Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-05

II
$4,000 in Improvement, is a tract O
1882 acres, located between Twelfth
land Eighteenth avenues, and Fifteenth
and Seventeenth streets. The proper
n ty was given to the city by pubic spir
Iited citizens for park purposes, tn.
only condition imposed in the gift thai
the city shall at no time allow or Ii
cense. the sale of intoxicants on the
grounds.
In the spring or summer of 1897 the
city first undertook the project of con
structfng reservoir system, and when
he selection of site for The location
Of the plant was discussed. the city
authorities including Mayor T. J. Me
4 dill, favored the portion of Long View
| park which lies on the top of the hill.
/ Arrangements for the purchase of this
i tract were partially made. but after the
adoption of the system to be construct
ed II was found that the level land on
the hill was not large enough for the
requirements of the reservoir.
First Proposed by Mayor MedsIL
| I'll Medin, the mayor at that time.
suggested TO the late Capt. T. J. Rob-
\ iuoou, Ouc VI -tuc OWueFS, THAT lHc
| Long View park tract be presented to
the city. and that tract be purchased
east Of Twentyseco street, for the
reservoir. The title of the property
was in John Weyerhaeuser. who held
the property in trust for the owners.
tCapt T. j. Robinson. Charles II. Deere,
the late Morris Rosenfield. and Fred
erick Weyerhaeuser. When 1t was de-
sired to sell any portion of the property
the owners made a written order to
John Weyerhaeuser, who then made a
deed for the land. After the matter
had been thoroughly discussed with
Capt. Robinson by the mayor and 9th
ers interested, he consented to sign an
order for deed to the tract, on condi
ton that the order should be signed
also by Mr.. Deere. The order was
drawn up. and Mayor Medill and S. S.
Davis carried 1t to Mr.. Deere, request
ing his signature, and informing him
of the promise Of Mr.. Robinson. Mr..
Deere at once signed the order, and il
was taken to Mr. Robinson who ad-
ded his signature. The order was then
sent to Frederick Weyerhaeuser. at ST.
Paul. and the matter laid before him.
II was but two days later that Mr.. Da-
Wis received the order again. with the
signature of Frederick Weyerhaeuser.
TWAS then sent to Europe. where Mrs.
Julia Rosenfield and the other heirs of
the late Morris Rosenfield were so
journing. All signed the order, and it
was presented to 3u-H Wcyerhaeuser
on its return
The deed was completed early in DC
tober, 1897, aud turned over to. the city.
The only condition imposed in the gift,
that regarding the sale OF intoxicants.
was placed in the deed on the sugges-
ton of the late Capt. T. J. Robinson.
secufisE' fKe 'Hdme.
The papers for the transfer of the
property were drawn by the late Col
Henry Curtis, and he manifested a
great interest In the park. When it
became necessary to select name for
the park, Col. Curtis took the trouble
to place himself In communication
with the remnants of the Sac and Fox
Indian tribes. located at Tan1a, Iowa
and on the Sac and Fox reservation of
Indian territory. Among the latter
was the second Chief Black Hawk, who
visited Rock Island about IL years ago.
with others OF the tribe Col Curtis
reported that he could get but little
satisfaction from the Indians regarding
the tract in Long View park. the Indians
manifesting but, little interest i'm the
land The explanation made was that
the property In which this tract was
located had been wrested from the In
dams. and they still felt resentful over !
the loss of the land Whatever inter
est was displayed by these people was
confined to the Black Hawk Watch |
Tower. and the islands and bluffs along
Rock river. ig
Long View In Adopted.
In order to secure suggestions for
fitting name for the newly acquired
park, Mayor Medill inserted notices in
he daily papers asking for suggestions.
He received hundreds of responses,
many of them Indian names more or
ess appropriate, and many of them i'm
possible and inappropriate. Among the
names suggested were Mississippi, and
meaning Rock river. On
the names suggested, May
,r Medill presented to the council an
ordnance, providing for Long View park
Is the name of the new park This
appeared to give the greatest satisfac-
ion
For the purposes of the reservoir the
,fty acquired tract of 261s acres east
" Twenty-second street and south of
twelfth avenue. and at the same time
hat the council named Long View park
he reservoir site was officially desig-
lated as Reservoir park
The natural advantages of Long View
ark are appreciated by everyone who
las ever been over the ground, but
hese natural beauties need improve
nents and additions to meet the re-
Iuirements of the people who make
Use of the park. and IL is expected that
70 great difficulty will be experienced
q raising the funds necessary for the
Th~ Ersv.t Ar~..s-~~s~.