Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-04-12
PRO AND CON.


a movement to this end"
M. $. Holway, Esq. said: 81 believe
the city should consider the future as
well as the present, and to make it
more attractive for residents and for
visitors we should purchase these sites
for park purposes while we have such
Il good opportunity. There is urgent
need 10 preserve old Fort Western and
everybody believes it's surroundings
should be cleaned up and made more
attractive. Our many summer visitors
car hardly get i good impression of the
city when they see the historic old fort
in The midst of such unattractive sur
rOundings. AS for the Trotting park,
l believe its rental would make it Il
good investment. The city can well
afford il in my mind and ii means
much to the young people of the city
and to those who will make Augusta
their home through generations to
come"
Congressman Burleigh writes: II am
fully convinced Of the importance Of
securing the Fort Western and Trot-
ting park properties. and have always
favored the proposition"
Alderman f. NJ. Mower said: II do
not believe the city can afford so much
money for park purposes at this time,
though of course l should like tn see
the parks as suggested. | believe we
could spend the money to greater ad-
vantage upon our streets and upon the
country roads leading into the city.
Ex-Mayor c. s. HichbOrn said: Il
hardly care to be quoted in this matter
at the present time. but last year as
mayor Of the city | opposed the move
ment to purchase these properties Tor
park purposes
Frank G. Harrington. Esq. said: 81
am very strongly in favor of preserving
cid Fort Western and of cleaning up
and peautifying the section around it.
This ought to have been done long ago
and the city should do it now before il
is too late. | do not feel so strongly
in the matter of purchasing the TrCt-
ting park but if the Fort Western
property can be secured only by includ-
ing the Trottng park property in the
deal then I am in favor of including
it,
a. NJ. Goddard, Esq. said: 81 am de-
cidedly opposed to having the city
spend so much money as is proposed i'll
buying the Fort Western property. but
I do believe in purchasing the Trotting
park. 1t would bring business to the
city. and prove a good investment
Hon. w. ii. Gannett said 81 think
more money is asked for the properties
than the city can afford to spend for
park purposes at this time. and then on
top uf the purchase price there will be
necessary a large sum to improve and
maintain the parks. Of course, how
ever, l earnestly desire that old Fort
Western should be saved and pre-
served. 1t would be a great pity to
lose a structure of so much historic in
terest. 1t ought to belong to the city
and the grounds around it kept neat
and attractive"
Ex-MayOr S. w. Lane said: 81 favor
the purchase Of the Fort Western prop
erty but am opposed to buying the
TrOtcing lark. The former for his
toricai reasons should be preserved and
its location is such that it is splendid
Iy situated for public park and play
ground. I do not believe, however.
that the city should go into the Trot-
ting park business
Mayor Friedrich w. Plaisted said:
"Of course it would be a fine thing for
The city to have one or both of the
parks as suggested. but I do not be
lieve the city can afford to spend $35.
600 at this time in buying the park
property and many thousands more in
improving the property and maintain
ing It. Moreover. the loss of the tax
able property would be serious mat
ter. The city needs more business and
more building much more than it needs
to luy parks. But if we are to have
parks | believe they should be given
the city by some of our wealthy and
publiC-spritcd citizens. or perhaps
half n dozen or q dozen of our people
who have money might make the gift
collectively. Surely, no individual
could have u better monument or do
something for the city which would
more surely make his memory honored
by postrrity than to give it Il beautiful
park. Iialowcll was fortunate enough
to have some ono give it a beautiful
City hall. and it seems as though there
ought to he somebody in this city to
give us the Fort Western property or
lit 1 TbtllllS park bI DbtH LOT park DuT-
poses. IF a thousand people have
signed a petition for the city to issue
bonds for the purchase Of these prop
critics. then | believe the matter should
be submitted to the voters Of the city
for 4 decision"
Rev. F.. T.. Newbert said: "It would
be fine thing no doubt to have these
parks. but personally l am opposed to a
bond issue for the purpose. Let some
wealthy person or persons give us the
parks. Other cities have been fOrtu-
nate in this matter, and why not Au-
gusta7 Probably the matter will be
submitted to the voters for n decision" :"
Ira RI. Randall said: II have signed
one Of the petitions in favor Of the pro
posed bond issue for the purchase Of
these two parks. My feeling in the
matter is not very strong however. and
probably from a financial point of view,
it would not be considered a good in
vcstment There are times. however.
when there are other things than
money to consider. and this seems to he
one of them
City Assessor Frank L. harrington
said: Il am not in favor of q bond issue