St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-20
SALTWATER NEWS.
An Important Meeting of the City
Council--McK Ravine.
Lake and River observation-disclosures
Fairs Other News.
Civ Cou,,ciI.

"A special meeting or the city council was
held yesterday morning to take action ON
taking care of the water which comes
down the McKusick creek. The following
notice has been served on the Water Works
company:
You are hereby notified and required to
remove all distractions from the water
course west of Third street, in what is
known as McKusick creek or ravine and
also to give to the water passing down said
ravine, at all times, free and uninterrupted
course, and room to discharge in it's nat
ural course without over1owing upon pri-
vate property, and to be thence discharged
on public property.
The committee to whom was referred
the matter of the well west of Third street,
reported that they had carefully examined
and considered the matter thus referred,
and found that said well is wholly upon
private property, and was so contracted
there by the Saltwater Water Works COM
pany, on land belonging to itself. Your
committee is Of the opinion that said well
is liable to cave in during heavy
rain storms, and would recommend
that the city clerk be directed to notify
said water company to repair the same and
place it in a safe condition, and also that
for any damage that may result to its prop
erty by means of negligence upon the part
OF said water company to make all needed
repairs. The committee would further re-
port that in their opinion. for affording bet
ter facilities tor carrying away said water,
a culvert should be constructed across
Fourth street through which McKusick's
creek can pass and be thence conducted into
square culvert to be built by the parties
owning the lots, and thence into said well,
and so across Third Street.
Aid. Covell moved that the engineer pre-
sent plans and estimates for culvert on
Fourth street, with suitable wings, and also
an estimate of land necessary to be Occu-
pied for said wings, and report as soon as
possible.
On motion it was resolved that the city
attorney be directed to institute such legal
proceedings as he may deem advisable to
cause distractions in the natural water
course west of Third street, known as Nc
Kusick's ravine, to be removed, and to
place said water course in it's natural cOndi-
ton as nearly as may be, in order to enable
the same to carry all water that may at
any time accumulate in the same without
overlooking or being discharged On the pub
lie streets. The council then adjourned.
CONFERENCE MEETING.
Before the council met they had con-
ference with the following members of the
Water Works company's board: Isaac
Staples, F. NJ. Prince, E. L. HOspes, R.
F. Hersey, r. w. Kerr, secretary, and 81.
III. Harrison, superintendent. Aid. Lyons.
in addition to the members of the council
given above, was also present. They pro-
ceeded to view the position of affairs at the
creek They found the well all right, but
the waterway was filled with sand, brought
down from the sides of the ravine. They
went west to Fourth street, when the
Water Works company offered the city
council the right to construct just such
works as they wished to take off the water,
and to change the well to suit themselves.
They said that no water came from
McKusick's lake, which was now lower
than for years, owing to Isaac Staples hav-
ing opened ditch to Browns creek through
his meadows at the lake. Water had been
turned on yesterday for the purpose of
flushing the creek and getting the sand out
of the open ditch near the well. The
aldermen present could not adopt the plan
proposed, as they had no right to enter upon
private property and construct such works
as were required, and afterward lay them
selves liable should damages occur. They
would take care of the water under Fourth
street when it should be opened. They
could not reach any agreement, and went to
the city hall, inviting the members of the
Water Works company to meet them, but
this they would not do, when the council
held it's meeting with the above result.
It looks as if there would be considerable
litigation in this case, as the council will
not shoulder the responsibility for damages
which may accrue to private parties. The
well is acknowledged to be of sufficient size
for four times the quantity of water which
comes down the ravine, but it's construction
is faulty The council will do all they can
to have the water course lowered so that no
danger from foods may be feared.