Omaha daily bee., 1911-05-25
Council Bluffs.
GEN. DODGE GIVES NEW PARK
Will Donate Land Enough for One on
River Front.
TO EXTEND BETWEEN BRIDGES
Condition Imposed t. that Access 60
River he Given and that BOuIe-
ward he Constructed Reach
ina TO broadway.

NJ. Dodge Council Bluffs is to have another
large and splendid park added 20 its ex-
tenslve 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 IL
comprises the river front between the street
railway and the Union Pacific bridges.
General DodRes 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 acquaint the public with the fact
General Dodge who owns about 160 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 l. and
B. He offered to sell all OF lot 8, which
lies In the form of a square containing
about thirty-five acres, for 500 an acre.
or would donate a strip 400 feet wide ex-
tending the full length OF the river front
between the two bridges, a distance OF about
half a mile. The only reservation IL that
inc owners OF the land adjoining shall
have the right-of-way through the donated
strip to the river. General Dodge owns all
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 will also add materially
TO the value OF the holdings of General
Dodge and his friends The conditions re-
quire the construction OF a 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 all the
way 70 tho south line Of lot 8; thence TO the
OLD wagon road leading from the Brown
tract to the Union Pacific bridge, following
mat grade to Ninth avenue. and then north
to Broadway. The right-of-way for this
traversed. The question of its cost IA vet
an undetermined factor In the pronosit,on
but as 1t has a firm sand foundation ana
General Dodges idea is that IL should be
covered only with cinders, the cost Will
De small In comparison with the price that
would have to be paid for any uuanti,v OF
lano' IL purchased outright. This can only
oe determined in the report Of the engineer
ernest u. Cook, who has been employed
Dy the park TO make the surveys
Money Enough ON Hand.
There is now Se,497.7e in the special park
iuho' ana when the final payments of the
tax levy are made there will be $4,000. This
10 peiieVed TO be sufficient to construct the
extensive boulevard ana improve the water
'front.' A number of feasible plans for mi.
are In view. One contemplates using ire
tail' straight cottonwood trees that co,,a-
large portion OF the tract. for puing A
Pile sixty or more feet long could be amy
oy hydraulic pressure with a small portable
ehsine pump In few minutes 70 the water
ieVel TO support a concrete foundation FOR
retaining wall that might be constructed
rom tne granite paving blocks from Broad
way, Inc green piles below the water level
"1u'u last ior centuries. The wall could be
raised above highwater mark ana the srss
ruled with sand from the river tn ,,a,,-
oouio thus be made very attractive an well
as permanent and be delightful proSnOct
viewed from the Omaha side Of the rtvsr
An OF this however, is a matter OF detail
ana not contingent upon the accentanco -
the donation. Ok
Seneral Dodge left yesterday for the wes.
e WIN return In about a week and viii
tneh go 10 New York to remain An hls
ol0ao"ay ofrice until September