CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1907-03-07
THE ROYAL GORGE PARK NOW
A SURE THING FOR THE CITY
Geo. Rockafeow Make Liberal Proposition
Survey Ordered. City

A communication was laid before
the City Council Monday night by the
recently appointed Park Commission,
from Geo. F. Rockafellow and NJ. 8.
Reynolds, in relation to the sale to
the city for the sum of five hundred
dollars of certain mineral and placer
claims owned by them within the lin
its of the park conveyed to the people
of Canon City at the top of the Royal
Gorge by the National Congress last
year.
The proposition was endorsed by
the members of the park commission,
and they recommended that it be con-
CURED in by the Council. On motion
it was decided to accept the PROPOSE
ton upon the presentation of the nee
essary plots and deeds and the Mayor
and Clerk were instructed to issue a
warrant in the sum of five hundred
dollars, payable May 1st 1907
In the proposition filed with the
Park Commission by Mr.. Rockafellow
and Mrs. Reynolds, it is stated that
on March 5th 1904, they filed location
certificates for the Mckinley and Can
ton claims, on Eight Mile park. At
that time the matter of either a ma
tional or city park at the top of the
Royal Gorge had not been considered.
The property was a part of the gov
ernment domain and open to any one
who might see At to legally file upon 1t
Knowing the value of the property they
were very careful to comply with the
law and havejealously guarded it ever
since.
Shortly after the property was filed
upon people came here from Pueblo
to locate it and other subsequently
taking similar steps, some OF them
from Colorado Springs, others from
Canon City. Efforts were made to in
duce them to quit claim their rights
but they refused. probably to their
nnancial loss. In all prs6abilify Il
they had not taken this stand the
property alluded to would have been
patented, and in the hands Of outside
parties. with. possibly, a fence around
the claim with an admission fee de-
manded of all visitors.
They state that they are interested
in everything that pertains to the well
fare of Canon City and would not be
instrumental in delaying the acqui-
sitiun by the town OF this splendid
gift from the government. nor would
they be parties in legal contest with
their fellow citizens, and business as
sociates. Title was made perfect TO
forty acres of land at the top of the
Royal Gorge in the name of F. A.
Reynolds, some years ago, but it
was understood mat the particular
property as well as all the other, was
to eventually be made into one title
and held by a company.
In Offering to release the claims,
which they believe to be valuable, they
state that some satisfactory consider
alton should be given upon transfer
ring their right and title to the city,
and suggest that five hundred dollars
would be a sufficient compensation.
A resolution was adopted instruct
ing the city engineer to make a survey
of the Royal Gorge park as required
by law and to erect a suitable monu-
ment at the corners, and along the
outer boundaries, the latter to be not
more than half mile apart The
survey is to be made under the direc-
ton of the park commission.
The appropriation ordinance for the
fiscal year ending April 1st, 1908, was
read for the first time in full and ac-
cepted. The ordinance carries with
il total of s3T, 900 for municipal ex-
penses for the next twelve months,
which is $4,000 more than last year.
The largest increase is in the street
department, in which the appropria-
ton is $4,000. or $500 more than in
any previous twelve months. The
public library costs 5000 more this
year than in 1906.
On motion the water superintend-
ent was appointed plumbing inspect
or. without extra compensation. to see
that the provisions of the ordinance
are complied with