St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-14
THE COMMISSION is SORRY
II Cannot Aid the ExpOsitiOn--Tht
East side Site Inevitable.

II Cannot Aid the ExpOsitiOn--The
East side Site Inevitable.
One move nearer the selection Of the
Winslow house site for the exposition was
made yesterday; another mOve-probably
the neXt-will result in its selection and the
project may then boom ahead. While this
uncertainty lasts, nothing will be one, and
not only will new subscribers hesitate, but
the money will come in slowly on the first
ten-per-cent. call The Winslow site is not
the best, but it is the best obtainable, and
will cost nothing, therefore, the sentiment
is rapidly gaining ground With the board, as
it has on the outside, that the sooner, now.
it is selected the better it will be for all con-
cened. Gen. Washburn still opposes it
and is accustomed to having his own way,
but this time he must graciously and grace
fully go with the majority.
Yesterdays CONFERENCE
had the result of convincing the committee
that the park commissioners were in the same
position as the council. utterly unable to do
anything but offer good will. The special
committee from the commission and the
committee of the directorate met yesterday
morning at the headquarters several inter
eSted outsiders being present. Mr.. Lowry
was present and made his proposition.
He said he had had an understand
ing with the late w. w. McNair on
devoting certain lands in GrOveland addi-
ton to park purposes. He had also had
some talk with Mai. Bassett, who owned
some land there, but he wanted it under
stood that no inducements would be offered
to the exposition except on the condition
that if the land in question should be taken
for park purposes, Maj. Bassett, the Nc
L. Inc a.,
put low price on tho ground for such pur-
poses. He believed that he had scheme
by which, for a reasonable cost, the EXPOSE
ton site and also Spring lake, larger and
prettier body of wafer than JOhnsOn's lake,
to be practically donated, wise addition to
the park system could be made. But he
wanted TO be assured by the park com
mission and the council that they would at
once undertake the necessary legislation.
The ground proposed would contain not less
than twenty-five acres.
The bounds of the first proposed plat
would be- Commencing at Hennepin, down
Ontario street las it would be eXtended) to
Fremont and thence around Spring lake,
thence to Superior street, and along Su-
perior to Twenty-trst street, thence across
to Nineland place. and so on TO Hennepn.
This piece would contain about sixty acres.
1 ne SMALLEST tdCG NOlii DtSlll db ntIl-
nepin and Erie street, thence to Twenty
first street, thence to Superior, and on to
Hennepin by way of Vineland place. This
would contain twenty-five acres, and would
cost about $50, 600. The land lying next
to Hennepin is. understood TO be held at
about $50. 900.
Maj. Bassett spoke briefly in the same
line, and Mr.. Lowry suggested the land
might be secured until the legislature could
grant the necessary powers TO the park
commission, and several gentlemen volun-
teered to go in with twenty to guarantee
the interest. at per cent, on the present
valuation of the ground. they to lose the
money in case of failure to secure the pro-
posed legislation.
AGAIN A HALT
was made, Mr.. LOrlng. Col. King and Mr..
Morrison agreeing that the park commits
sion could not be bound to secure the re-
manning ground for park purposes. Then
the unsuitableness of the site forced itself
forward and it was agreed that unless the
park commission could make sure of all of
the larger territory described by Mr.. Loring
it would be useless to think of locating the
exposition there. Messrs Sutherland and
LOring maintained the commission had not
money enough in sight to purchase the
tract and was therefore tied up. Mr.. Gale
objected to the location under the circum-
stances, holding that while he believed the
city would ultimately take the ground for a
park, the uncertainty was too great to ad-
nit of putting the exposition there now.
Mr.. Loring and Mr.. Morrison each favor
ably referred to the WinslOw site as the best
under the circumstances. Mr.. Lowry made
a point and explained himself, when he
said: You all know have not been a sub
scriber to the exposition fund. Let me eX-
plain. l foresaw this trouble. ] knew from
experience with other eXpOstionS that
$3.50, 600 was not enough even for a build
ing. l did not want to be put where l
might have to shoulder more than l was
able, in order to prevent failure. If the
scheme near Central park will not work, |
see no way except for the directors to adopt
some such site as that proposed on the East
side, and | will give as much as anybody
toward the exposition when the site is
settled. If the question of sufficient bridges
is well settled, l think the Winslow house
site would be a good one. That site is very
commanding"
NOW THE WINSL0W.
AS it became apparent nothing could be
done the conference ended and the gentle
men separated. The feeling has now be-
come almost general that the Winslow
house site will go through at the next meet
ing and that the sooner it does so the better
for all concerned. The present uncertainty
is extremely detrimental and should be
ended at the earliest opportunity.