South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-05-19
COUNCIL FAVORS
PLAYFIELD MONEY
Expect Ordinance for S3,520
Appropriation to Pass
Mayor Urges Purchase OF
Twenty Acre Tract.

Members Of the Rotary club, Mayor
Kener's recreation committee and the
mayor himself appeared at the meet
ing OF the committee Of the whole OF
the common council last night ana
petitioned that body for an appro-
priation OF $4,000 10 be used in the
equipping of Oliver field for a play
ground for west side children Al
the same time Mayor Keller hied a
message with the committee me- sn
recommended the purchase oil -
acres 81 land from Mrs. Harry Wood
- Mrs = J. Turner 10 be useo
for a play field and possible schooi
This latter tract OF land contains 20
acres and fronts Division ST. SiloI
distance west OF the Singer factory.
The price for the land. ACCORDING %
the MAYOR is S13,500. Only $l.OOO Is
demanded as a first payment, the bal
ance TO be paid in year.
Council i'm Favor.
The council reported favorable on
the requested $500 appropriation TOT
oliver field, and il IS probable that
under suspension Of rules at the next
council meeting the ordinance VIII
be adopted. The majority OF the
committee members also eApI $50 49,
themselves in favor or the purchase
suggested by Mayor Keller.
The inadeQuacy of school tacllues
in the west and southwest portion OF
the city. particularly the sixth Waru'
were emphasized in talks MADE py
mem bers Of the Rotary cluo. a con-
mittee from that organization, win
Horace /. Green as its chairman
urged the passage of the approPIla-
tr.v fnF. oliver field
Rotary Club Desires Field.
'"The aim of the Rotary club, an
international organization OF Whlch
south Bend is a member saId MI;
Green. els TO spread civic price anu
LOYALTY Perhaps that is the reason
tbat mis- club is DESTROYS Of having
this measure passed. Our members
have waited upon J. >. oliver and he
has told us that we could have at our
disposal the tract of land belonging
10 the oliver estate known as the
oliver field
The city takes only the burden OF
taxation and the expense Of hitting
the land for playground purposes
The only condition provided by Mt
oliver is that the city shall release
the land upon the demand OF the es-
tate
"Tn the sixth ward there is not
even n public school house said ID.
l.. Guilfoyle. another member or the
Rotary club In fact there are no
public buildings of any sort There
has been no public money spent eX-
cent for sewers. sidewalks and other
compulsory civic improvements. II
the people OF this ward knew what
they were entitled 10, we would not
have to speak for them. The for
eigners are "a responsibility TO south
BEND and one that should receive the
.f4r-ses e~,-a t-pcf consideration
w. o. Davies, still another member.
read a letter from j. ID. oliver IN
which the latter stated his willing
ness TO allow the field TO he taken
over by the city. G. y. Fassett OF
the Rotary club urged the passage OF
the measure on the ground that the
Younger generation of a city was It's
most valuable asset. and anything
that tended to improve its environ
ment was n necessity
Explains Needs of West SIDE.
BY means of plats, maps and
charts. r -. Barnes. l.. Nj. Hammer
schmidt chairman of the recreation
committee, and Mayor Keller, eX-
planned at an executive session of the
committee held after the meeting in
the council chambers, the needs and
requirements Of the west side. Mr..
Barnes presented a complete map or
oliver field as it viii appear If the
Appropriation IS granted I'dSepeili
fields, a track. basketball and tennis
courts and playground for small
children were details of the plan.
The mayor explained that portion
OF his message to the council which
stated that the future of the city
should he considered in the purchase
OF the WOOds-Turner tract. He stated
that the city was gradually growing
in that direction. and that at some
time in the future "a school building
will be erected upon that site. Mr..
Barnes approved the mayors sugges-
ton.