South Bend news-times., 1915-07-19
PARK BOARD May
APPLY TO STATE
EIbeI Says Body Must Have
Money to Make Improve
mentS Now Under Way.

eff the city attorney and members
OF the city council persist in the stand
that no further appropriations Of any
sort are granted the board of park
commissioners outside. Of the boards
present source OF revenue. the nine
cent tax levy" declared Pres't Rich
ard Elbel, OF the board Monday
morning, 'the only resource Of
the board will be to apply 10 the
state legislature for change in the
state law governing such action"
The park board, with thousands Of
dollars in improvements planned and
ready for attention, is ut standstill.
The fact that they are seeking TO
place before the council a forestry
ordinance, providing for a forester,
expenses accrued through the atten-
tiOn the trees OF the city require, is
indicative, according to Pres't Elbel,
that they are literally up against it,
in the matter OF finding the work
which has been started in this and
preceding administrations.
The forestry ordinance has been a
pet theory of the park board since
its first administration in this city.
Mayor Keller this year has promised
10 see the matter through, even TO
appearing before the council TO make
a talk in its behalf The ordinance
viii mean an expense TO the city OF
about $1,000 which If 1t is considered
as an appropriation. may never come
To a successful elimination.
The park board annual revenue,
some $4,000. gained through "a nine
cent tax levy granted it by state laws,
Is shot 10 pieces, according TO Pres
Elbel with four months after 1t has
rested in the boards Golfers. Annual
land contract payments amount to
more than $4,000. This sum is paid
by the park board. The hiring of
labor and other incidental expenses
amounts to $4,000 or more, and this
sum. also. comes from the board S
annual revenue. With the $4,000
more or less, that is left, according
TO Pres't Elbel. the board viii be left
to carry on its work of park improve
ment, pavement of bOuievards and the
perfection of other plans which, he
claims, were granted feasible one year
and derided as senseleSs the next.
-ApprOpriations from the city cOun-
ell are absolutely Imperative said
Elbel. I'VE have only the word of
the officials at present IN power Iof
the declarations which have been CIR
culated concerning the smallness oil
our work We have to have the
money or we would not ask il. We
have been granted minor appropria-
tions before why should they be cut
off now, at a time we need them the
most %
The park board is asking the city
council TO provide some means Tor
the payments which annually come
from the park board fund for the
several land contracts held by the
board Either by special ordinance
or by appropriation. should this BE
done. according to Elbel. so that the
sum thus left in the boards fund
may be used in the furthering of park
and boulevard improvements IN the
city.
on the other hand. members of the
present administration claim that the
mark board is receiving no more than
its lust deserts 1t is held by some
that the board had upon several oc-
casions Bitten of more than II could
chew" when it asked for certain
streets TO be placed under Its Jurls-
diction.
That the park board in taking over
the lands now known as RaVina ana
Ereighbaum parks. did SO in order
that the city could be forced TO pay
the assessments resulting from the IN
staIIation of the Bowman Creek sewer
is another accusation made aSalhs'
the hoard. The donatOrs OF these
properties are frank in admitting thal
they donated the property TO aVolo
the $4,000 in assessments which re-
suited in the assessing for the sewer
However, Mr.. Elbel declared that
whatever value the property mas as
park land was greatly decreased WITH
the removal Of the brook that rar
through the two lands before the
sewer went through.
Mr.. Flbel further declared that the
troubles now existing in the ranks oi
his board and other offices of the city
hall. would not in the least affect the
stand of the board i'm the matter oi
pushing 10 the utmost all park i'm
provement now before the commits
sioners.
I'VE are above politics" said one
member OF the board. I'VE woulC
keen the work of the park board on'
of the city's most important and nee
essary municipal institutions, above
plane whereby II would become EN-
broiled in the political scuftle. w,
are non partisan and expect fair pla,
from every one OF our associates.
I'VE ask fair consideration 10y tn
council The city of South Bend is
naturally beautiful city, and its park
should be OF the finest Its boulevard
are of the finest. and its residents ans
property holders are clamoring for
lengthening of the long string of bou
levards now running through the city
We would do all this work If we ha'