The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-11

vantage of such an increase will be ap-
parent in the improved conditions Of the
parks of the city
Already the park system of Topeka
is becoming a feature of the city in
which everyone may take pride, and an
expenditure of $1,000 a year for a few
years will wonderfully improve this fea-
ture. The levy of one mill will give a
fund of about $11.OOO a year.
For a time after the meeting Of the
ways and means committee Friday
night, there was some talk of a fight
being made on the adoption of the tax
levy for park purposes as proposed by
the committee Several of the council
men opposed the half mill increase in
the committee, and it was thought that
they might continue their fight in the
council. But Councilman Griley, who
was one of those opposed to the park
levy. said:
Though I am opposed to the increase
in the park levy. l Will make no fight in
the council" Mr.. Griley will probably
be out of town at the meeting to be
held August II. when the levy will be
taken W.
Councilman Weber, another member
who opposed the increase in the park
levy, has gone to Colorado for his va
cation. This offsets the absence of
Councilman Howe, who would no doubt
be in favor of the increase were he to
be present.
The opposition of some to the increase
in the levy is based on the theory that
the park commissioners are expecting to
devote most of their money to imprOv-
ing Central park. AS a matter of fact,
the City park will probably receive the
largest amount of benefit, because OF
the damage it sustained from the flood.
1t will be necessary to fill in a large
amount of dirt which was washed out
of the bank by the flood and it may be
necessary to build some sort of a retain
| ing walk or row of piles to keep the
same thing from happening again. The
sand which was washed over the park
has been partially leveled, and in Sep
| tember it will be seeded to blue grass
! Before the flood, the park commissioners
had secured very good stand OF blue
grass and the shrubs and flower beds
were looking very fine, but everything
was ruined. The work will have to be
started again from the bottom.
| 1t seems to be the impression with
some that the improvements on the
south end of Central park were paid fol
| by the park commissioners. AS a ma t
! ter of fact they were paid for largely by
contributions of money made by people
living in the vicinity of the park. A
! special purse to start trees, grass anc
shrubs was made up, and was expend-
ed so wisely that the south half of the
park presents very beautiful appear
/ ance It is likely that with part of the
81 900 which the l mill levy VIII raise
! the park commissioners can have this
rest of the park graded and more trees
set.
six of the nine councilmen who are
likely to attend the meeting of Angus
II will probably vote for the adoption
of the l mill park Improvement levy
| and it may be that there will be M
opposition whatever.
The following is the report of Parl
Superintendent Reinisch, which wal
presented to the ways and means com
mittee in support of the application TO
an increase in the levy from one-hal
mill to 1 mill:
ITO the Honorable Board of Park Com
missioners, Topeka, Kas.:
"Gentlemen-As the time is drawing
near when the city council makes tn
tax levy for 1904, / take occasion to cal
your attention to the most urgent need
of the park department, for which w
should have an increase of another hal
mill:
''F'irst-The nursery at Gage parl
contains upwards of 1000 trees an,
shrubs which are ready to be used tn
coming season for permanent planting
To accommodate this stock at leas