The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1919-09-27
THE ISSUE IN TUESDAY IS
ELECTION.

We take 1t lndt mayor ptl
bins statement should be suftl
eient to satisfy those who desire
a "bill Of particulars" on the
park proposition before casting
their votes next Tuesday. Mr.
Durbin has stated clearly the
position Of the city administration
with reference to the expenditure
of the funds which are sought
and we feel sure that he also
voices the views Of the park
board which will have charge
of the entire matter.
1t is the intention to make any
money that may be voted go Just
as far as possible in carrying out
the general plans that have been
suggested by the Central Park
committee. The members OF the
park board are all men Of I'M
questioned integrity; they are
property owners and citizens OF
Chiekasha and there is no reason
to question their motives.
In carrying out any public i'm
provements or spending any pub
lie money it is necessary that
somebody shall be entrusted with
the duty and responsibility Of act
ing as agents of the citizens and
we believe the great majority OF
the voters will agree that the
men the mayor has selected for
park board are entirely trust
worthy and competent.
Manifestly, it would be impos-
sible for the park board to pro
ceed to acquire sites or to enter
into any contracts before money
is available and for the board to
say in advance that they will pur-
chase any particular tract OF land
would be to tie their hands, rem
dering it impossible for them to
guard the interests OF the
taxpayers when the time comes
for the prospective deals to be
closed. With the field clear for
any purchase the board may find
advantageous to the people, they
will be in a much better position
to save the money for the tax
payers than they would if they
were hampered by pledge to
buy certain sites and were com
pelled to pay any price that
might be demanded. We have the
word of the city officials that no
excessive prices will be paid and
there is no reason to believe that
any public money will be squan-
dered.
The time has come when our
citizens must take a stand, de-
ciding whether Chickasha shall
pursue small town ways or move
up into the class Of progressive
modern cities. If strenuous eff
fort is made to pile up all the
objections which it is possible to
advance against park bonds or
any other public improvements,
it will not be difficult to defeat
the proposition whcih will be
submitted to the people next
week. But if, on the other hand,
we endeavor to think of all the
reasons we can why Chickasha
should have a park and boulevard
system. the result will be quite
different. We have waited many
years to initiate real park
movement and now that we have
an opportunity TO go forward, it
is up to us to choose whether we
shall really do something or de-
lay this very vital improvement
indefinitely.
Mayor Durbin has made very
plain the reasons why the city
shol ID share in the Improvement
OF the boulevard. The interest of
the City as a whole in the college
is a sufficient argument for this
policy if there were no other rea-
son for it. Considered from the
broad viewpoint of public in
ieresi the proposed boulevard is
a community enterprise. as much
so as our waterworks. 1t comes
in the same category as parks
and there is no question that it
will be an asset of inestimable
l - Il