The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-06-13
PUBLIC PARK NOT LOCATED
The Public Building Committee Met in
Regard to Matter Yesterday.
Are Willing to Put 1t On the County
Property Provided a Suitable Lot -
Giyen-With an Entrance on Prin-
cess Street.-The Grounds at tIac
CITY Hall May be Fixed Up for
Convenience Of ExcurSionfsts.

The public building committee OF
the board Of aldermen met yesterday
afternoon in regard to deciding upon
some place suitable to fix UP for the
convenience and accommodation of cx-
c~ursionists who may visit this city.
The committee was surprised that
steps should have been taken towards
establishment Of a public park without.
consulting them rs they are the ones
having in hand the distribution of the
$3.50 appropriation made by the board
of audit and finance to provide some
Accommodations for excursionists.
Nothing definite has been decided
upon as to where the park will he
located, but it will either be a. the
city hall or the grounds adjacent TO he
court house. Tie committee visited
the court house grounds yesterday and
after going over them decided, Under
certain conditions. hat they would be
willing to go to some expense in fixing
up the grounds. At the present time
there is a small plot in the hollow un
UCLWccu t1C jill III Gull uOUSC IN
this is divided from the Jail lot by a
brick wall. Between the court mouse
and the Jail is 4 broad lot extending
back some distance and both the front
and farther end of III lot is shaded
by nice trees. The public building
committee is willing to have the
grounds beautified and the necessary
~conveniences arranged provided The
wall dividing the two lots above rum
ed is removed and a wall built from
Princess street to the back Of the lot,
the said wall to be run about ten fett
west of the Jail. This would give r%-
c~ursionists the benefit of the large lot
between the Jail Or court house and
there would be a suitable place 20
have a wide entrance On Princess
street. ON er the entrance on Princess
street and also the small entrance on
Third street. the members of the COM
mittee would have printed in large let
ters Public Park"
The grounds around the Jail are~lOr
just what the committee would l'ke
to have but if the commissioners will
agree to allowing the S of the space
named above they are willing to spend
none in improving the same. The
court house grounds are about six feet
below the level of the street and con
sequently there is no way for anv
breeze to strike in the hollow. This
is Offset to a certain extent by the trees
on the lot adjoining the Jail.
1t would be necessary in having a
park of this kind that an entrance be
made on some public street where the
excursionists could enter without hav-
ing to look for it. AS all the street
cars pass along Princess street Ut
the first places which would meet their
gaze wolld be the sign over the ar-
trance to the park. MOI to allow .n
entrance ON Princess street would be
like placing the excursionists in the
back yard of the Jail and court house:
The vacant lot between the two
buildings is not used and there is no
reason why the entire space should
not be used, that is if any of the lot
is to he used as a park.
If the commissioners will not agree
to the above plan the public building
committee will have the grounds
around the city hall beautified. These
grounds are on Princess street, in a
public place, with a we'll of a fine wa
ter as en- be found in the state and
some beautiful shade trees. In some
respects this has advantages over
the court house grounds. All necessary
conveniences could be fixed in the city
hall Or under the broad entrance to
the Academy Of Music.
Before taking any action the public
building committee is waiting to have
a conference with public building ON
mittee from the commissioners. rs
the public building committee Of the
board of aldermen has the paying out