $39. rs.
General expenses, $2,3S1.38.
The report goes on to say:
The work accomplished can be briefly
summarized as follows:
CITY PARK
Kansas avenue and the river-The
surface being very rough and uneven, it
was, necessary to have it carefully
cross-sectioned, and graded with due
regard to drainage and wise economy.
The two blocks between Kansas avenue
and Van Ruren streets were brought to
grade and seeded with blue grass by
the end of 1900. Walks We're cut out
and filled with ten inches of cinders. The
ground was well manfred and well pre-
pared for shrubbery groups and borders,
and planted in spring of 1901. A tenn
yEirf1 fence around fhRza
two blocks A water service with 13 hy-
drantS and connection for a toilet
house was put in. To take care of the
flood water at foot Of Jackson street,
an open drain was cut to the river.
which has since been replaced by a I'VE
foot masonry sewer by the city
The remainder block west Of Van BI-
rem street mas been about two-th1rds
filed, and will be finished as fast as
dirt can be secured
HUNTOON PARK
Triangle east of Topeka avenue, be-
tween Twelfth and Huntoon street
Graded and sown to blue grass. Brick
walks six feet wide on graceful lines on
three sides, taking place of regular
was put along the curved walk at tile
west end. Shrubs were planted in
groups in we'll prepared soil Water ser
vice with three hydrants was put in
from the fountain near the west end.
HOLIDAY PARK.
Triangle south of Twelfth street, be-
tween Taylor street and Western ave.
nue.. A very neat iron fence with two
gates on Twelfth street and one on each
of the other streets was put up in 1900.
Grading was necessary only on fence
line. There is a water service with four
hydrantS- In Difference to the wishes of
the people in the district, and because
the park is so small that its beautiful
lawn and bright flowers and attractive
shrubbery and trees can be seen from
all sides, the park has not been thrown
open.
HUNTOON STREET STRIP.
North side of Huntoon street. east
some grading and planting of trees and
shrubs.
CHESNEY PARK.
A block between buchanan and Lin
coin streets and Eighteenth and Nine
teenth streets There We're more than
enough trees to justify some trimming
out 1t has been graded and sown to
blue grass Walks on artistic lines have
deep to be filled with cinders as soon
as possible. The park is not fenced.
CENTRAL PARK
A 151a acre tract from Thirteenth to
Fifteenth street and block and one
half wide, east of Clay street.
This ground has only recently been
acquired. SO that little work has been
done on it, consisting of some grading
and blue grass seeding in the northeast
corner. with a temporary fence to pro-
tect it. The ground was carefully sur
NGYGQ ana cross S0CItQUGd ana grades
taken every fifty feet. from which a
typographical plan was made. A small
group of honey Iocusts are the only
trees on that tract.
POTWIN PARKS.
A tract on the northeast side of the
southeast entrance to Potwin and sew
era1 intersection circles in Greenwood
and Woodlawn avenues. The corner
tract has been graded and sown to blue
grass and some shrubs planted
GAGE PARK.
An so acre tract. about three miles
west of the city building extending from
extension OF Tenth avenue, north to ex-
tension of Sixth avenue; one half mile
long. and a quarter mile wide from
Shawnee street west This tract as
as features or improvements 11s miles
wire and board fence; a small lake and
boat house: an apple orchard; a large
number of decfduous ana evergreen
trees. a six room house. barn and other
buildings; a well and cistern-
The Headquarters of the park super
intendent was esta blished here bceause !
of the dwelling and barn, and the op-
portunity for a greenhouse and nursery
from which to supply the parks in the
city
improvements made consist of
greenhouse 20x50 feet with a fountain
eight feet wide and a service building
16x16 feet. an addition of 15x16 to the |
dwelling with cellar, two new pumps;
a line of finch sewer tile from the cell /
lar east, about. 200 feet. 10 carr off the
ground water. a water service of 11z /
inch pipe from the lake about 500 feet
to the greenhouse with two outside |
hydrants The ground in vicinity of the |
buildings has been brought to a suit
able grade, and laid out with drives
walk. lawns and flower beds. The |
greenhouse is filed to its utmost ca