Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-18
Park RecicdIS.

1'UJJG fCCEtC0ttSs
Before going into further details of what
mas been done in the past and what it is
proposed to do in the future to provide St.
Paul with public parks, it Will be interest
ing to note the fact that since the early
time of the first dedication of private land
for such public purposes, as noted above,
! there have been two general revivals of in
terest in the park question. The first took
place III the years 1870, II and rs and the
other may be dated from the time
the present council was organized less than
p year ago, and the appointment of the
park committee, consisting of VIM. A.
Van SIyke, chairman, John O'Connor,
Gates A. johnson and Joseph Robert. The
general conditions were very similar in
both instances, business hourishing, the
city growing rapidly, money plenty and
all enthusiastically hopeful and confident
of the future.
During the years 1870, II and '73, the
city council made some expenditures in the
way of improving Rice park, but in a
small way, and without reference to any
settled plan of the parks then owned by
the city or of adding thereto. In June of
1872, however, the council adopted a reso-
luton, in which it was recited ''that IL or
der that this city may avoid the errors of
other large cities, and begin in time to.
provide for parks, ETC., on a scale suitable
to our future growth and commensurate
with the wants of a crowded city, in a
manner best calculated to utilize our natur-
al advantages and promote the health and
comfort of the citizens, on basis which
engineering skill and experience will ap-
prove, Mr.. II. w. S. Cleveland, landscape
architect of Chicago, be and is hereby in
vited to make a general outline plan for
such improvements, and report to this
council" etc.
In pursuance of this resolution Mr.
Cleveland, after cursory examination of
the topography of the city, made quite a
lengthy report to the council, giving his
views as to the desirability of certain To-
cations for parks, the Importance of pos
sessing them as early as possible in an
economical point of view, their advantages
in a sanitary and humanitarian sense, as
well as to preserve, as far as possible, the
grand and beautiful natural scenery so
marked feature of the city's location.
Much of this report is as applicable to-
day as it was when written, now nearly
eleven years ago, but space will not permit.
few points, however. We reproduce,
first giving short extract from his i'm
pressiOns of the view from an open space
on Summit avenue. He says:
Continuing my ramble 1 came at length to
an unoccupied lot, and gladly availed myself of
the opportunity to reach the edge of the bluff
and gaze upon the glorious view it commands.
| endeavOred to picture to myself the future
character of that scene when the level land below
should be covered by the city, with its streets
and squares alive with busy occupants, the Mis-
sissippi beyond, sweeping its majestic circle at
the base of the opposite hills and the hills
themselves crowned by pretty villa residences
and pleasant suburban villages, and as l REQUIRED
to the fact that no provision had been made for
admitting the public to the enjoyment of this
scene, my first thought was that place should
be secured, however small, which should be free
to all. 1t need not be park, comprising at
fractions within itself, but only place TO stand
or sit and look out upon a scene more extended
and varied and beautiful than is comprised in
any park in the world"
Continuing Mr.. Cleveland said:
''The Wabashaw hill is so commanding and
central position that it offers advantages as a
future site for public buildings which ought
not to be overlooked. 1t comprises a large area
of level land on its summit, above the dust and
noise OF The business streets, on which fine
public building would form conspicuous and
imposing architectural feature in the general
view of the city; and if the whole area was pre-
served as public ground the introduction at any
future day of such building would serve to
add to the beauty and interest of the park, which
would form its appropriate foreground.
1.-The little area known as Rice's park is even
now very ornamental feature in itself, but its
present value is insignificant in comparison with
that 1t Will attain when surrounded by stately
buildings in the center of miles of
city blocks. AS examples of
other appropriate positions for similar reserva-
tons, would suggest the hill in Warren &
Winslows addition, east of Corning's iron
works; another in block 10, in Ashton & Sher-
burne's addition, a square which is left vacant
in the plan of the city, east of Maple street, be-
tween Third and Sixth; and the bluff in front of
Mrs. ThOmpson's residence, extending to point
below the quarries. This last offers an oppor-
tunity which ought not to be neglected, to Sc
cure park and public drive, commanding the
finest views both up and down the river, equal in
some respects to what would have been obtained
above if Summit avenue had been carried along
the bluff as / have elsewhere suggested"
After going over the whole ground of
parks and streets Mr.. Cleveland concludes:
SIT is wise expenditure of public money to
use it in providing places and means of
public entertainment. x 1t is we'll to provide
parks for the rich, appropriate to the wealth
and grandeur of the city, but remember also the
poor, who cannot provide for themselves. =
Do not spend money on artificial decorations,
beyond the wante Of the present generation. 1t
is not yet time for you to aspire to eminence in
the exhibition of such treasures of architectural
and artistic maguifcence as are appropriate to
old and wealthy cities. You have yet too much
work to do, and too many more important uses
for your wealth to warrant lavish expenditure
for jewelry. But it devolves upon you as a sol
emn duty to transmit to your descendants the
wonderful features of beauty, which are Gods
gifts, and which their wealth may well be used
to develop aud adorn. 1t is easy for you to Sc
cure the means which will enable them to do it,
but all their wealth will be of no avail if you
suffer present opportunities to escape. As
gaze upon the scenes of beauty and picturesque
interest which are comprised within the scope of
this magnificent panorama, and watch the shift
ing play of light and shade upon the hills and
valleys, it is developed in the passing hours of
every day, and wrought into new forms by the
passage of every cloud, and picture to myself
the possible effect of the same scenes when this
has become one of the great cities of the world,
/