Evening journal., 1910-08-23
PLAYGROUND
DEAL SCORED
One Taxpayer Expresses Him.
self on $4,000 Purchase
in the Wilderness

Editor of THE EVENING JOURNAL.
The editor of the Sunday Star set !
ties the whole discussion of the rec
ent land deal for a playground or ath- |
letic field purposes by questioning the /
motives of that large number Of citi- |
zens who are expressing their disap- /
proval of the remarkable manner in |
which the deal was manipulated and |
also claiming that the price for the |
Ford property was too high. These are /
evil minded persons says Editor Bell, /
and anyhow this is an athletic field, |
and not playground, and further than |
that IL this piece of ground was some |
where else not named by Editor Bell. |
Il would he costing 100000. Why /
the editor, after convincing himself by |
his evil-miuded argument, thought II /
necessary to further elaborate, is mys-
terious. Meanwhile, the taxpayers OF
the city can have the satisfaction OF
knowing that real estate men, names
unknown, have said the ground is
cheap, and that IL the land was some
where else, II would be worth $780,
600. and the children of the Twelfth
ward should be satisfied with the fact
that II the ground was a half mile
nearer town, they could not use 1t as a
playground.
The writer is one Of those whom
the editor of the Sunday Star dismiss
Sc as evil-minded, but is unable 10 see
on what grounds the editor bases this
opinion. What IS the history OF this
I transaction, and what are the facts in
the case as far as the public has any
knowledge Of them?
/ Dor,n1afufa about fbo larpar hpyg
and young men breaking windows
and injuring persons passing the
grounds were made about the play
ground at Kirkwood park Then a
sentiment was manifested i'm favor of
Fairgrounds where conditions would
not be so restricted. and where prop
erty and the Safety Of citizens would
not be menaced. Then Mr.. Ford offer
er his land in the western section of
the city.
He wanted $4,000 for it, he said, but
he would take $4,000 If It were for
Fairgrounds purposes. The writer re-
members this distinctly and he remem-
bers just as distinctly that he, the writ
ter. regarded the price named as one
to be cut in half anyhow.
Then Mr. Bell. the editor of the Sun
day Star. and Mr.. Ford went as dele
gates to the Fairgrounds convention.
They returned and Mr. Bell made
very creditable report. and progress
was noted I'm the playground direction.
After that We heard no more of the
Ford property until the purchase had
been made and the chairman of Coun-
ellis finance committee made a motion
L -.
pay for Fairgrounds. Even then the
newspapers had the utmost difficulty,
so 1t is said, in discovering the dimen-
sions of the properties. and as far as
tax payers and citizens are concerned
they had really bought a pig in a poke
. Now. as to Elitor Bells talk abou
: an athletic field. This property il
hardly an ideal one for the purpose
In the first place, il is too narrow
Two hundred and twenty feet will no
permit OF big boys and young mel
playing baseball If the safety Of those
compelled 70 use the streets is to be
considered. This is not all. II Is COM
paratively remote from the congested
districts, and would hardly be used
except on Saturday afternoons and
holidays. There is a need of neighbor-
hood athletic field, where the young
fellow who works. after he has had
his supper and bath, can get there
quickly and have an hour or two of
sport I'm the long evenings Of the
spring and early summer. There Is
a demand for this, and unfortunately,
SAL 900 has been spent, and the de-
mand has not been adequately filled.
It is said a loan Of S250.000 will be
sought at the next session Of the Leg
islature, and this money will be a part
of it, II S250,000 is secured. the peo-
pie of that section of the city where
this ground has been purchased GER
tainly cannot expect any more Of the
loan. They have received their share
and if they want Fairgrounds they
will have to wait until another loan is
made sometime. maybe. Therefore
It appears as If the purchase Of the
ground was really betrayal of this
4 generations children Of that section
of the city. It leaves much to be de-
sired even for an athletic field, ant
the expenditure of that amount o.