Omaha daily bee., 1911-05-25
Council Bluffs.
GEN. DODGE GIVES NEW PARK
Will Donate Land Enough for One on
River Front.
no EXTEND BETwEEN BRIDaEs
Condition Imposed t. that Access 60
River he Given and that Boule-
ward he Constructed Reach
ing 60 broadway,

VI. Douge COUNCIL BUTTS IL TO nave announcer
large and splendid park added TO its ex-
tensive system. lie has agreed to donate the
land necessary for the new West End park
in such way that II will permit the
money provided by special taxation for the
purchase Of the ground all to be used in
developing the park itself, He has offered
to donate a tract OF between thirty and
thirty-five acres on the river front at the
point most desired by the people of the
west part OF the city and which most nearly
meets the approval of the park board. 10
comprises the river front between the street
railway and the Union Pacific bridges.
General Dodge's offer was made to the
board in writing on March 80. when the
park board called for offers OF park sites
to be opened on April l. For excellent rea-
sons the board decided to withhold the In
formation from the public. but at a special
meeting held on Monday night the decision
was reached to accept the generous offer
and acqusint the public with the fact.
General Dodge, who owns about leo acres
OF land between the two bridges made a
double proffer to the board His land 'front.'
ing the river comprises part OF three tracts
indicated on the plat maps as lots /, and
3. He offered TO sell all OF lot g. which
lies In the form of a square containing
about thrty-five acres, for 500 an acre
or would donate strip 400 feet wide ex-
tending the full length OF the river front
between the two bridges, q distance OF about
half a mile. The only reservation is that
the owners OF the land adjoining shall
have the right-of-way through the donated
strip to the river. General Dodge owns ali
Of one tract, but only has an interest in the
others, which are owned by eastern friends.
but 1t was wholly through his influence
that the donation Of the most valuable
part the river front. was given to the
city.
Conditions of Gift.
The gift is accompanied by conditions that
are easily agreed with. and while develop
ing the park itself win also add materially
70 the value OF the holdings of General
Douse and his friends. The conditions re-
quire the construction OF boulevard from
Avenue B along Thirty-seventh street to
the line Of lot 2 midway between the two
bridges; thence west to the high ridge that
runs parallel 400 or 500 feet inland FROM
the river; then following the ridge ali the
way to tho south line OF lot 8; thence to the
OLD wagon road leading from the Brown
tract to the Union Pacific bridge, following
that grade TO Ninth avenue, and then north
10 broadway. The right-of-way for this
boulevard is TO be given through the land
traversed The question of its cost "a vot
an undetermined factor in the proposition
but as 1t has firm sand foundation ana
General Dodge's idea is that IL should be
covered only with cinders, the cost Will
Do small In comparison with the price that
would have to be paid for any quantity of
land IL purchased outright This can only
De determined In the report of the engineer
,.lnest =. COOK who has been employed
Dv the park TO make the surveys.
Money Enough ON Hand.
mere is now se,4s7.7e in the special par,,
.uho' ana when the final payments Of the
TAX levy are made there VIII be $4,000. This
- oeleVsd 10 be sufficient 10 construct the
s~ boulevard and improve tho water
'front.' number OF feasible plans FOR mi.
are In view. One contemplatas us,o', az AZ
taIl' straight cottonwood trees that co,,as.
q large portion of the tract for pilirg A
phe sixty or more feet long could be surlr
oy hydraulic pressure with small portahla
engine pump In few minutes TO the water
'oVei 10 support concrete foundatIon To-
retaining wall that might be conStructad
iiorh the granite paving blocks from Rroad-
way Inc green piles below the wa4er laval
would last for centuries. The wall copId -.
raised above highwater mark ana the go
ruled with sand from the river tn. 49,
could thus be made very attractive az well
as permanent and be a delightful prosnoc.
viewed from the Omaha side Of the r,vsr
Au OF this however, Is matter OF d.taii
ana not contingent upon the acceptanea ~
the donation. '"'''e OK
Seherai Dodge left yesterday for the ives.
rs s ~n return In about a week ana win
re- M 80 70 New York to remain In his
broadway office until September 49,