Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-07-13
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

OuAMDUh OI COM MEhOE.
The st. Anthony Sluice-Way Discussed and
the Situation Cussed- Capt. Cutters Bonus
Finally Disposed Of-The Edmund Rice
Park Question Postponed.
At the meeting of the chamber of commerce
yesterday morning the fines for non-attendanc
at the meeting of the 5th instant were re-
mitted.
THE sT. ANTHONY sLUICE-wAY.a
Gen. Banning, for the committee appointed
under Mr.. McCIung's resolutions concerning
the log sluice-way over ths falls of St.Anthony
made verbal report, saying that the facts ap-
pear to be that the government appropriated
$IO,O00 to put In sluice-way, after having ex-
pended x460, 1000 or more to build an apron and
other works for the protection of the falls, this
latter being on the government theory that it
was for the Improvement of navigation,
though incidentally it was for the prot ction
OF private property. This improvement, or
the private property connected with it, was an
obstruction of navigation, and hence the ap-
preparation for the sluice-way. Ofthe $4,000
appropriated $4,000 was expended on the
sluice-way. Meantime the running of logs
over the falls had damaged the apron, and en-
dangered the safety of both the apron and the
sluice-way, wherefore the $4,000 balance of
the BIZ, 600 appropriation was expended in re-
pairing the apron. 1t may be added, that to
let logs over safely they must be conducted to
the sluice-way, and a sheer boom is necessary
to guide them. The two boom companies
have never agreed where this should be placed,
but the Minneapolis boom company have
waited months for the St. Paul boom COM
pany to come and arrange that
matter involving few hundred, perhaps
thousand dollars. It seemed to him that the
st. Paul boom company was trying to use this
body for its private purposes. As to Major
Aliens part in the matter, he had to say that
the Major was ready with his explanation, and
indeed, anxious to make it..
In answer to ". P. Murray, Mr.. Banning
said: '"They have, in improving the naviga-
tion of the falls, fixed it SO no logs can be run
, over"
Mr.. McClung thought the report was un-
satisfactory. He was secretary of the st. Paul
boom company but had never before heard
that the Minneapolis company were waiting for
the st. Paul company to assist them in locat-
ing the sheer boom. Major Allen had discov-
cred that matter in his report of last year and
had said therein that as matter of course these
gentlemen of Minneapolis would have to build
that boom. 1t is they who obstruct the navi-
CATION of the river and who have delayed
opening it.
MIR. Lee moved to refer the subject to the
committee for fuller report in writing.
Mr.. Banning objected. He had reported
certain facts. There was no more money to
expend. The improvement lay between the
two companies. If the St. Paul boom com.
pany has legal rights, let it enforce them. If it
has not, what can this chamber do?
Mr.. Murray wanted what Mr.. Banning had
reported in writing, so that the boom company
or another committee could go to the Minneap-
oils company and say Mr.. BanninR tells US 80
and SO. He considered the question of free
navigation of the river to be matter of pub
lie importance.
Mr.. Driscoll thought this chamber could
afford to be just. His information corrobora-
ted what MIR. Banning had stated. If the mat
ter cannot be settled privately, let the st. Paul
boom company stand upon its legal rights. If
it has none, what can the chamber do?
Mr.. McCluDg, stating that Mr.. Billson, as
a government officer, forbids the use of
the sluice way, remarked that both the
boom and sluice-way were originated in the
chamber. Both were in the line of an effort
to regain lost advantages for st. Paul and it
was proper for the chamber to consider them.
MIR. Lee said it is not the general govern
ment that has closed the rIver at the falls, nor
is it Billson's order. 1t is the Minneapolis
mill company which has shut the Mississippi
river and stopped logs coming over. As mat
ter of right the logs might be turned loose to
come over the falls, and if their coming over in
the free current injured its improvements the
government would make the necessary repairs.
Mr.. Lees motion to recommit was adopted.
THE CUTTER MILL.
After good deal of debate the report of the
committee on manufactures was adopted
which sets forth that all had been done which
the Chamber agreed to do.
THE EDMUND RICE PROPERTY.
Mr.. Banning, for the committee on parks,
reported verbally that the committee had had
two or three meetings with Mr. Rice and had
talked freely about getting part of his estate
for psrk. The committee were agreed that
the grounds are admirably adapted to the
purpose, but thought that the people were
prejudiced 30 that they would oppose even this
meritorious measure. They were inclined to
postpone the subject for some time, until pub
lie opinion regarding it should be developed.
Gen. johnson said that Mr.. Rice would sell
his land for park purposes, ten to forty-two
acres, for 81 ,090 an acre. To a suggestion
that that was a high price Mr.. Rice
had replied that he ceuld have $3 500 an acre
for it by selling it in lots for residence and
business purposes.
The committee was granted further time.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The use of the chambers room for the after
noon was granted to the friends of the Baldwin
school.
An advance copy of new map of Mime.
sofa and Northwest Wisconsin was received
from the st. Paul Book and Stationery com
pany, for which the thanks of the chamber
were voted, and the weekly meeting was then
| adjourned.
n3vnuy of r In