St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1914-04-03
More About Parks

lOcaJlOnS 1Or Jne Guy OF OJ.
Johns will be voted on at that
election, and as feel that the
question of park locations is one
regarding which all should be
interested and informed. | want
to give the voters of st. Johns
such assistance as | can that will
aid them in casting an intelligent
vote.
have read the Committees
report of March Goth on the sub
ject of parks for st. Johns. and
as that report advises every vot-
er to make a visit to the various
tracts that have been offered for
park sites, | have followed the
suggestion.
| want to call particular atten-
tion to the tract called the Ca
Piles Tract, which is one that has
been offered for a park site, fac
ing on Dawson street, and !
want TO call the attention of the
voters to the fact that this tract
lies considerably below grade,
and in addition to the high price
which the city will be compelled
TO pay for the same in case it
should be selected by the voters,
at least $1,000 will be required
to fill in the tract to the proper
grade, and in comparing this
with the neighbOrinp tract.
which has been offered for park
site. the Jaeger tract. il com
pares very unfavorably, as the
Jaeger tract is at least two feet
above grade. which will give itI
proper drainage and afford am
pie opportunity for sloping pur-
poses. and thereby add beauty
TO il without much expense, and
the Jaeger tract also has quite a |
number Of fine trees on it. which !
could be left and utilized for
beautifying purposes.
] have aso been informed that |
the owners of the Caples tract !
have been conducting a vigorous |
campaign. during which she has !
circulated literature from house !
10 house, advocating what she
calls a centrally located park"
meaning by this the purchase of
the Caples tract and also of the
Jaeger tract, presume. joining
them in one park site. and by so
doing, defeat the selection of
park sites in other parts Of ST.
Johns.
While have no objection TO
the selection Of the Jaeger tract
for park purposes. ! do believe
there is good reason for objec-
tion 10 the selection of the Ca.
Piles tract. and joining the two,
and having only one park in the
city Of st. Johns.
From my Investigations. and
from what | have learned Of |
others who have been interested |
in this question. the Catlin tract !
should not be overlooked by the |
voters of this city. and the Cat. |
lin tract chosen in preference for
the Caples tract; will need no
filling in, aud has at the present |
time beautiful trees growing
on il, thus avoiding a great deal |
of expense in the planting OF
trees, and il has a view surpass-
ing any park site in the city of
st. Johns. and even surprising |
any view that can be obtained |
from any park in the city of
Portland. Oregon; and while. as
| have said before. have no Oh.
lection to the Jaeger tract being
selected for a park site. as be-
lieve the public IN that c0mmu |
nifty are entitled TO one, / must |
emphatically state that / believe
the people in North st. Johns
are also entitled 90 a park site,
and that the Catlin tract is the
one above all others that should !
be chosen for that purpose.
| also want 10 say from my I'M
yestigation that | think that the
people in East st. Johns are en-
titled 20 a park, and that the
Cook tract would be a very good
choice for that purpose. and
should not be overlooked by the
voters. as il is offered for rea-
sonble price; il is well situated
for park purposes, and should he
considered as far superior 10 the
Caples tract.
| have further ascertained that i
the cost of buying and maintain |
ing three parks in the city of St S
Johns that is TO say, the Catlin
tract, the Jaeger tract and the z
Cook tract would not exceed \
the sum of 45c per annum 10 :
each property owner and | feel
that the city of ST. Johns is go-
ing TO be one of such size that
t will certainly need three parks
IN a very few years to come. il \
I is not by some considered TO j
need them now, and the expert
,nce OF all cities that have had
he growth that ST. Johns is (
laving, and is going to have.
has been that in their infancy
hey have been short sighted i'm
he selection of park sites, have 4
,een satisfied with only one in Y
he central part of the town,
which has brought about the on.
one result; that is, as the
ears go on and the city grows 81