Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-01-20
Council Bluffs
DE LONG PLANS PLAYGROUND
Uncle Henry Devotes Burial Fund
to Buy Block Of Ground.
LAST GREAT EFFORT OF LIFE
Arrangement by which Teamster.
May Receive Fay for FuIinx
Low Ground at Avenue r
Mission.

To convert a waste place into a beautl
ful park. to FIJI up an unssghtly hole tina
has for wears been a disesse-hreedin;
place which the city and health boar
has tiied in vain to abate Under the law
prohibiting the maintenance Of nuisanees
but which were not broad enough 4
meet the requirements and compelled Dr
Bowers. city health officer. to be con
tent to treat with coal oil. and to CONVEX
This unheslthful and ugly spot into I
public playground where happy childreI
can disport themselves. Is the task as
stunned by Rev. Henry De Long. 1t is t.
help commemorate his more than half I
century's unselfish work In behalf o.
humanity and to be the last great effort
he Will undertake. ...-......
For the last year he has been acquiring
title TO the swamp block that adjoini
the Avenue + mission he has established
and maintained for a number Of years
and now owns seven OF the lots with 4
perpetual free lease on the remaining
eighth one. which has been given hin
by the Northwestern Railroad company
The lots all lie nix fee. below the sur.
rounding street grade, and in ordinary
seasons the hole is always filled witt
staguant water. the breeding place Of
mosquitoes. The city has often ordered
the lots filled, but the owners have paid
no sttentien and the city could not en-
force the order or otherwise abate the
nuisance except by doing the work a,
public expense and taxing the cost against
the property. The lots were not worth
the cost. ..
To Fill in Low Ground.
''Uncles Henry has now perfected a
plan by which he can get the filling done
during the present winter and afford EN-.
ployment TO many IDLE teamsters. He has
arranged with local grocers and feed
dealers to redeem tickets issued 10
Transfers. each good for a load OF dirt
clnders or ashes. Many OF the willing
workers are now engaged in doing The
work. The distance required TO haul the
dirt is only few blocks. and even al
this low price teamsters can make fair
wages.
For a number Of years Mr.. belong ha,
beer accommodating a small fund which
has been laid away TO provide for thu
funeral expenses for himself and wife
IL came entirely from the marriage fees
and long since reached the amount de-
sired, 500 for each. He has decided &c
let the county bury them both II neces.
ssry and has appropriated this fund fo'
the work IN view. The greater part OF II
was used 20 pay for some Of the lots. al
sold TO him very cheap. and yesterday
he Deposited the balance In the two loeal
savings banks, tina state Savings and
Council Bluffs Savings banks for thu
immediate redemption Of these tickets
Each ticket specified that II will be re-
deemed by Mr., DeLong ON or before
April /, and the small fund deposited
WIN be available for those business mer
who feel unable TO carry the tickets fol
long period. Mr.. belong is going Il
appeal 10 The generous Council Bluffs
people for small donations. all small
silver denominations. 10 enable him Il
keep this redemption fund intact.
Aided by General Dodge.
Mr.. belong has been aided In his
work from the start by General Gren.
VILE N. Dodge. who sent him a check
for 500, Arthur C. Smith. OF NJ. u. smith
& Company. Omaha. who gave him SO,
and these Council Bluffs men who each
gave so in cash: p. ]. McBridge, cashier
of the city National bank; Robert b
Wallace. for the Dodge Wallace CON-
pany. A. Metzger company; and the
IIafer Lumber company, each giving him
the same amount.
Two other funds, where $40 to $25 each
are named 10 have been created. all hav-
ing given enough money TO pay for the
lots in full, leaving nothing now unpaid
but the cost Of filing. The Commercial
club has endorsed the plan and nothing
appears in sight to prevent its full
realization. There will be two public
Fairgrounds. one for older children and
the other for little tots. both guarded and
preserved by the mission workers. Green
sod with no keep off the grass signs
will be maintained for the space where
the youngsters may go and play. In con.
nection with this mission Mr.. and Mrs.
DeLong have been maintaining for year
day nursery where working mothers
can have their babies cared for at the
minimum cost Of cents per day while
they are away at their work.
Rev. Mr.. belong takes the same view
Of hunanity's problems that Rev. Mr..
sav!dgs OF Omaha does. and both are
working along the same lines but in