The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-01-04
Shannon Springs with 40 Acre Tract
Offered to City for
$4,000
ADJOINING LAND is
AVAILABLE FOR FAIR
Advantages of Location are Pointed
Out; Concessions wCuld Pay
Interest on Bonds

Giving $4,000 as the cost price of
the property and offering 1t to the
city at the same figure, setting forth
the advantages presented by proxim-
ity to car line, with water and bath
ing facilities and other improvements
already provided, and pointing to
land nearby which might be secured
for fair purposes, Ben F. Johnson has
submitted a proposition to sell Shan
non Springs to the city for park pur-
poses. His communication to city
officials and the people of Chickasha
is as follows:
To the Mayor and committee investi-
eating locations and sites for the
establishing of permanent park
and fair grounds for the people o.!
Chickasha and Grady county:
| find on my desk a notation ask
ing that / make a statement of facts
concerning Shannon Springs property
and submit same to the mayor and
committee
The reason for my becoming inter-
ested in Shannon Springs, is due to
the fact that for twenty years l have
seen the people of Chickasha depriv-
ed of a free and natural park privi-
lege, something which has been prac'
tically unheard of in town the size
of Chickasha and representing SO
much wealth. While the question of
nark sites has come up at various
times. it has died in the hands of a
committee or in the hands Of some
official for the want of interest and
action. / can well remember some
ten years ago when committee was
selected to look for suitable loca-
ton for park purposes and l we'll re-
member Mr. A. S. Gilkey being a
member of that committee. After
making a general survey he reported
that there was only one natural and
suitable location for park for Chick
asha and that was Shannon Springs.
Now, there might be some people
in Chickasha who have not had an
opportunity of making close sur
yey OF the natural advantages of this
particular spot. l have had, and es-
pecially did ! make close inyestiga.
ton before investing any money in
it's development, and every time that
visit the location, l appreciate more
its natural advantages and value.
want to say that the credit for Chick
asha having Shannon Springs in its
present form, is due to Mr.. w. A.
Hopkins, who has given his time and
money to its development. I have
consulted with him with reference to
disposing of the property to the peo
pie of Chickasha and we have agreed
to let the people of Chickasha have
Shannon Springs if they want 1t, al
cost. We paid $4,000 for the forty
acres of ground and have spent ST.
600 for the present improvements ant
equipment. The land is worth this
amount of money for a chicken ol
dairy ranch. 1t is in keeping will
the values of other lands which have
sold in that locality. The two hun
dred acres of land formerly known
as the w C. Randolph allotment wa
purchased at $3.50 per acre. Sine
paying this price for the land, a larg
price was given for the building o
the street car line through the add
tion and in addition to that, the OWL
ers of that property paid out of thei
own pockets, for the water and sew
erage that runs from the city limit
to the ball park. All of these benz
fits the city will receive without cos
Shannon Springs is not only a
ideal location which furnishes plent
of cool spring water which can b