Evening journal., 1906-08-08
'BAYNARD FOR
THE PLAIN PEOPLE
Wants City Parks Opened For
Their Benefit Instead OF
For the Rich
AND GAINS HIS POINT, TOO

W imam i. Bancroft, pleSluelL OF the
Board Of Park Commissioners and
Samuel IL. Baynard one of the COM
missioners had a lively tilt at the
meeting of that body yesterday after
noon over the expenditure of the park
funds for the Improvement OF certain
park land. Mr.. Baynard openly as
serted that too much money is being
spent by the board for the improve
ment OF land adjacent to private pro-
perty and where the Improvements
would benefit private individuals in
stead Of applying the funds to the
land that would benefit the public in
general and the poorer classes in par
ticular who are most in need of the
parks.
The argument was started when Mr..
Bancroft offered to donate $1,000 of his
personal funds if the Park Board
would pay $500 toward the construc-
tion of a new road way leading from
Delaware avenue to Red Oak road in
Rockford Park, and the planting of
more trees in that section Of the park.
Mr.. Baynard said he had no objec-
tion to this plan but he did not think
1t was right to spend all the money
at the disposal Of the board on the
land In the western section of the city.
He pointed out the tract of land on the
northern side Of the Brandywine creek,
formerly part of the Elliott estate, as
one that was being neglected by the
board He declared this to be one Of
the finest stretches OF park land that
could be found, yet the board has never
seen fit to spend a cent to facilitate
the means the public has of getting
into the land. He asserted that when
the city bought ground it was agreed,
that 1t would be opened and he was the
man who was delegated to make the
agreement with Mr.. Elliott. Yet this
agreement had never been carried out
by the city simply because the Board
of Park Commissioners We're too in
tent on spending the peoples money
| improving land that was to rebound to
benefit of a few private parties.
Mr. Baynard pointed out the good
qualities of the land he referred to
and declared ten persons visited the
northern section of the park to every
one who ever saw the section Mr. Ban
croft insisted on improving in the far
western section OF the city. Mr.. Bay
nard asked Mr.. Bancroft if he ever
would approve of the opening of the
ground in the northern section of the
park until the Rockford Park and ad-
jacent lands had been improved to his
satisfaction. He declared the peoples
money was being spent on private
land and the people who most need the
park land get the least benefits of it.
He was most vigorous In denouncing
the methods that have heretofore pre-
vailed IN this respect and so forceful
were his arguments that Mr.. Bancroft
finally agreed to allow his offer to be
deferred until the next meeting of the
board
The board requested the executive
committee to have the park superin-
tendent confer with James A. Rich
i ardson and have sidewalk built along
n the front of his property facing OF
Red ak road with the understand
Ing that w. p. Bancroft pay for the
work and that the board would see
\ that he be reimbursed by the city
4 from the fund provided for the spur,
chase Of park lands.
There was also some debate about
this question. some Of the members
CLAIMING. tuol lulS Was ldNOIlnB ons
individual to the extent that his prop
erty was improved at the expense o.
the city while another property holdel
would have to pay for his own proper
ty improvements.
The road leading to Kentmere will
not be improved until the board ha
the necessary funds, but it win be KEEP
In good condition until that time.
The Zoo Association was granted per
mission to erect additional cages pro
vided they did not spoil the natura
beauty of the park.
Trees will be planted along Parl
avenue at a cost Of 1925.
The funds Of the board were trans
ferred from the Union National Banl
to the Wilmington Trust Company 10
convenience.
Efforts will be made to have Wawa
set street closed from the Park driv
to Lincoln street and the ground i'm
, proved. Surveys are to be made nortl
of the Brandywine creek and west o
the 3. and o. railroad with a view o
purchasing more ground there.
The receipts for the month wer
ss1, ,T5O17; expenditure. $1,s6S.22; balanc
s29, $685..