The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-20
IN YEARS GONE BY.
Interesting Relic Digged Up From an
Old Scrap Book.

One of the men who has heard a great
deal concerning the alleged extravaganza
of Mayor McLean's administration ran
across piece in his scrap book yester-
day. cut from one of the city daily
papers of October six years ago, which
is now quite interesting. In Finlay Ross
administration as mayor Ben Mclean was
councilman and was known as the
watchdog of the city treasury. He was
also known as an ''objector against eX-
travagance" and kicker against I'M
wise appropriations. The scrap book
was brought to the Eagle office last night
and the following is the interesting piece
referred to:
THE meeting of the city council last
night was short, and the only interesting
part of the proceedings were those in re-
gard TO parks.
Councilman Mclean is counted
kicker whenever somebody wants TO get
his hands into the city treasury, unless
he thinks the city is getting the best Of
the deal. Some of the members of the
council, as well as the spectators, there
fore, opened wide their eyes last night
when Councilman Mclean offered the fol-
lowing resolution:
q" BE il resolved by the mayor and city
council of the city of Wichita. That
proposition be submitted to the voters Of
said city at the next general election TO
issue bonds to the amount of $1,000. bear
ing interest not to exceed per cent per
annum, with coupons attached for semi
annual interest thereon, and payable not
to exceed twenty years from the date
thereof TO be used for the purpose of
purchasing certain lands known as River
side park and Greiffenstein park in Sedg-
wick county, Kansas, containing one hun
dred six Q06) acres, more or less; proVid-
ing the same can be obtained al not more
than 800 per acre to be maintained and
used as a public park of the city of
Wichita, all in accordance with chapter
100 of the Session Laws of Kansas of
1889
After one reads the price at which il is
proposed that Wichita shall buy the finest
natural park adjacent to any city in the
state of Kansas, Councilman McLean's
action is very easily explained He sees
that the city would be getting for a nom
inal sum what might be worth several
hundred thousand dollars in a few years.
AS a comparison between the old and
new ways of doing business ii may be
mentioned that it was proposed several
years ago TO have the city buy this same
piece of ground for city park and the
price proposed then was $4,000. The idea
of getting what will make the finest park
in the state for $1,000 when others cities
are paying prices for parks that run up
close to the million mark. is enough TO
make Director Mclean become an advo-
cate of the park proposition.
Mayor Ross was not present last night
at the council meeting and Councilman
McLean's proposition went over to the
adjourned meeting next Monday night. II
is rather peculiar circumstance that
while this park proposition was brought
before the council last night. Mr. Handley
presided. He and Mclean are the coun-
cimen for the Fifth ward on the oppo-
site side of the river from the park. and
Handley not less than Mclean is a kicker
whenever there is a scheme on hand TO
give the city the worst OF IT.
There was a good deal Of talk last
night and this morning about NIcLeans
proposition. and people generally seem to
favor the proposition"