Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-07-04
Commission Reports IN
Favor Of Purchasing
Old Fort Western and Other Sur
rounding Property.


Tho park commission. composed Oh
Chas r. Hail. Melvin :. Holway ana
Samuei Cony Manley. which was APP
pointed by the city council. for the pur-
pose Of ascertaining at what figure the
PROPERTY at the east end Of the Kcnne-
bee bridge, the boundaries Of which are
CoDy street, Arsenal street. the Lam
bard property and the Kennebec river.
could be purchased with a view TO ts-
tablishing a public park. have submit
ted the following report:
Augusta, Maine. July 3. 1908.
To the Honorable Mayor and City
Council of the city of Augusta
Conference.-The park commission
begs leave to report, as ordered by the
city council, In regard to the purchase
for park purposes, of the land Douhd-
ell by Cony street on the north. Arsenal
street on the east. the Lamhard proper
~ on the south and the Kennebec river
on the west.
This property may be classified in
two parts:
y. The house and lot belonging to
Mrs. Peter ConcannOn. We have had
several interviews with Mrs. Concan-
non. She is unwilling to part with her
home and would not sell for less than
$500. but we believe she would sell, for
park purposes only, for about that
sum. This property is now assessed at
$500.
Il. The remainder of the property is
owned, or controlled by Lendall Tit
comb Esq. and Mrs. Mary II. Davies.
As near as can be determined. this
property Is now assessed at 100000. but
on two recent occasions an undivided
onc-eighth has been sold at the rate of
s3a33 which would bring the total value
Of this parcel up to s2S.66i. We have.
however. secured a firm offer of all this
parcel for s33.416.
Assuming that Mrs. Concannnn' $
property can be brought for $500. the
total cost of this entire tract would be
S26,916. which is less than $4,000 more
than the assessed valuation.
The buildings on this property. eX-
cepting Fort Western. which should. of
course, b" preserved. could be sold for
enough to make the property fairly
disable for park and playground.
This property contains about five
acres. situated in the heart of our city.
and includes Fort Western. an historic
object of the greatest value and inter-
est. It is large enough to make a park
which would give qualification and
amusement to our boys and girls as a
playground rs well as to their parents
for more aesthetic reasons.
We believe there is need of just such
park aud playground situated within
easy walking distance of the heart of
our city.
Ry the end of this municipal year the
city will have paid off, within seven
years. over $4,000 Of its bonded debt.
The city's valuation is growing and
prosperity is at our doors. We believe
that the time has come when wise OK
pcnditurc will prove the trueSt econo-
my.
We, therefore. respectfully recon-
mend that the park commission be au-
thorized to purchase this property. for
park purposes. at an expense not to cX-
coed $4,000. and. to provide funds FOR
tins purpose, that the mayor and city
treasurer be authorized and instructed
to sell the city's bonds to u like amount
running 20 years and bearing e.: per
cent. interest.
For all the people Of our city. we be-
Iievc tie purchase Of this property
would be IL wise investment. which
would bring greater health and happi-
ness, to them and those who will come
after them, for all future time.
Respectfully submitted.
CHARLES r. HALL.
MELVIN S. HOLWAY,
SAMUEL c. MANI.EY.
Park Commission, city of Augusta