Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-04-12
PRO AND CON,
Should City Buy Proposed
Park Property?
Many Leading Citizens Answer
Question for the Journal.
Opinions Differ and Much Interest Is
Being Manifested.

gusta bonds To a total OF $35, 900 for the
purchase of the Fort Western and
Trotring park properties for park pur-
poses, as recommended in their recent
report by the park commissioners?
This was the question which Il repre-
sentative Of the journal put to- score
or two of the representative profess
sional ana business men of the city.
whom ht met upon the street in the
course of his rambles yesterday a
summary of their answers will prob
ably be- of interest to the readers Of the
journal at this time. The report Of the
park commissioners was published
Wednesday. The matter is being very
fully discussed by the people of the
city. and 20 petitions which have been
in circulation now bear hundreds and
hundreds of signatures. and will prob
ably be presented To the city govern
ment At its next regular meeting. The
presentation Of these petitions will
doubtless be followed by public hear
ing = little later, ana then il is proha Bile
that the matter will be submitted t. a
vote If Tie people.
In the meantime let us see in sab
Zrns have To say on the subject
Samue G. Manlcy said "As one. of
thr park commissioners of Augusta |
am earnestly in favor of bond issue
for The purchase of the Fort Western
ana the Trotting park properties for
park purposes, and think my reasons
for faroriAg il are made plain in the
report Of the commission. | believe q
great minority Of our people will favor
il Wnrii they consider and discuss the
prOpOsiliun. There will be fully 1000
names. good. strong names, too upon
the petitions which We shall present to
the city government and then there
will probably be public hearing where
the friends of the movement will have
an opport unity to express their opin-
ion ana urge the proposed step. The
city cannot afford longer to neglect the
llst"l': Fort Western property ana its
lOcality should be cleaned up and made
attractive. We need the Trotting park
for athletic and sporting uses, and now
is the time to acquire both these prom
critics at q reasonable figure. Soon it is
likely 20 be too late. and then the city
will always regret lost opportunity"
Postmaster John V. Lane said u
have rot thoroughly studied the sub
iect, but do believe that Fort Western
should be saved and sufficient ground
around il purchased to provide for its
proper preservation and to give it an
attractive environment. also believe
that the Totting park should be pur-
chased hy the city, if il can be secured
at n reasonable figure
George +. Macomber said Il believe
Fort Western should be preserved,
since il is an old landmark of historic
interest and it is so situated that the
grounds around il could be splendidly
located for park and public play
ground. | am not so clear in NV own
mird IS 10 the advisability of adopting
the other suggestion of the park COM
missioners. I have always had 4 lean
ing toward Betsey Howard hill as
public park. for it is a beautiful and
slightly eminence with many natural
advantages and few driveWays
through it would make an ideal park OF
it,
Thomas J. Lynch. Esq. said: "T am
emphatically opposed to a bond issue
for the purchase of parks. If Il were
4 bond issue to secure money for the
cor struction Of good roads from the
city out into the surrounding country
| would favor it. since that would be
good brsi'I*Ss proposition and a direct
help 10 tie city. / do not think the
city Is in a financial condition to afford
parks at this time. Our tax rate is too
nigh now, and we are greatly in need
OF z more equitable system of real es-
tate valuation. The city can i'll afford
to Use the taxable property which
would be lost if these two sites were
bought for park purposes. Moreover
the purchase price would by no means
represent the entire outlay. as thou
sands of dollars more would he re-
quired to put them i'm shape and MAIN
tam them. / am especially opposed
TO the purchase of the Trotting park
by the city. Though / believe it ought
t" b" saved as a Trotting park and for
athletic purposes. This should be
done. however. by private individuals
or an association rather than by the
city. 1t might he bought by public
Continued on Page Eleven.)