St. Paul daily globe., 1885-08-30
THE PARK COMMISSION.
President LOring Tenders His Resig-
nation.

IL
,ecretary reported the sale of S1OO,O OoO
worth of park bonds to r. L. Day ~ Co.,
at Boston. and the receipt of S103,7 ~ Tor
The same. A communication from K. 7.
Lupton concerning stone IN Rlvefslde park
was referred to a committee consisting Oh
commissioners Nfmocks, Sutherland and
Barrett. The following communication
from President c. NJ Loring was read by
the secretary:
To rho Honorable Board of Park COmmis-
rfore,s Gentlemen: tender you my resig-
nation As president and member OF the
board OF park commissioners. IN taxing
leave of the association with when L nave
for TWO years been so closely connected IN
work NIL have so much at heart, permit me to
express my thanks for the uniform courtesy
and kindness ! have received in my efforts TO
perform the arduous duties expected OF your
executive officer in carrying out the plans
for the system of parks and parkwayS which
you have adopted, and TO make a few sugges-
tions which l hope may meet with your ap-
proval. I consider the system OF drlVes'
parkways and small parks around our peau-
tiful lakes of the greatest Importance and L
sincerely hope that before the close OF an
other year such a system may be perfected.
Our cid and esteemed fellow citizen, the
Hon. H 4. Welles. says in Il letter written TO
the press in 1888: In our case park prlVl-
leges embracing u broad avenue around CEDAR
Meeting one with the others. winding around
so as to fit the contour of the water line, now
approaching and then leaving the water,
with here and there Il clump of trees or
groves for resting places, would be equal 10
ANYTHING WE KNOW OF
in this country East or West. We could re-
sort to it at a cost not exceeding that of the
great parks of Brooklyn, Philadelphia and
New York by the people of those cities. And
what beauty such park would be! some
twelve miles Of roadway, water scenery in
abundance and variety, boating and nshlng
even. near home, as can hardly be found in
any country
You have made good beginning, but your
system is far from complete and l respect
fully suggest that immediate steps be taken
to secure the land around Lake Of the Isles,
Cedar lake ard Calhoun for drives, with occa-
SiOnal small areas of land for parks adjoining
If the proper effort is made the owners or
property viii donate the land required, as II
has come to be well understood that such i'm
proyemeniS as YOU have made at Lake Har
riet and on Hennepin boulevard largely in
creases the value Of adjoining property. By
securing the borders of the lakes yOU will Sc
cure to the city system of drives and PARK
area unsurpassed 10y any city on the cont
nent, and viii preserve the waters OF the
lakes from the contamination of sewers and
the drainage of stables
Hennepiu boulevard, in my opinion, should
be extended to Twenty-siXth street. and there
connected with boulevard on the shores of
Lake Calhoun. and this with Lake Harriet
boulevard ny q parkway at least 200 feet
wide. Thomas Lowry. Esq. has very gener-
ouSly promised to donate TO the city piece
of land on what is known as Lowrys hill Tor
lookout" and respectfully suggests that
Il parkway be opened from Hennepin boule-
ward via MOuE- Curve avenue. taking in the
lookout and running over the high land TO
Lake of the Isles, through the valley, passing
under the Hastings Dakota railroad TO Lake
Calhoun. A very large portion of the land
reouired is owned by MessrS. McGregOr
Dean. who have already sgniied their will
fngness to donate all that would be required
for parkway. have no doubt other own
ers viii be
EQUALLY GENEROUS
Thaye made recent examinations OF the river
bank between riverside park and Minnehaha
falls and. in my opinion. most beautiful
drive between these points can be Obtained
at comparatively small expense. respect
fully recommend that you take immediate
steps to secure this desirable result. y num-
her of the owners Of property along the banks
of Minnehaha creek have Signihed their IN
tention of making proposition to donate
strip OF land for parkway from the falls OF
Minnehaha to Lake Harriet. If your honor
able body deem it advisable to accept such a
prOpositiOn and TO build q drive from River
side to Minnehaha.a q continuous drive via Hen
nepin boulevard, Mount Curve avenue, Cedar
lake Lake Calhoun. Lake Harriet, hinnehaha,
it would be unsurpassed by any in this coun-
try.
Hon. W. W. McNair has made proposition
to donate park drive of nearly two miles in
length and 100 feet wide through the most
picturesque portion of the lands Immediately
adjacent to the city. \ committee has been
appointed To confer with Mr. McNair as to
the possibility Of having the width Of this
very important drive increased TO 200 feet,
thus making it, NAat the generous donor
wishes ii to be-One OF the most beautiful
bOulevardS in the world. Unfortunately,
Mr. McNair has been too i'll to confer with
the committee. but ! trust he may soon be
restored to health and that your committee
will be able to make a favorable report. 1t
seems to me very impOrtarG that the land
on the east bank of the river lying
west of Prospect street and Immediately op-
posite the Riverside part-, should be secured
while it can be had fC. small amount of
money, and before tie low land is covered
with shapties and the beautiful bank of the
river destroyed. The park commission has
already paid for some of the lands in this
tract, and the majority of the owners are
willing to sell what is required in accordance
with the appraisement OF last year. Unless
the property is secured, it viii become an un-
slightly object from Riverside park
1t seems to be the unanimous wish of the
residents in the vicinity Of Central park that
the property on Willard and Sixteenth streets
be secured as soon as practicable, and eX-
cost. The park is not complete 2without IT,
and you will mn doubt secure it when in your
Judgment it is policy to do SO.
THE CENSUS REPORT
is warning that you are required to lay the
foundations of Il system of parks and park
ways for large city, but feel sure that the
park commission. as now composed, fully re-
alizes the responsibilities resting upon it and
what is expected Of il by an Intelligent and
generous public which has from the first
given you its hearty support. The expert
ence of the past two years has demonstrated
that this city is no exception to the rule, that
the improvements of the parks and boule-
wards creates a demand for an advance in the
price of real estate in their immediate
Vicinity and venture the assertion that in
five years the increased valuation and conse-
uuent increased tax on lands immediately
adjacent to the parks and parkways OF this
city will more than pay the interest on their
cost. respectfully recommend that at the
next session of the legislature you again
apply for an amendment to the park act,
which shall increase the powers OF the COM
mission. giving them police control over the
parks and pathways and the care OF the
trees on the streets of the city.
One of the greatest attractions to strangers
are the trees in the older portion of the city,
and they are a source of comfort and pleasure
TO our citizens, yet they are being wantonly
destroyed and no one in authority takes IN
terest enough in them to protect them. At
the present rate Of destruction but few
years VIII have passed when there will be no
beautifully shaded streets in Minneapolis.
The report closed by congratulating the
commission on its selection of an architect
and superintendent and spoke of Mr. Lor-
ing's regret at feeling obliged to tender his
resignation.
A SURPRISE.
The resignation Of Mr.. Ioring was an nm
I'll 7 I