135 years ago

aug. 26, 1887

Levi Billings, the owner of Central park, has had a surveyor at work this week laying off the same into town lots, preparatory to putting the property into the market.

The park is no pecuniary profit to the owner in its present shape, and Mr. Billings cannot be expect to let the capital it represents lie idle, yielding him no interest whatever.

People say, and properly, too, that it would be a shame, a public calamity, to cut the park up into lots, and thus forever destroy it as a place of pleasure resort, but who that says this would be willing to hold such property for public use as a mere matter of sentiment?

A general bill was passed, however, allowing townships to invest in public parks, and under this law Centre Township might buy this property and hold it as least until the city could be empowered to purchase it.

If a suitable arrangement could be made with Mr. Billings before he disposes of any lots, the Record would be glad to see it done. Who will move in the matter?

Mr. Kellett, our principal stone furnisher, is developing a fine business. He is shipping piles of stone to Hutchinson, Lyons, Wichita, and other points and can hardly supply the demands. A Rock Island track is being run into the quarries, which will greatly facilitate and benefit the business.

Don’t growl about the cold wave. It is probably the best possible medicine for fever patients.