War on Chutes Park
Citizens Demand That Its License Be Revoked.
File with the Mayor a Protest Against the Noise and Character of the Place—Police Investigation Made and Report Favorable to Amusement Enterprise Ready to Submit—Complainants Declare They Will Go to the Courts for an Injunction
|
Source: Chicago Daily Tribune, 21 May 1901, pg. 8.
|
Screaming whistles of the miniature engines which have been drawing two miniature trains through the park of the Chicago Water Chute company at Jackson boulevard and South Kedzie avenue; the buzzing of the giant swing that daily sways when the park is open; and the drone of the music boxes on the merry-go-rounds have aroused the citizens who live near the park. They have appealed to the Mayor for a revocation of the license, and should he refuse they will ask for an injunction against the noise from the courts.
Petitions have been circulated in every street in the Thirteenth Ward, and over 5,000 names have been signed to them, though the park will not open until May 25. From mere protests the fight has grown into a political struggle. The citizens don't want the park. They allege it is a nuisance, which the proprietors deny. Complaints are made not only against the music and whistles, but agaisnt yelling men and women who visit the park. The managers say they are willing to abolish some of the alleged evils, but do not want the reforms carried so far as to detract interest in the park.
Afraid of New Novelty.
The trouble started when the company began to build a centrifugal railroad. It is forty-five feet high, passes down an almost perpendicular incline, goes around a thrity-foot circle, the car being upside down and the centrifugal force holding the riders in it. This scheme frightened the neighbors. They dreaded the yelling this novelty would produce. So they organized and sent a petition to the Mayor.
The Mayor met the committee which presented the protest, and discussed the matter with Aldermen Gary and Scully. Then he turned the subject over to the police for investigation. This did not satisfy the committee, which was composed of T.J. Thomas, J.J. Brown, A.J. Petit, James A. Davidson, R.B. Williamson, and the Rev. W.W. Diehl.
Report Will Favor Park.
Then the park owners sent out over 200 petitions among the citizens and allege they have garnered in over 3,500 names of men favorable to the amusement place. They, too, went to the Mayor and he sent them to the police. The police sent out Captain Campbell of the Warren Avenue Station. His report is favorable to the park and the complainants are again alert. Should the Mayor approve the reprot they will try for an injunction.
Several property-owners opposed to the park are city employees, and they were called to a conference with W.E. Francis, President of the company. It is said that since that meeting their fighting spirit has disappeared.
Defends Character of the Place.
"Both sides are waiting for the Mayor," said Mr. Francis yesterday. "I am willing to shut off the music, so far as the merry-go-rounds are concerned, and will stop the whistles, but that does not seem to satisfy the citizens, and they want me to close up. My place is not disorderly, and I have never had a complaint. The Rev. J.W. Fifield of the Warren Avenue Congregational Church was opposed to me, but I have the signatures of two of his trustees and some of the Sunday school teachers. I have seen him, and all he wants now is for me to close on Sunday."
[End of news article]
|
|
Page compiled: 14 April 2002
|
|
|
