Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-15
AFFAIRS AT SOUTH OMAHA
Discussion Of Park sites the Prevailing
Topic Over the City.
cENTERs ABOUT THE SYNDICATE TRACT
Members Of New Board of Fire and
Police Commissioners All Prom
inent in Political Affairs
of the City.

discussion on the selection Of city parks
occupied the attention OF the men most in
terested in city affairs yesterday Out OF
the eight sites offered It is not thought
that the city will purchase MORE than three
or four at the most There is considerable
difference Of opinion as to the desirability
of the different sites, due chiefly TO the
difference Of locality. The most expensive
site offered is Syndicate park at &1'OOO
The expressions OF the councilmen would
indicate that this tract is one to be pur-
chased. There is, however, strong party
In opposition 10 this. They are the people
who desire the Cassidy tract, lying farther
10 the southeast They maintain that the
prices on Syndicate park are far too high
ana offer in lieu their tract for $4,000.
This site, they argue, is much better In
every way than the site farther north.
Frank Moriarty Of the Packers National
bank said that he believed at the time
the bonds were voted It was the under
standing that Syndicate park should be
one of the sites selected and that this ar
RI1ment was used during the campaign, and
Il was this idea that prevailed in the cleo
ton. But MT. Moriarty thought that the
council would do well to save a part OF
the money for improvement purposes. This
was one Of the features Of the original
ordinance. Il provided for the Issuance OF
bonds for the purchase and Improvement
of parks. II all the money Is spent for
parks, their value would be lessened for
many years and 5000 or $4,000 judiciously
spent for improvements would, he thought
satisfy the public much better than the
possession of that much more land.
c. Caldwell was not favorable to the
purchase of Syndicate park for the ex-
k1,,N IL - he rba Tohu a
nor the best location. He thought the land
company offering the site had reserved too
much residence property around the park
and had offered South Omaha the hole.
A. A. Wright an eastsider was also OPP
posed to the Syndicate park proposition
but favored the Cassidy tract. He offered
500 worth OF trees for the park II the
council should see fit to purchase 1t.
It was rumored that the council was &c
hold a meeting yesterday afternoon for the
purpose OF making selection, but no such
meeting materialized
e. r. Leigh. the secretary Of the parl
board, declared that he was opposed tC
the purchase of more than three tracts
and he wished to have at least 5000 lef
for tho improvements. "If the council
should purchase Syndicate park, the Ryar
tract and Barrett g. Dee's park in th'
southeast and pass over the rest" he woul(
have no objections. nor did he think tina
the park board would in any case rais'
an obstacle to the purchase. 1t Is yer,
likely that the council and the board will
get together on the proposition at an earl!
date. with little expense the water II
the artificial lake in Syndicate park ooult
be raised four or five feet and cover a 10
of muddy and low ground with this i'm
provement and good streets and drives tn
park would be ready at once for the en-
joyment Of the public.