The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-16
Fourth Ward Park Proposed
May Be the Cause.
Conference Held by Realty Men
and Property Owners.
TO GIVE RIGHT OF WAY
Committee Thinks $4,000
Would Buy the Tract.
Planning Arrangement for Easy
Payments.

If the proposed Fourth ward park,
comprising the Farnsworth and Lakin
tracts, becomes a reality, it seems al
most certain that Topeka will have its
much-talked-o boulevard running
south from the Melan arch bridge.
AS the result of a conference held
Monday night by a committee of the
Topeka Real Estate Dealers associa-
ton and a number of property owners
along the path of the proposed boule-
ward, the latter stated that if the pros
pective park land is purchased they
can practically assure that the city will
be given, free of charge. the right of
way for at least a portion of the
boulevard.
At meeting of the Topeka Real
Estate Dealers association held the
previous noon, it was the unanimous
opinion of those present that it was for
the best interests of the city that a
Fourth ward park be established, and
that boulevard which would be a
credit to Topeka constructed.
The committee appointed to further
the scheme was composed of the fol-
T. w. Reynolds, c. G. Blakely, w. w.
Webb, w. c. Stephenson, ]. E. Tor
rington and J. Will Kelly.
There were twenty business men
present at the meeting, and they were
unanimously in favor of pushing the
boulevard project. AS proposed, the
boulevard would start at the Melan
bridge, going west through the City
park, the Farnsworth, Lakin and
Meade properties, the Ward estate,
Kenwood addition, the Knox tract, and
around to the asylum; thence west on
Sixth avenue to Gage park, south on
Highland avenue to Seventeenth or
Twenty-first street, across to Buchanan
street; thence to the Country club, and
eventually to Kansas avenue, and pos
sibly at some time in the future around
the East Side outskirts.
The committee on ways and means
appointed by Fourth ward taxpayers
is composed of w. A. L. Thompson,
7. F. Carver, p. l. Bonebrake, ]. w.
Robinson, w. B. Kirkpatrick, c. E.
Malmberg and James Cuthbert, and
has submitted the following report:
1.-The committee appointed to devise
ways and means for securing the Lakin
and Farnsworth property for park pur
poses held a meeting on Monday ev-
ening last. The committee found that
perty could be secured, and that 1t was
quite probable satisfactory arrange
ments for the Farnsworth tract could
be made without resorting to condem-
nation proceedings.
1T is the opinion of the committee
that the entire tract of % acres can
be obtained for approximately $4,000,
which would mean a tax of not to ex-
coed $11 per lot for the entire ward.
1.-The project of boulevard along
the bank of the Kansas river was pre-
scented in connection with the proposed
park, and the same will be donated by
the property owners free of cost to the
city or county, upon condition that the
rark project is consumrnated.
"At the request of the committee. the
chairman of the mass meeting called
the Wednesday evening meeting off in
order that the committee might have
further time to conclude negotiations
for the property and arrange some i'm
rortant details. For the information
of the public. we desire to give out this
statement of our progress