The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-24
FORMAL OFFER OF
| EAST LAKE PARK
TO Be MADE TODAY
Commissioners Deeply In
terested and Is Believed
Want To Buy
IF CITY REFUSES
PARK WILL BE CUT UP
Motion Will Submit Written Offer of
Sale This Morning-Understood
Price Asked Will Be About
$120,O0O

| T. III. Motion, representing the East
formal offer in writing this morning to
the city commission of the proposed pur-
chase by the city of East Lake park
That the formal offer will be reason
able, liberal and very attractive to the
city is the general idea about the mat
ter. Mr.. Motion has not divulged any
| figures as to the proposition, but 1t is
stated the price to be asked will be in
the neighborhood of $4,000 1t is re-
called that the present owners purchased
tho property for smaller sum than that.
At the same time extensive Improvements
| have been made and there has been an
| increase in land values all over the dis
trict. The price to be asked Is $1,000 Ter
acre.
The proposition to sell the amusement
park to the city has been received with
favor among all classes of people. The
arguments advanced that the city should
buy the park are held to be very strong
and appealing. 1t is not believed that
the city will refuse the offer of sale
when trade proposition that appeals to
the commissioners has been offered.
The commissioners have been informed
that unless the park is purchased by the
city the owners will sell the place to real
estate interests that will drain the lake,
fill in the lake bottom and sell the lard
off in lots. That would deprive the city
of the only lake In the immediate dis
trict That the owners intend to sell the
property and that Immediately is well
known to the commissioners.
Motion Acting as Agent
Mr.. Motion, who is acting as agent in
the transaction, said yesterday that he
would regret the sale of the property to
any interests other than the city. He
thinks the city should own a park in thst
neighborhood and should perpetuate the
amusement place for the citizens gener-
ally.
President Culpepper Exum. who is in
charge of the finances of the city, is in
terested In parks, and 1t is believed that
he will favor acquiring other land for
such purposes if it can be done consistent
with the finances of the city. He said in
| speaking of the proposed offer that 1t was
extremely attractive and that COM
mission would give the matter serious
| tnOugnI uuflilB the next week Or 81.
That the city can get the park on credit
and can lease it with a sufficient return
in money to pay all interest charges is a
detail that has attracted serious attention
| from the city and one that will be care
| fully Investigated. Mr.. Motion SAYS that
he can lease the property for a term of
| five years after it is sold to the city or
after 1t is sold to any one. He can do
| that IL the park is retained by the pres
ent owners. However the present owners S
wish to sell and intend to sell.
Commissioners Interested
| The commissioners are all interested in
| the matter, and 1t is believed they want
| to buy 1t.
| TO permit that park to be ruined by
being cut up into lots would be regretted
| here in years to come" said Scudder Ry-
| all, secretary of the commission, "and
| do sincerely hope that the commission
will buy it. The price and terms is a
matter for negotiations, but by all means
retain East Lake an an amusement re-
sort. 1t is well known that we have few
amusements here now, and IL East Lake
| we're to be closed up one might as well
not have home in the city. That park
| is a place of diversion and recreation for
thousands With two car lines now ard
boulevard. to close it up would be a
serious mistake