Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-05-21
Peculiar Circumstance
Interfered Somewhat !
With Plans 4
jim HART IS AUTHOR
About Fifty Representa-
tive Citizens Attended
Meeting


sponded' last night to the summon.
issued in the simple banner adornine
Miss Sophie Walton's prancing pony
calling on them to be at the Elks
club at 8 o'clock last night and after
discussions and Secretary Jim Hart
had been unveiled the meeting unani.
mously and enthusiastically adopted
his plan for the Improvement of Pa.
latka's nine-block city park site.
Mayor Steen presided and told of a
conference at which it was decided to
inform the gathering that not less
than 200 Palatkans should be expect
ed to father the plan and with one
third of the number present DR..
Steen stated the men behind the plan
thought it best not to divulge it, but
to ask those present to meet again
and to bring others with them. The
mayors assurances of the worthiness
of the plan were supplemented by
Jules McCrocklin. Jack Randolph and
Jim Hart. IN
| H. E. Merryday, W. P. Dineen, E.
lWas Elliott, E. W. Warren and 9TH
era Voiced a prevailing sentiment
that those lin attendance were. in
good faith and with the mystery at
tendant to the meeting their opinion
was that curiosity would not keep;
At this juncture Goode NJ. Guerry of
fered a motion that carried provid-
ing that if the proposers were so op-
! timistic of the general approval of
their scheme that the mayor appoint
committee of six from the meeting
to whom the plan was to be divulged
and if they unanimously reported
favorable then the meeting would
adjourn to meet again with 200 pres
ent. DR.. Steen appointed on the
committee of six H. M. Fearnside,
Warner Hamm, E. w. Elliott, H. F.
Lecks, J. V. Walton and Rev. Guy
Fraser, and it was remarked that
doubt was plainly written on more
than one face as they retired to hear
Mr.. Hart tell his story.
Within five minutes the committee
returned with faces wreathed in
smiles and to man heartily approx
ed the plan which, it developed, the
six requested the mayor to divulge,
as it "was too good to keep"
The Plan Is UnfOlded.
Selling upon the advantages, from
publicity viewpoint, of the anony-
nous letters said to be amusing and
annoying Palatkans, Secretary Hart
drafted the "white horse and rider
letter that $50 Palatkans found inI
their postoffice boxes last week.
Taking City Engineer Randolph into
his confidence a careful survey was
made of the best blocks of the city's
park site with the conclusion that
walks, drives, clearing of palmetto
and ravine, cutting out small trees
and their use in constructing park
benches, rustic seats around large
trees, and building rustic bridge !!
over the ravine by Boy Scouts under
the direction of Captain Randolph |
would cost about $1,000. The plan,
therefore, was devised to get 200
citizens to contribute S. each that
Palatka might Immediately have use
IF the land which many, Mayor Steen
said, considered worthless because
they had never been able to get
into it.
Immediately that the . proposition
was detailed the chairman, 1t was
noted. was overwhelmed with calls
,or recognition from the floor. H..
.. Merryday and w. P. Dineen en-
,aeed in a debate as to who could
more enthusiastically commend the
scheme, the ribbon finally being
,warded by Lawyer Merryday to
SQUIRE Dineen, whose motion was vo-
.;ferously carried that whoever was
.esponsible for such a gathering and
movement with such laudable pur-
,ose be voted the. thanks of the meet
ng.
All Boosted the PfaR.
Judee ]. v. Walton, rising to the
,ccasion, related his interest and
ICnntinned nm PaRe 81