Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-05-26
CITY N POSS[SS|ON,,
SQUABB[E N BOARD
Majority Members Steal a March
OH Opposing Minority and
Secure New Park Site
FORMALLY NAMED RlvERvlEw
comnisaioner r. N. Rubee Refuses to
Be Party to Purchase, and Hints at
Legal Hindranccs to Purchase
Chairman LaPIant Closes Deal Early
Today-contract for Band Stand.

Of land on North Third avenue, passed
into the possession OF the city to be
used as u public park, and 1t has form
ally been named Riverview. A bond
for deed is In the possession of
Chairman C. Il. L,lPlnnt. Fearing a
possibility of legal hindrances limited ut
at the meeting of the board Tuesday
night by Commissioner Il. M. Rubee.
who, altho not Directing to the site,
does object seriously to the price paid.
Mr.. LaPlant and Joseph Mohr, the
third member, stole II march on the
opposition and closed the transaction
with Mr.. Binford this morning.
Mr.. Rubee, hearing of the TRANSACT
ton, requested Treasurer Gerhart to
withhold the first payment, which he
will until the tangle Is unravaled.
Mr.. Binford Is satisfied to allow the
board to have possession for the time
being without making the initial pay
ment, and City Solicitor Burritt says
minority OF the commissioners has
power to act.
Mr.. Rubee's contention for condem-
cd of acquiring the land, focused in the
motion made at The meeting to close
the contract for purchase. Mr.. Mohr
made the motor, which Mr.. Rubee
refused to second, but which Chair
man LuPlant seconded himself. In the
vote Rubee voted no, and then held
that Chairman Ls.Plant was out of or
der and had no right to either second
the motion or vote on it, Following
the argument Mr.. Rubee refused to
vote on other motions, excepting the
one naming the park Riverview. The
two other members let the contract
for the building Of the grand stand to
]. ]. Jacobson for $685..
When asked by the T.-R. II he con-
templated legal action to interrupt the
proceedings Of the board In the pur-
chase. Mr.. Rubee emphatically answer
Cd, no. However, he gave the mem
bers to understand that they should
not be too sure they had closed their
deal.
Rubee'.. Objections.
Mr.. Rubee's protest is based on his
belief that $50 an acre was at least
twice as much as the land was worth,
and fully $50 an acre more than 1t
could have secured for had the board
resorted to condemnation proceedings.
He objects to the river, which, he says,
ls costing the board $3.50 for five acres
OF 1t, and finds fault with the acre and
= half located north of the river, be-
cause he says 1t is valueless. He
thinks to keep cattle from crossing the
river from the north, a. fence will have
to run along the south bank of the
river. Mr.. Rubee originally favored the
Males, blessing, Trotter and city land
west OF North Third street, but
switched to the Third avenue site when
the high water covered a large part of
the city land.
LaPIan,: Ready to Buy.
Chairman LaPlant said this morning
lf the majority Of the board wished to
sell he stood ready to pay $3.50 an
acre, at any time, for the acre and a
half north of the river. which is
mostly sand bar covered with q
growth of willows. He says he can get
his money back the first year by SELL
lng the sand The commissioners may
enter the building sand business, as
the current flowing around this sandy
point replentishes the supply each
spring. 1t is known 5000 worth OF
sand was sold from it last year, with
no apparent diminishing of the supply
visible.
Company Hints at Building.
In response to letter written by
Mr.. Thaddeus Binford, Jones & Hovey
OF Independence, owners of the Mar
shalltown Light Power and Railway
Company, say they will build just as
soon as the park warrants 1T and the
condition of their finances make 1t
possible. The letter stated the option
held by the interurban company on the
street railway property prevented
them from securing money needed
for improvements and extensions, but
as soon as it elapsed action would be
taken. BY those interested In the
it is said the option re-
ferred to has already expired.
Begin improvements at Once
Work Of making Improvements on |
the park will begin at once, and one
OF the first things to be done will be
the widening of the Third avenue
road to more than twice its width I
along the park property. This will be
done by filling the ditch east of the
road, thru which the water from the
river flowed. A fence will also be an
other early Improvement.
GOOD ROADS SPECIAL.