St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1904-11-25
THE PARK QUESTION.

Civic Improvement League has been
considering the utilization Of the
block ON which uoH stand the street
ear barn. and tue council chamber Tor
the pgVO.e oi q park The barns viii
soon be- removed end ibis block If not
~ developed will .DoH boz covered with
business blocks The block is prob
ably the most conspicuous for this pIr-
po-" in town. lying at the end of the
ear line where al passengers TO St.
Johns leave the rars. ~ addition to
this the block ha. growing upon IL
some very fine trees. which make it
especially attractive for park purpos-
-. The development of this block
a. a park would do more 10 beautify
the town of S. Johns than anything
that could be devised and II it can be-
80 utilized it will have a great in
fluencc IN defining the character of
the town. II this block were carefully
leyeled of. nicely fenced. seeded
down and prepared with flower beds,
and perhaps later on provided with
fountain, It would have more influence
m imprcs.ing people IN favor Of ST.
Johns than year. oi advertisement or
argument. II would ~ once raise the
place 10 the dignity Of well matured
town. II would ~ q long way toward
making II one Of the most beautiful
places on the coast, II the citizens
fail 10 take advantage Of the po,sibili.
ties which this block oner- they viii
never cease 10 regret II and po.tcniy
will blame them for failing 10 act
This block d. very valuable property
The Review. however. believes that
the citizens Of the town should raise
money enough to buy the property. II .
viii bc necessary ~ get II On time,
but the Commercial Club and Won.
ems Civic Improvement League by .
joining together should be- able b. ~ .
present the matter to the citizens of .
the town that their public spirit would
be- aroused aud they would contribute
sufficient io make ai least the first
payment upon the purchase price.
Soon u will be- necessary for the town
!" have u site for IT, own town hall
When the new charter h granted by
The state Legislature II will have
authority Ia raise money for the pur.
pose OF purchasing such q site. No
more suitable place could be- found
'han this block Tor such purpose. IL
has been suggested that the town hall
b" placed IN the southeast corner of
hc block, leaving the park aud the
'cauliful trees occupying the ground
between the town and the hall aud
he street railway, With paths run.
iing acfos, the park 10 the entrance
4 the building. Instead Of purrhas.
ng other property the council could
levoie the money il would appropri-
Iic Tor ihis purpose a. paying on the ,
'urrhasr price of this park block aud
he balance of the money could easily
}" raised from the taxes without in.
tu any one. The Review
understand, that this block has rec.
ntly been purchased by Nj N. l..
iolbrook, We prcsumce hs iuten-
ions are Ia Use the block Tor business I,
'urposes We know, however. that
'ir liolhrook has always had the in
ercsis ot the town at heart aud pre-
ume that some arrangement could be-
made with him by which he would
urn the property over 10 the city II !,
he cosi oi the property we're returned q
HIM, The succr,s ot the town does
ot dsleud alone upon the number of !,
l. manufacturing interests or the
We Of IT. population IL, individual
~ b. shown by IT. appearance. This
: 49, true ot a eity a. IL Is of a man.
he question ot tins park block Is the
s'sl important question oi it, kind
hat has Yet presented itself. To the
ard working women ot the Civic I'm
ruyement Society 10 means much !,
'ork but Is we'll worthy everything ,
hat may be done, and II the project "
seconded by the newly organi4ed !,
commercial Club there can be no
aestlon of success Every man, wo. =
ian and child IN St. Johns should u
ID m obtaining this block for the "
~ =