The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-21
Asking Commissioners to Locate
Buffalo Herd There.
PROMISES
$500.
As Nucleus for Municipal Zoo
logical Garden.
Street Railway Extension Might
Depend on Buffalo.
North Topeka and South Topeka
People Also Enthusiastic.

The Topeka Gage park enthusiasts
and property owners who have con-
tributed so literally toword a fund
for the purpose of influencing the
street railway to extend their car lines
to this park. represented by Luther c.
Bailey, appeared before the board of
city commissioners this morning and
requested that if the city intended to
establish a public zoo or a grazing
place for the herd of buffalo, Gage
park be chosen
As the leading argument for this
move, Mr.. Bailey spoke of the fact that
the city of Topeka has $50, 900 invest
ed in Gage park property and if this
park IS to be made public open air
amusement place for all the trans
portation facilities must be obtained
at once and the park must be made
the real center of municipal park ac-
Invites.
I can't see how you can consider
any other park in this city as a loca-
ton for the buffalo herd or as
nucleus of Topeka ZOO said Mr..
Bailey in speaking to the commission
ers- People here are paying taxes
every year to support Gage park and
without street car transportation the
masses are unable to visit the park.
This means that in the future the
taxes for this purpose will be paid
ing the street railway to extend it's
lines should act quickly on the matter
of establishing the buffalo herd-they
should not take second thought, but
decide on Gage park at once.
I'VE expect to subscribe about $10,-
600 as bonus for the Topeka railway
company and We have given them the
right of way. We have raised $1,000
already. Now we want their promise
to build to the park in the spring. But
Il r. 1,g., i
the location of the buffalo herd and
the ultimate support of a geological
garden, the railway officers may doubt
the sincerity of the move-they will
wonder if the entire community is be-
hind this extension proposition.
''The city should give their aid and
their money to the improvement of
Gage park-it is 100000 investment
that cannot afford to lie idle. With
all of the natural advantages of a
buffalo grazing ground, a geological
and amusement park for the general
public, Gage is the ideal location for
improvements that can be afforded by
the city at this time. 1t is to the citys
advantage that something be done
it should not be hard task for the
commissioners to decide where to
place this buffalo herd
The city commissioners have made
no decision on the buffalo question. In
fact they are not sure that the herd
will be given to the city. The proposed
donor, Joshua Hill of Pontiac, Mich,
says that If he is not given the amount
he asks for the buffalo he will give
them to Topeka for the keeping.
Mayor Billiard has written to him con-
corning the favorable sentiment in
Topeka, but has received no answer.
The supporters of the different
parks in the city have focked to the
city hall the last few days in an effort
to influence the city commissioners to
locate the herd in their favorite park.
The people of North Topeka are en-
thusiastic for Garfield park. The
people of South Topeka are equally
anxious for Lakewood park or for the
fair grounds. The Gage park admirers
want the animals out there.
This morning before the city COM
missioners a South Topeka representa-
ton presented a petition to the city
asking that the buffalo be placed in
Lakewood park or the fair grounds.
Through T J. Hurley as president Of
the Boosters club, and E. c. Gibson,
as secretary, the South siders pledged
to pay the expense of combining the
herd and of their TRANSFORMATION from
Michigan to Topeka.
Norris L. Gage, a brother of the late
G. G. Gage, who donated the park to
the city, has promised a subscription
of $500 to the city to apply toward the
keeping of the buffalo in case they are
| located in Gage park. Mr.. Gage is a
generous contributor to many public
enterprises in Topeka and Gage park
holds high place in his sentiments
Here is his letter to NJ. c. Holman,
city commissioner:
|'Ashtabula, O., Nov. II. 1910.
IN. C. Holman, Esq, Commissioner of
Parks, Topeka, Kan.
Dear Sir: Referring to the letter of
Joshua Hill, printed in the Daily Capt.
| tai November 10Th, 1 will give the city
$500. to be used in conveying to To-
peka, and in giving first care to the
same, the herd of seven buffalo which
Mr.. Hill so generously proposes to give
| to Topeka; provided, however, that the
| herd in Gage park, to be used as a
| that the city supply suitable accom-
modations for the buffalo and there
after care for the same
| ut is fair to presume that the To-
peka representatives in the state legis-
| lature will see that during the coming
session an amendment is made to the
municipal law which will allow the
city commission to levy a tax sufficient
to secure an ample fund to support a
m oderateIy equipped geological garden
in addition to the other expenses nee
essary TO support the various city
parks, the omission in the present
law having been the result of a mis-
take
THE buffalo is a typical Kansas ami
NAL and this herd of noble beasts
should be preserved upon their native
soil and propagated for generations to
come Respectfully.
MORRIS L. GAGE"