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March 5, 1927 WINNETKA TALK 31 PUBLIC FORUM (Continued from Page 28) At the time wepurchased our property no proposal to make it a park had been made and it had never occurred to us that such a proposal would ever be seriously advanced; in fact, we can not believe that the voters of the township will give it serious consideration now. The project would involve the expendi- ture of half a million dollars of the tax- payers' money. This is more than the cost of all existing parks in the township ; equal to the cost of all school grounds: about the same as the entire bond in- debtedness for the township high school ; more than the entire bonded indebtedness of any village or any school board in the township. Police Protection There has been a question raised as to police protection. This territory is sub- ject to the jurisdiction of the state high- way police. In addition, it is prepos- terous to suppose that anyone having an investment of the size that our group will have would fail to provide for themselves adequate police protection. Of course, this will be done. We feel that the residents of the vil- lages making up New Trier township have failed, generally, to grasp the sig- nificance of the proposed bond issue which is to be voted on in the election of April 5. Aside from the excessive tax burden which would be imposed on all residents of New Trier township by this bond issue (Glencoe, Winnetka, Kenil- worth, Wilmette, and remaining territory) there is a grave question as to the wis- dom of establishing a township park at this place. This land is not poperly lo- cated for general township use. It is certain that it would not be conveniently available to the largest proportion of res- idents of the township. In addition it would present a problem of control that would be serious because of being on the main highway. This fact is thoroughly understood by the Park boards of our villages, who for years have been faced with the problems of protecting the village beaches. What the Village Must Pay Further, we do not believe that the gravity of the tax question involved is understood by residents of the villages making up New Trier township. All voters of New Trier township will be asked to pass on the question of whether the township shall issue bonds to the amount of $500,000 to acquire ten acres of land for park purposes. If this bond issue is passed on favorably by the voters it means that the tax must be paid by the residents of all the villages in the township on the basis of tax valuation. On the basis of the latest available tax valuation figures (1925) the following villages would pay-- Glencoe 20% of $500,000. or $100,000. Winnetka 359% of $500.000. or 175.000. Wilmette 319% of $500000. or 155.000. Kenilworth 8% of $500,000. or 40,000. Balance of New Trier township : 6% of $500.000. or $ 30,000. This tax would be divided into twenty equal installments to be paid each year for twenty years, plus interest charges. In addition, the township would have the expense of maintaining the park forever. Contrast the tax which the backers of this bond issue propose asking the resi- dents of New Trier township to pay for this ten acres as against the bonding power and bonds issued by the several villages for the vital purposes of main- taining their school systems and park system : New Trier Township School Districts 1925 Valuations, bonding limits based thereon, and bonded indebtedness out- standing February 3, 1927. Valu- Bonding Village No. ations Limit Glencoe 35 $3,545,604 $177,280 Winnetka 36 6,523,790 326,189 Kenilworth 38 1,574.126 78,706 Wilmette 39 5,302,575 265,128 Outstanding Village February 3. 1927 Glencoe... iovssiinrs $154,500 winnetka 00000000 295,500 Kenilworth ..... Ah 70. 57.000 Wilmette ..........:. 208,000 The Village of Glencoe would be asked to pay $100,000. or over two thirds of the sum now outstanding for its entire school system. The Village of Winnetka would be ask- ed to pay $175,000. or practically 60% of what it now owes for its schools. The Village of Kenilworth would be asked to pay $40.000. or over two-thirds of its present debt for its entire school system. N The Village of Wilmette would be ask- ed to pay $155,000. or three-fourth of the present total indebtedness for its entire school system. There is outstanding against New Trier township for New Trier High school! total bonds of $510,000. The proposed bond issue almost equals that amount. New Trier Township Park Districts 1925 Valuation, bonding limits based thereon, and bonded indebtedness out- standing February, 1927. Valu- Bonding Village No. ations Limit Glencoe 35 $3,591,954 $179,697 'Winnetka 36 6,409,466 320,473 Kenilworth 38 1,479,077 73,953 Wilmette 39 5,400,550 270,027 Outside Area 1,288,356 64,417 Outstanding Village February, 1927 GIenNeoe -. viv svn enn $112,000 Winnetka ....00 .. 