16 IIISTOKY OF THE 



than twice the amount offered by the park commis- 

 sioners, when he was notified by the city solicitor that 

 he could keep him out of the money one year at least, 

 threatening to apply for a stay in arrest of judgment, 

 and file a bill of exceptions, intending thereby to try the 

 case over again, thus forcing the old gentleman to the 

 risk of another trial. This was too much for him, con- 

 sideriuii' the feeble condition of his health and that he 

 was indebted to others nearly the whole amount that 

 was due to him, which he desired to cancel. He was 

 finally pui'suaded to make some concession. At this 

 stage in the proceedings he began to negotiate with the 

 city solicitor and others of the city government, and 

 after much trouble he was compelled to give up the 

 accumulated interest of one year and many thousands 

 of dollars before a settlement could be elfected. 



This is a fair specimen of the treatment to others 

 who had claims againt the city for ])ark lands; and does 

 not the relation of these facts make the ears of all fair- 

 minded men tingle, creating a spirit of just indignation? 

 The writer's experience in the treatment of his own 

 property will be given more in detail, as follows: 



His valuable estate in question lying on Walnut ave- 

 nue, (see park plan of lot ISTo. 17,) contains 170,360 feet, 

 also another large and charming property on Walnut 

 avenue, Glenroad, and Kavenswood Pai-k Circle; the 

 road-ways included 1,192,510 feet, both together con- 

 taining 1,968,870 feet, in which the writer has been 

 directly interested, or held solely in his own right for 

 more than thirty years, but not for sjjeculative pur- 

 poses; and having cut up Monteglade into twenty-two 

 house-lots, awaited the time when the demand for 



