Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1905-01-21
Local Happenings.
The Public park
on Ft, Hays.

Senator Charlie Bus chow has al
ways been working for the State
Institutions on the Fit. HAYS Res
ervation 10 benefit western Kansas
and this week made another move,
On reaching Topeka and exam
inlng he found the time limit OF
Congress on the Ft Hays Ieser-
vatlon expires on March 29th next
and unless the provisions were
fully carried out the State might
loose that along The creek and the
homcsteaders again get the land.
On Monday he remedIed The
defect by introducing a bill in the
senate to Establish the Public palk
on the Ft Hays reservation and
protect the timber, etc.
1t requires that the creek, TIM
Der and strip of $50 feet from
the top of the bank on each side,
and more of the bends il needed,
shall be set apart as a public park,
fenced with 3 wires on stCne and
iron posts, u driveway. on each
side with necessary gates, bridges
a1d several dams to retain the wa
ter and create ponds; that trees
shall be planted where deemed ad-
visable. 1t makes 4 penalty
OF not less than $25 and 80 days
in Jail for destroying, cutting OF
hauling out any timber, or shoot
ing or being found Inside the
Park fence with n gun
1t appropriates $4,000 to build
the fences and do the work and it
appoints Hon. John SchlYer as
Park Commissioner for i years,
without pay, to see the work is
properly carried out.
The eastern papers speak well OF
the measure, and the selection by
Senator Buschow of his late oppo
nent for park commissioner shows
his noble heart, the county & whole
state know that John Schlyer will
SEQ that it is properly done and
love of his old county, MS pride
as father of the Reservation bills
will cause hum gladly TO look after
1t free of charge to the state
As was expected the friends of
the AgrI. college and Normal OBJ
jected and want to snstitute this
bill.-The boards of Regents OF
the Kansas state Agricultural col
lege and Normal school are hereby
authorized and required TO estab
lish ON the Ft. Hays Reservation q
Public Park of snch dlmentons
as such Boards deem necessary
and advisable, the same to be main
tanned perpetuaIly as a Pubic
Park"
Such an Act would be no better
than now and not carry out the
intent of Congress to protect all
the timber on the creek.
The Regents have known Of this
Park clause from the first hut have
done nothing, in fact posted noti
ces not to trespass, plowed up tbs
ground near the creek on both
sides, kept it tightly fenced, anC
even when the Old settlers triec
to start a park and picnic ground
using some of the old lumber o
the old Fort buildings for bridge
platform and out buildings the As
ricultural folks dlsmantIed and ha,
led away, didn't want any, park.
True the Normal school have ;
quarter mile of park, but that i
the Private school campas, same a
at Manhattan or Lawrence, and o
ten you pay quarter TO get IL
the gate and that is what the Re
gents would decide all that is ne
cessarv. And that wouldn't sui
the Normal as they couldn't char.
10 their ball games = tor you can
charge the public to 90 in a pu6Li
park. But our citizens wan
what Congress intended, all tn
creek and timber. 6 every persol
who ever saw the timber will Sa
so, and that Buschow's bill shoul
pass.