St. Paul daily globe., 1884-08-17
THE PARK COMMISSION.
The Proceedings to Acquire the Sisters
Property Abandoned.
The Matter Of the Sieth Yard Park
Referred Back.

The board OF park commission finally
succeeded in getting another quorum to-
gether for work. The meeting was called to
order in the city council rooms yesterday
afternoon by the president, Chas. M. Loring,
with pretty fair attendance.
A statement from the National Park bank
of New York city was read. 1t exhibited
81, 1880 upon coupons attached to the park
bonds.
Upon motion it was decided to petition the
city council to lay water main in Broadway
from Monroe to Jefferson streets.
The special committee to whom had been
referred the matter, reported in favor of the
purchase of the Children's Home property
for $4,000 the abandonment of the Sisters
and the Mueller & Heinrich property, and
asked to be discharged as to the old Atwater
communication.
The report elected a spirited discussion.
Mayor Pillsbury thought the price of the
property was reasonable, and was better
adaptedbMiature for park than any other
tract in the city that he knew Of 1t is cov-
cred by trees and most admirably located
DR.. Chute explained that the society contem-
plated the erection of a building soon that
would cost from $50, 900 to $4,000. The
purchase of the property would then be en-
tirely impracticable.
President Loring called Commissioner
Morrison to the chair and addressed the
board. He explained that if the report of
the committee is adopted the board would be
holden. He esteemed the property as a
81 sf,rlf - 49,
the recommendation of the committee If
the entire property could be purchased he
might wave his objections. but he was op-
posed from principle to purchasing those val
liable buildings. They are too expensive
The mayor rejoined that the expense not ex-
ceeding $4,000 for a strip two hundred feet
wide which should connect the system, would
be particularly advantageous. The society
had an evident idea that they could get
an extortionate price, and the people did not
think it practicable to acquire the entire
tract. By looking at the map it can be seen
that the best part of the property can be
secured without purchasing the costly
bridges. The strip on the river is most beau
tiful. Commissioner Nimocks wished to
disabuse the majors mind regarding the
width of the tract 1t is only about fifteen
or twenty feet from the bridge-just mar
row driveway. Commissioner Sutherland
did not think it a question whether that par
ticular property was to be purchased, but
whether or not the board is to establish
park in the Sixth ward. The entire property
will cost about 1885, 900. The question is
have we the money. The Sixth ward park is
located where it is surrounded by just the
class Of people who need park 1t is gen
tlemen who keep their horses and carriages
who think the Sixth ward can do without
park.
The president suggested plan taking
narrow strip on the river front. The prop
erty already acquired, comprising twenty
acres and costing S33, 900, had only partially
been paid for. This does not include the
Sisters property, the Sully property and the
Atwater property. He advocated acquiring
property below that in controversy.
1t was finally voted that the mat
ter be referred back to the COM
mittee for further investigation, and
Commissioners Morrison and Pills
bury, G. A., and president Loring were added
to the committee. The board as a whole
doubted the measurement which placed the
area at 20 acres. Commissioner Pillsbury,
j. s., believes there were only fourteen acres
in the aggregate.
Commissioner Switzerland introduced
resolution to abandon the Sisters home
property. He explained that his object in
immediate action laid in the fact that the
board in holding the property was doing the
sisters an injustice. The resolution was
adopted
President Loring stated that many COM
plants had been made because OF the delay
in the Murphy park Improvements. The
commissioners is now ready to prosecute the
work, water mains having been laid to a
convenient distance. The board can now
make water connections.
Mr. Morrison announced that the new
rooms in the block at the corner of Wash
ington and Fifth avenue south, are now
ready for occupancy and it was agreed that
the next meeting should be held there
Bills were ordered paid as follows:
G. W. Smith. S24 10
Frank II. Melton. n.....................2 2O2 SO
Miller Bros. ....................... 43 90
Total 1860 a5