Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-05-26
Council Bluffs
WEST END PARK TO COME
Last Obstacle Removed in Way Of
Park Commissioners.
OWNERS HAVE GIVEN CONSENT
Eastern Capitalists Reiinaaish
Rights TO Property Situated BE-
tween Ferry Addition and
Union Pacific Bridge.

The last obstacle has been removed In
the way of the board of park commits
sioners and their plans for the establish
ment OF the new west end park will be
carried out along the lines originally
planned BY Commissioner Graham. II will
mean a big park covering the river front
with the street railway passing through
It's center. and with boulevard extend
ms from the Union Pacific railway BRIDGE
to Lakeview park. q distance OF more
than three miles Forty acres Of this
tract OF nearly eighty. lying on-the south
side OF the street car line. has been
donated by General 0renvills NJ. Dodge
and others interested, thirty-ssven and q
half acres lying between II and car tracks
win be condemned. and the forty acres
lying north OF the tracks will likewise be
acquired by condemnation. In soma meas
ure the same process will be resorted to
acquire title TO the tract, 100 feet wide.
that VIII constitute the boulevard that
will be continued along the river bank
into Laksview park.
Delay in accepting the generous offer Of
General Dodge was due h the fact that
several large eastern capitalists were In
terested with him In the ownership OF the
land lying between the south line OF the
Ferry addition and the Union Pacific
bridge. and II was necessary 10 secure
their consent 10 the gift. When this was
all arranged II was discovered that Ben
jamin Marks owned a twentisth interest
In the Dodge tract. but when the matter
was called 10 his attention he told the
park commissioners all that was required
was to bring him Q quit claim deed cover
Ing his interest Of nearly three acres In
the forty-acre tract and he would sign
II and then make donation Of the u
required to be paid to make the con-
veyancs legal The offer was promptly
accepted and the conveyance Of the prop
erty has been practically accomplished
Must Bald Boulevard.
The conditions connected with the gilt
81 General Dodge and his associates re-
quire the expenditure OF not less than
u.ooe In the construction Of the boulevard
from the Union Pacific bridge to the
south line OF Ferry addition. which will
mark tho southern boundary of the new
park. The money Cor this purpose can be
taken from the amount on hand raised
| for the park purchase. as II becomes the
only consideration connected with the
purchase OF the land. The entire boule-
ward will cost not less than $500 and
will have to be paid for by money raised
| by future taxation. The amount 10 be con-
demned south OF Broadway and the forty
acres on the north will cost not more than
| $50 an acre. or about 300
I'VE want to make Of the tract north
Of Broadway q forty-acre playground for
the boys and girls OF future generations.
as well as the present The car line and
public highway running through the park
at Its center viii always make both the
park and the playground equally aeces-
slhle." said Mr.. Graham yesterday. We
will so ahead and improve the tract
slowly. as funds are received from the
slight taxation that must provide the
means. II will thus be several years be-
fore the big plans we have mapped out
will be fully realised. but we believe
future generations will thank US for what
we have done"
Owners win Donate.
II Ia expected that large part Of the
right-of-way for the boulevard north Of
the property to be condemned Will be do
mated by the owners. The boulevard will
Be high enough above the present level
TO act as 8 ievee to prevent oyerflows
from the river II Will pass under the
railway bridge and continue along the
higher bank Of the river for the entire
distance. While the acquisition Of the
property win extinguish the privilege u
maintaining shooting grounds by the
Omaha and Council Bluffs gun clubs the
new park will be OF great interest to
Omaha. for II will Be within a five
minute car or automobile ride from the
business center OF Omaha. and In the
future viii probably be used as much
/ hr 9rxaha a. NV rawa raorfe II W1n