The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-03-19
E. T. O'Brien Writes of
Accomplishments Here
Thru Foresight.
DESCRIBES THE PLANS
What Town Hopes to Accom-
pIish Is Outlined in Article
in. 'Land of Lakes.

An interesting article on the growth
of Kenosha and plans for the future
with due tribute to two generous
builders of the future, w. II. Afford
and A. H. Lance, is given in the Wis.
consin Land of Lakes magazine, in Its
second issue The article is written
by E. T. O'Brien, and it dwells upor
the school program Of the city, its
city planning achievements and the
development Of public Fairgrounds and
parks.
"Kenosha Sets the Pace" is the title
of the article, and the state is warned
in sub caption watch Kenosha
Grow"
The article reads as follows, includ-
ing the opening editorial note:
(This MAGAZINE promised that in
each issue it would present a story OF
some worthwhile service by Wiscon-
. sin citizens in preserving Wisconsin,
= outdoor assets. This time the story is
from Kenosha, where two notable Wis
consin business leaders, w. H. Afford
and A. H. Lance, through their vision
and generosity, have saved for the fu-
ture Kenosha a wonderful tract OF
= the city. The example of these men
in their exhibition Of public spirit is
Of unreasonable value to Wisconsin
This story was written by one of Wis
consins best known bankers, E. T.
O'Brien, cashier of the United States
Bank of Kenosha, who, before he be-
came a banker in Kenosha, had achiev-
ed success and distinction as news
paper man at Kaukauna and as an edu-
cater at Berlin.)
Kenosha, standing on Lake Michigan
a few miles north of the Illinois line
seems destined to be a great manufac-
turing city and to have prospects of
being one of the best planned cities
in the Union.
Kenosha's manufacturing plants have
grown regularly year by year until
now the value of their products
amounts to 12O,OO0,0OO a year. This
growth, bringing more employees and
increased production, has resulted in
Kenosha's population doubling each
ten years since 1890, the population
then being about 5000.
New School Program.
These rapid developments have tax
ed the capacity of the Libraries, schools
public buildings, streets, parks financ-
es, public service companies and homes
to such an extent that prudent counsel,
few years ago, advised the organiza-
tion, first, OF a school survey commit
tee to plan the finances and erection
of schools for years in advance, and
second, a city planning commission to
zone the city, plan wider and larger
streets, secure parks, Fairgrounds and
driveways, and supervise the plan
ming and development of the many adj
aditions surrounding the city. On busy
days transient auto traffic over Sheri-
dan road through the heart of the city
amounts to 10000 to 10000 cars day
and is evidence of how greatly the
city is taxed by passers through.
The school program has already re-
suited in several large structures, in
Guiding the new $1,500,00 high school
TO accommodate 1900 students. 1t is
located in the civic center facing a
park and directly opposite the new ST.
100000 court house of a harmonious
type of architecture. The city paving
has been extensive and only recently
water altering plant was erected
costing 100000. With these and nu-
merous other improvements it is evil
dent that the city of Kenosha needs
large funds. The total tax raised last
year amounted to over $S,000,00O and
the most cheerful contributors to these
public improvements were our larger
institutions. Even with the large
amount of taxes raised and the
use Of our total bonded indebtedness,
the city is pressed for funds, especial
ly for investment in future improve
anents.
The city planning commission,
working with the city planner, has or
ganized civic center, complete new
street system, parks, Fairgrounds,
municipal golf course, adopted coming
ordinances and has made special eff
fort to secure outlying park areas and
an extensive lake shore driveway for
the benefit of the public. In most
cities the lake shore is owned by veal
thy residents who prevent the public
getting to the lake.
Acquire Lake Shore Area
Among the developments none has
taken hold of the public good will
stA0ASSN IHdH thS IlauS 1OI new anu
enlarged Fairgrounds and driveways
which were planned and adopted by
the city planning commission and coun-
ell. In times past, in American cities,
practically no regard has been given
to the future in securing public natur-
al beauty spots. Kenosha's great ma
tural heritage is of course the lake
shore, and 1t is fortunate that the en-
tire frontage from the center of the
city north for a few miles is adapted
% great natural driveway Two
years AGO the city manager and coun-
Gil began to purchase or secure con-
troll of this lake shore area. The foun-
dation began with Washington Is
land consisting of about SO acres which
We're given to the city together with
100000 for developments by 2. G.
Simmons. On this ground is located
the public beach and bath houses, play
grounds, and free tourist camp. From
this island a half mile north the city
has purchased the riparian rights and
Las next half mile is being built into
Lake avenue park inside the break
water. North of this park, the city
owns the riparian rights thereby join
ing it with the recently purchased
Penneyer tract of 81 acres which ex-
lends half mile along the lake. With
this purchase, the city's finances were
exhausted and the further purchase of
lake shore frontage had to be post