153,000 Kenilworth ........... 26,000 Wilmette ...,....... 131,000 The Glencoe share of the proposed bond issue would be $100,000. or almost the amount of its total indebtedness for its entire park system. This statement takes into consideration all of the recent devel- opments in the Glencoe Park system. The Village of Winnetka would be asked to nay $£175.000, or $22,000, more than its total indebtedness for its entire park system. The Village of Kenilworth would be asked to pay $40,000. or $14,000 more than its total indebtedness for its entire park system. The Village of Wilmette would be ask- ed to pay $150,000. or $24,000 more than its total indebtedness for its entire park system. Aa §700,000 pond issue is a larger sum than the indebtedness fer all nn' t"» existing parks in Glencoe, Winnet- ka, Kenilworth and Wilmette combined. We feel it is quite clear from these figures that the voting of this bond issue would throw a tax burden on all of our villages that would be out of all propor- tion to the value of the object intended. It would operate harmfully against the pressing needs for additional taxes of the several public bodies, particularly school boards for buildings and playgrounds. We feel that it is a misguided and harmful proposal. AYRES BoAL MANCEL T. CLARK H. E. EpMONDS N. B. The figures quoted in this state- ment were obtained from the sev- eral treasurers' offices in the different villages. The Park district bonding limits shown are 5% of assessed value and these amounts can only be had by a referendum vote. TAKEN INTO SORORITY Initiation of fourteen pledges of Kappa Kappa Gamma of Northwestern university was held Saturday after- noon, February 26, at the home of Miss Helen Dyche in Evanston. The formal banquet following initiation was given at the North Shore hotel. The initiates are: Elizabeth Boyd, Chicago; Frances Clark, Oak Park; Norma Cook, Evanston; Jean Dalmar, Rogers Park; Jean Duncan, Glencoe; Juliana Holmes, Evanston; . Elizabeth Jaeger, Hyde Park; Evelyn Johnson, Milwaukee; Margaret Knight, Evans- ton; Katherine Metzgar, Evanston; Margaret Sidle, Van Wert, Ohio; Elizabeth Sweet, Kenilworth; Marjorie Webster, Evanston; and Frances Wild, Chicago. | Edna Dean Baker Attends Superintendents' Meeting Among the north shore educators who are attending the meeting of the Department of Superintendents of the National Education association which is being held in Dallas, Texas, this week, are President Edna Dean Baker of the National Kindergarten and Elementary college, and Miss Harriet Howard, head of the Supervision de- partment. Following the meeting in Dallas Miss Baker will go to Fort Worth, where she will speak before the kindergarten and elementary teachers of the city on "The Solving of Be- havior Problems." Arrangements have been made for the closing of the elementary grades of the public schools on Thursday in order that all the teachers may have an opportunity of hearing this lecture, as the educa- tors there are greatly interested in the study and work Miss Baker has done in this field. A special invitation is also being extended to elementary Sunday school teachers of Fort Worth Mrs. Isadore M. Portis of 822 Tower road, will return from her trip to Flor- ida at the latter part of this week. AFTERNOON TEA Where Expert Delightful Service It just makes one's mouth water to read Surroundings ] fectly balanced hot roll An important part Of perfectly balanced menu--hot rolls, 0 of every meal is the service. Hot food served HOT. Cold food served COLD. THE "We'll have lunch at The Vera Megowen" Smart Folks Delicious Food Skillfully Prepared fresh well cooked vegetables, most ap- petizing saiads, rich mellow coffee, meats "'done to a turn,"' home-made jams and preserves--goodness what a feast one can order. Plan to shop in the morning and take lunch here--or drop in for afternoon tea or dinner in the evening. And after the show at night there is no nicer place to go than The Vera Megowen. VERA MEGOWEN MIDNITE LUNCH Dine decorative scheme gives added charm. Pottery and china on display is also for sale. Greenleaf 4585 for Reservations WHERE DAVIS STREET CROSSES HINMAN AVENUE EVANSTON