Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-07-06
a Communication.

4 Communication.
Editors Of The kenneLec Journal:
l have road with much interest the
report Of the Park Commission rs pub
lishel in your issue of July 4th.
think de-. are few voters in the CITY
Of Augusta who would not hold up
both hands i'll favor of the Lure h'lSc Of
a suitable site for 4 public breathin.
s.ot and background. The old Fort
Western properly has some things 70
coinmeni L. Fl 9 location is central.
and considering this f act, ana the IN
-proVelnentS that have been made upOn
II, the price Is not unreasonable. There
are one or two things, however. which
must b. kept clear.y in mind, if sue,
a park is - be 0IulaT with the !nu-
PIE Of this city
!. Ther. must > 9nlpl+ room fir Il
suitable baseball ana football field. Ii
there could b Irving track - much
thu better. Any one who attn Id IL.
game Oh the Augusta Driving Park o.,
the AFTERNOON oil he Fourth lust have
been nnpr- sS-d g. i the fact that the
national game has no lack Of admirers
N this city. It Is the idea Of athletic
q q lA.b4lItg lIIil HAS E.fu'- ilIt- l'dIi
idea 50 popular with citizens general 4
y AMI which has especially secured il
The warm support Of TIE Labor Unions
2. Any site secured fpr such a pur-
pose must be fairly available il point
Of location.
Now IL SONS to me that five acres
If land are. not CROUCH for Il publ.
park that !. oull meet these special de-
sire3 Of tE- people Of Augusta. The
fence of tie old Augusta Driving F:trli
enclosed tn area OF about % acI2S--
NOR than four times the amount %
land comprised Oh the Fort Western
tract. Ifi: land IS on the line of the
electric road: il las q good drivin-;
track. ana 4 bail field constructed III
IN days of nur Ola New England leagu"
team II an expenditure Of about 81 20n
Not only Wuu;a this park with its
pr sent excellent levels afford more
than four times the room of the pro-
posed Fort Western site: but il could
probably H.. bought for less than on f.
third Of the cost IF that property. Tile
commission reports that the Fort
Vest rn property could be bought for
s26,JlG. 1t must BE- remcmb' red how
ever that ii Would still have to tt
cleared and graded which would prob
ably call for u further expenditure of
1t least $4,000 OF $4,000. Would il not
De well before going further with a
matter Of t1is Impotence 10 aIpoint a
committee Of the city government and
Nav" them secure the terms Of the own
fre Of tn. Twenty-Five acres Of land
which comprised Il :, former Augusta
Driving Park?
Then let the citizens say at the polls
Mat their wishes are in the matter.
Personally l believe that the city
:ahd,.ll own both sites. and that future
Tgei"rHtiun. would rise up to CALI Us
bic SSnd II W. We're big enough and
broad enough to secure them at this
time. IT,, however, We are to only have
one Of then ! ana firmly of the option
That all th- arguments are decidedly in
ave" Of IT," old Augusta Driving Park
Five acres Of land is a decidedly linn
ite'i area if il is to b. used for athletic
purposes. Til. circus which is TO
come herr tomorrow 2dv.rtises To Gov
tr L. acrc. With its tents alnnr-Or
seven nor, acres than would be in
GUIDED in tn. proposed Fort Western
lark.
Jet tn" city move slowly in this mat
ter. H"for. any other outlay is made
IA tiIS ir Ction would il not be- a goni
'rira - ascertain the wishes Of tn"
voters. ANA 60 give them an apportun-
u tu ,sc,rtain whether or not the pro
posed park would fulfill the require
ncuts they would desire of such n
property? Before any outlay of the
peoples money is made. WOULD it not
.. VIII to lock into the Driving Park
matter secure the lowest terms for
he property and then give tn" tax
payers Of augusta q rhanc. to make
klnun their wishes in the matter? 1t
50 seems to me. and hav. hcaId many
others express the same opinion.
If We arr going t" buy q park let US
secure
l. What the people want.
=. The best possible trade.
TAXPAYER.