Evening journal., 1912-08-15
PARK SITE
UP TO COUNCIL
Commission Sanctions Pur-
chase Of Any Location De-
sired by SOIOnS
SUBJECT WILL COME
TO HEAD TONIGHT

The Board of Park Commissioners
at their meeting yesterday afternoon
put the question of play
ground in the southern part of the
city up to City Council. This action
was taken after william p. Ban
croft, president of the board, read
letter sent to Council four weeks ago
which he said was sent at Che request
Of a councilman. The letter was
signed by the executive committee of
the board and action was concurred
in yesterday by all the board mem
bers.
II was stated that Councilman Hig-
gins had said that Council favored the
purchase OF the plot occupied by the
d. L. Levy morocco plant at Fourth
and Monroe streets as a park site, and
as this piece of ground is favored by
six OF the park commissioners, the
two ex-oficio members who are In
Council may have the city purchase
the plot by signing the petition for it.
The letter may be acted on at to-
nights session of Council. There are
four plots in tnat section mentioned
in the letter, three Of which have
been endorsed by all the members of
the commission The letter follows:
To Members of City Councils
We think II best, at this time, to
ask your attention to the matter of
securing playground land in the
southerly, closely huilt part of the
city
We do this as constituting the Park
Commission Executive Committee; 1t
not being convenient now to have a
meeting Of the Board. or to consult
all the members of it. We believe
that nearly all the members would
approve of what We are doing.
We would remind you Of action
that has been taken by members of
the Board of Park Commissioners re-
specting several lots that have been
under consideration. All the sug-
gestions have been conditional upon
your being able to obtain the land on
satisfactory terms. The suggestions
have been as follows:
Flrst-Portions of the two blocks
between Second and Third streets,
Adams and Jackson streets; and a
lot perhaps 6S feet by 81 feet, at the
south-easterly corner of Third and
Adams streets. The suggestion of
the small lot at the south-easterly
corner Of Third and Adams streets
was with the idea that perhaps II
would suit for a bath-house.
It looked practicable to obtain Of
the blocks bounded by Second, Jack
.or u-bfrd md Adounu cfrooto oho,,t
1.52 acres. The cost was estimated
at about 75c a square foot. The bed
OF Conrad street is included in the
estimates of area and Of cost. thus
reducing the estimated cost per
square foot.
Second-The land bounded by
Third. Monroe and Fourth streets and
by a line parallel with Madison
street and about 90 feet westerly
therefrom. This contains about Sc
hundredths of an acre II could
have been obtained for about 92c per
square foot.
Third-Portions Of the block bound
ed by Second. Washington. Third and
West street. perhaps 1876 acres. The
cost was estimated at about CSC per
square foot. This was so low be-
cause the largest property In the
| block was offered as a gift.
Fourth-A large part of the land
bounded by Linden. Broome. Chest
nut and Franklin streets. II is es-
timated that a lot $50 feet by Az feet,
about S.SS acres. could be obtained
for about 1877 cents square foot.
This lot is thought Of as an athletic
field.
The lots mentioned first. third and
fourth have been recommended for
consideration by majority of the
members of the Board of Park Com
missioners. That mentioned second
has been recommended by six of the
Park Commissioners. Neither of the
members of City Council who as such
are Park Commissioners signed that
recommendation II they should
sign II. Il would make a majority. II
is therefore within the power ol
Council to act in regard to any Of
these lots.
We do not see how the City coulc
purchase all that has been suggested
as above. as at the prices mentioned
the aggregate cost would be almost
St46,0O0 which is. We suppose, NOR,
than you could properly spend foi
land al this time. and these figures
do not include anything for the small
LOT suggested as a site for a bath
house.
Respectfully.
WIN. p BANCROFT
IT. w CAUSE
A ~. A arrr