Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-01-30
NUMBER Is.
THE SIXTH WARD.
Dir. McClung Presents Minority Report
on the Levee Question, which is Adopted
Big Talk on the Matter.


The citizens of West st. Paul held another
meeting last night in regard to the levee pro-
ject. There was large attendance. At 8
o'clock President VIM. Berlandi called the
meeting to order, and in the absence of tho
secretary, MIR. W. A. Somers was elected to dis
charge the duties of scribe.
Capt. Starkey, from the committee to confer
with the councils committee on legislation,
etc., submitted report which was published
IN yesterdays GLOBE. He vigorously advooat-
ed the recommendations there set forth.
Mr.. J. W. McClung followed with minority
report given herewith:
The undersigned having been appointed on tho
committee to propose levee improvements for the
sixth ward, respectfully reports that he was never
invited to read or sign the report presented by the
majority OF the committee, and it till it was
puDHshed III the morning papers. He therefore begs
leave to offer the following as minority report:
tirst-He recommends the condemnation of the
entlre leVee front from point above Yoergs brew
cry to point opposite Dayton's bluff to be paid
Tor by an assessment upon all the property benefited
| as is done IN all other street openings.
be graded parsT a T that Fourth
from Bridge street to Ohio street, or some other
point in that vicinity, SO to form continuous
break water by the connection with Fifth street. from
4oerg's or Dawsons quarry to A street.
Inc cost OF the property to be condemned is esti-
mated by the majority report at and the cost
been estimated at about 81 500 These improvements
should be assessed upon the entire property in the
nat, principally and if the board Of public works
should regard the property the hill benefited or
on Inc st. Paul side of the river they have the right
under the general law to distribute the burdens ac
s s6n1 ont The Improvement would efectualy
portion of the fiat where any settlements are being
made or houses built except the narrow strip be-
tween Fourth and Fifth streets and the river AMI the
| principally unoccupied area below and east If A
| street. -
would therefore, settle tree-fourhs of the Ieyee
question at traing cost and avoid the higl grades
high taxes and increase of bonded debt pr opposed by
the majority report.
Third-It is further recommended that the follow
ing joint resolutions be sent to Congress asking for
the dredging OF the Mississippi river sand-bars and
the Improvement of navigation at ST. Paul:
WHEREAS, ~ reason OF sand bars in the Alissis-
sippi river at Saint Paul, Minnesota, the navigation
OF said river is entirely obstructed the west side
OF said liver, making it impossible for steamboats, to
land ana communicate with the carrying trade Of the
rich country adjacent and tributary; and
! WHEREAS, The interests of commerce and agri-
culture require that the river at this great center of
the commerce of the Northwest should be made
available to connect with all the railroad syste Of
the Northwest centering at this point, both sides
| OF the river; and
non OF the river can be removed at small cost by
the use Of the dredge boat used in the removal of
SAND bars from said river: Now be it
| ReS0tUea, By the legislature eff the State of Min.
nesota-That The Senators and Representatives of
this State in Congress be and hereby requested to
procure such legislation as will provide for the
81.
by an appropriation OF $4,000, or so much thereof
as may be needed, or in SUCH manner as to Con-
| grees m7y proper.
This, it is believed, will answer all purposes for
the present, and be good beginning of levee I'M
provements to be followed hereafter az times grow
better and a larger population settles in West st.
| Paul to help bear the burden.
The cultivation of the Soil and the settlement of
the country is annually solving the question of high
water that have heard nothing of late years Of
floods sweeping away Minneapolis bridges or over
turning West St. Paul houses. Every year as
millions of acres are cultivated to absorb the waters
that formerly overfowed, shall hear less and less
OF such floods, the evee question viii become less
important lower and cheaper grades will required
all over the fiat, and ordinary street grading Of the
levee and all other streets will be all that vii be Re-
CURED.
lengthy debate ensued upon this report,
speeches being made by Messrs. McCIung, John
Conley. James Nugent, Isaac st. Peter, Capt.
| Starkey, G. W. H. Bell. Mr.. Winchell, l1r
| Gray, Mr.. Whitney, hir. Erdman. Robert Hare
and others, during which there was a good deal
of criticism of st. Paul, condemnation of an
nexation. etc. The upshot was that the minor
ity report as above adopted, and Messrs
McClung, Wood, Starkey and Conley were ap
pointed committee to present the joint reso
| buttons to the legislature.