The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-30
WRITES OF EI4NIHURsr PARK.
f. r. Souders Says That Statements
Have Been Misleading.

To the Editor of the State Journal:
The statement in the morning paper
as to the sentiment being in favor of
the purchase of land for a park from
the Elmhurst syndicate is misleading.
The fact of the matter is that there
was some 500 names signed to the re-
monstrance against the purchase of
this proposed park. While few of
the signers lived outside of what is
now said to be the park district, let
it be remembered that there is no Off
cial park district created. and that
when it is it will not be done by the
syndicate disposing of its holdings 1t
is the belief of the writer and great
many others who live in the vicinity OF
trict will at least extend as far as the
park district for Westlawn park. II
such is the case all the slgnerS on our
petition would be taxed for this I'M
provement. However, If the district IS
narrowed down SO as not to extend
north of Munson avenue, it Will be
found that all the taxpayers living in
that district south of Munson and
exception of four. signed the petition
against the purchase of the proposed
park. On the south side of the pro
posed park a great number OF the
property owners signed a like remon-
STRANGE. Upon a careful reading of
the names attached to the petition of
the Elmhurst syndicate you Will find a
number of parties. who are not even
others are purchasers of property in
the Elrnf1urst addition; who, as -un-
derstand. are pledged to support any
Improvement asked, for by the syndi-
cate.
We are opposed to this purchase of
land from the Elnalurst syndicate for
the following reasons:
The land is not fit for park purposes,
being mostly ravines running across
the Eimhurst property.
The price asked for said land is very
much in excess of it's actual value.
The land is not suitable for building
purposes in its present condition and
it is the desire of the syndicate to I'M
load it onto the taxpayers of the city,
for them to improve at an enormous
expense, at an exorbitant price. $500.
That the taxpayers living In the VI
cinity of this proposed park need
great number of Improvements that
are absolutely necessary for the health,
comfort and protection of themselves
and their property; namely. sewers,
pavement, sidewalks, and city water.
The last named necessity Is needed for
ton. We are willing to be taxed for
these necessities but are not willing
to be taxed for the benefit of a syndi-
cate who have got an elephant on
their hands md now desire to unload
the most undesirable part of its car
cass onto US.
It is our understanding that this
syndicat tie at first planned to donate
THIS unQGS1TdDle DOIllOll OL tAAC1I AiO4O-
ings for park purposes and also gave
It out publicly that they intended to
improve it for a park. and that they
went so far as to show it to certain
of the counciIn1en with a view of hav-
ing it a ccepted by the city. 1t appears
to us that they have not had as great
a. success with this new addition az
they would have the public believe. "A
visit to the western portion Of said
addition will show that they have fail
ed TO plant any trees or build anv side
walks. or even tear down the fence on
the western border. There Is no
building being done on the west side
of their main tract. They NAV need
to sell this undesirable portion of their
holdings
AS to the price asked for this land,
$500, little better than $500 per
acre, one-half the price per acre of
the whole tract, let me say that it
estate dealer to tell at a glance that
two acres on the east side of said ad-
dition would bring more on the mar
ket than the whole II acres offered
to the city for a park This syndicate
would not dispose of this portion OF
their holdings at the price they ask for
lots on the east side of their addition
in the next fifteen years, and then only
after expanding thousands of dollars
in filling these two gullies, not even to
mention the taxes on said land for this
period of time.
We most emphatically protest
against the purchase of this land for a
park. and against helping a private
enterprise at the public's expense.
r. r. SOLDIERS.