St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-13
cite indicated in the above diagram is the

:
Lowry proposed TO sell seven blocks OF land
on the flats for $500 a lot, nominal sum.
for park purposes. Mr.. McNair's demise
put an end to the negotiations. but Mr..
Lowry thinks he can induce the McNair
iielrs to carry out tie project. Mr.. McNaiT
had agreed to put in three or four blocks
and Lowry could control certain other
lands, making in all some twenty-five acres
or land. Mr.. Lowry advocated its pur-
chase. 1t had been his idea to make it
A CITY PLAY GROUND,
to be used for play ground for children,
for out door sports of ali kinds. and for an
exposition. He wanted to embellish the
surroundings by planting trees. etc.
Placing the exposition in the center he
thought would be just the proper thing, yet
the exposition gentlemen oppose it as not
suited. All the railways in the city can
run tracks TO the site. and more passengers
can be accommodated than would ever care
to visit the exposition. Mt. Loring un-
qualihedly advocated the Sutherland
scheme.
Mr.. Brackett-But that would not avoid
taxation.
Mr.. Fish-The matter of taxation can
easily be -emedied. The land can be con-
veyed directly to the city and 1t would then
not be taxable.
Mr. Washbum--Supposing the park
board acquires the surrounding territory,
and Mr.. Lowry deeds to the exposition the
site for the building; can the exposition con-
vey TO the park commission the land SO
decided to them?
Il do not see why it cannot be done, I"
replied Mr.. Fish.
Mr.. Washburn then said that where there
is will there is almost always way. We
unfortunately act as trustees for the citizens
who have contributed. and failure at this
time would be humiliation, an absolute
disgrace, which he did not want to face.
If the park commission feels like meeting
the exposition commission there can be
some way found whereby the
TROUBLE CAN BE CoMPAssED.
Perhaps not as has been desired. but he felt
confident that comprise that would prove
satisfactory at last can be arrived at. The
location is not now as central as might be
wished, but in time to come il will be as
central as we could reasonably expect. He
thought the Central park site deal more
desirable, however. He liked the idea of
locating as near park as possible. Had
letter received from very loyal man and
very earnest man, in connection with the
enterprise. The letter was from Z. A.
mission purchase the lands and then have
the legislature ratify the act
DOrilus Morrison wanted TO know If it Is
necessary that the park commission should
have anything to do with the scheme. He
stated that there are lands for sale. Let the
exposition purchase their own lands. and
then, if the park board chooses to condemn
the surrounding territory, well and good.
Mr.. Washburn replied that il was only
because the exposition has not the money
to purchase the site that it has called upon
the board for aid.
Mr.. Morrison had supposed the park
commission had a right to lease a portion of
Central park for exposition purposes. The
exposition gentlemen propose to erect
buildings that will be an ornament to the
city. He took it that it is to be built for all
times. The superintendent of parks had
decided that there can be no objection to
leasing three of four hundred feet of land
in the park for the purpose. Mr.. Morrison
felt sure that Mr.. Lowry would sell the land
and give all the time asked for.
Mr.. Loring explained that Mr.. Lowry did
not own the land up TO Hennepin avenue.
The expos ton would have to purchase the
tract between Lyndale and Hennepin ave-
nues. 1t would probably cost $40, 900 or
$50 600. Mr.. Loring thought Mr. Nor
risOn's proposition was an excellent one.
He suggested that the exposition go on and
purchase the bare site, and then if the park
board can give any help it probably will do
so. A large number of citizens had been to
him and protested against locating the
building on the park grounds, and he felt
like opposing it.
COL. KINGS sCoRN.
Col. King did not regard the question of
a central location as anything of import
ance. He looked with scOrn upon the OBJ
jectiOns raised on that score. He advocated
negotiations between Mr.. Lowry and the
exposition directors. and it would have his
cheerful vote and cooperation in every pos
sible way. If Mr.. Lowry will furnish two
blocks and the commission will join upon a
tacit understanding in acquiring the sur
rounding territory. Mr.. King would give
the project his beartiest support.
Mr.. Sutherland followed in a lengthy ar
gument in favor of locating the site on the
Lowry fats.
Mr.. Morrison advised that a committee
be appointed to negotiate with Mr.. Lowry.
He was of the opinion that the park COM
misSiOners would condemn and ACQUIRE
park ways leading to the lands purchased
from Mr.. Lowry. In that he varied with
Mr.. Sutherland's proposition. Mr.. Suther-
land wanted to acquire at least ten blocks,
Mr.. Lowry reServing two or three blocks in
the center for the exposition.
Col. King moved that committee of
three be appointed to wait upon Mr.. Lowry.
and to report the result at another Joint
meeting.
Col Glenn opposed the proposed site.
He wanted to know if the park commits
sion is willing to help the enterprise; if
they are willing to aid in getting a site
where the subscribers want it. He knew
that the subscribers would not pay up their
subscriptions if it is located i'm the swamp
under the Lowry hill. He did not believe
S15O,0OO can be collected in that
event He said the park board
has the legal right to condemn
lands in any part of the city for park pur-
poses, and they can put any building they
please on the ground. They can condemn
the Nicollet house, and start a menagerie
there if they please. He wanted to see the
building erected not far from Washington
avenue. He would vote for no location
where he feared the people would lose their
money.
The chair was authorized to appoint a
committee to confer with Mr.. Lowry. and
he chose Byron Sutherland, w. S. King
and DOrilus Morrison. The park commits
sion then adjourned. and Mr.. Washburn
appointed the following gentlemen from
the exposition to serve Jointly with the park
committee: A. j. Blethen, NJ. w. Glenn
and S. c. Gale.