Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-03-24
Commission Urges the
Purchase Of Two.
Both the Fort Western Property
and the TrottIng Park.
Commission Says City Can Well Afford
the $4,000 REQUIRED.

council. and is herewith given. The
text of the report is as follows:
Augusta. Me-, March 10. 1906.
To the Honorable Mayor and City
Council, City of Augusta.
Gentlemen:-In July, 1905, by order
CT the City Council, we reported on the
purchase. for park purposes, of the
Fort Western property, and were then
instructed by the City Council to re-
port on the purchase. for park pur-
poses. of the Trotting Park property.
For various reasons. we have been un-
able, up to the present, to report, as
ordered, but, as this matter is one of
such deep interest TO so many of our
citizens, we now, in our annual report,
take up both subjects.
THE FORT WESTERN PROPERTY.
This land is bounded by Cony street
the Lambard property on the south, the
Kennebec river on the west, and may
be classified in two parts:
A. 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.
+. The remainder of the property is
owned. or controlled by Lendall
Titcomb, Esq. and Mrs. Mary II.
Davies. We have secured firm offer
Of all this parcel for Sa3,4l6.
Assuming that Mrs. Concann0n's
property can be bought for $500, the
total cost of this entire tract would be
S25.9l6.
The buildings on this property, ex-
cepting Fort Western. which should,
Of course, be preserved, could be sold
for enough to make the property fairly
usable for park and playground.
This property contains about five
acres, situated in the heart Of our city,
beautified by magnificent shade trees.
and includes Fort Western, an historic
object of the greatest value and inter-
est. 1t is large enough to make a
uark which would give qualification
and amusement to. our boys and girls
as a playground, as well as to their
parents for more aesthetic reasons.
We believe there is need of just such
easy walking distance Of the heart of
our city,. l
THE TROTTING PARK PROPERTY.
This parcel contains about % acres
and has 4 good racing track and an
excellent athletic field. Its situa ton
is admirable and, considering the size
Of the property, is remarkably near the
homes Of many Of our citizens. 1t is
exactly what is needed to furnish
room. for all those athletic sports in
which SO many of our people are in
terosted and which are fast becoming
such a necessary adjunct to healthy
living.
We have not been able to secure a
firm price on this property but are
satisfied it can be bought for park pur-
poses for not exceeding $4,000. One of
it's owners has recently Gied: the other
has moved away; and it seems proba-
bic to us that, unless the city takes
early action on this proposition, this
property will be cut up and sold off,
and then our opportunity will be gone
and forever.
We, therefore, respectfully recon-
mend that the Park Commission be
authorized to purchase both these
properties, for park purposes, at an ex-
pense not to exceed $35, 900. and, to
provide funds for this purpose, that
the Mayor and city treasurer be au-
thorized and instructed to sell the city's
bonds to like amount, running twenty
years and bearing Sls per cent. inter-
est. 9H'<7,
During the past seven years, Au-
gusta has been pursuing a policy of
the strictest economy. The financial
results are as fellows:
Worthless taxes abated by
! City Council ................. $27 ,399.0 90
Funded debt paid ............. 0,50O.00
Annual interest on debt re-
duCed 4,24OW
Emergency fund created ..... 15,140.00
Our valuation has also increased
$155.000. and our funded debt is now
$1,000 below the legal limit. With
such q financial showing as this, it
seems that Augusta can well afford to
rnake these purchases, especially as
they can be made for less money now
than will probably ever be the case
again. There are times when it is
wise economy to spend money and this
seems to be one of them.
Augusta must, sometime, begin the
creation of a park system, for Au-
gusta is destined to grow into a much
larger city. 1t seems 10 us that the
time has come to make beginning, for
now is the time when two tracts of
land, each with its great advantages.
can be bought on reasonable terms.
The Trotting Park property. will give
ample room for all time to come for all
those athletic sports which are now SO
vital an element in the lives Of so
many of our people. The Fort West
ern property, with all its historic in
terest, will give magnificent breath
ing place right in the heart of our
business section.
Today both these properties are need
ed for public uses, and both can be
bought by the city on reasonable terms
the city is well able financially to buy
them. and their purchase will add to
the city's assets much more in real,
salable value than their cost.
The need of both these properties
will increase each yoar &c A,,p,,c%,