St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-07-22
PARKS AND PURE WATER.
The Purchase Of Inglewood and Glen
wood Springs Considered.
TWO-FOLD OBJECT AT STAKE
Pure Drinking Water and Most De-
sirable Addition to the Park
System.

The proposed purchase of the tract of
forty acres or more surrounding and in
Guiding Inglewood and Glenwood
springs, for the two-fold object of
adding this charming spot to the
system of parks and park-ways, the
possibilities of which are but just be-
ginning to dawn upon the general pub
lie. and of securing a supply of
pure, wholesome drinking water
is attracting a great deal of attention
from those who take an interest in the
city's welfare. 1t is plain now that the
project is going to meet with opposition,
which will delay if it does not
prevent the purchase. The argument
that the land should be secured for
park board has neither funds nor bonds
to sell, and secondly, that the present
members of the board decline very
properly to assume burden for their
successors to carry, as their terms of
office expire this fall. The need of
water supply is met by the reply
that as soon as the North Mime
apolis pumping station is completed
no fault will be found with the MissiS-
sippi water. The conference of the
council committee and the park board
this coming weeks not likely to amount
to more than desultory action. Still,
the subject is we'll worth investigation.
In the first place as to the desirability
of the tract
FOR PARK PURPOSES.
Perhaps the best authority that can
be quoted upon this subject is the Opin-
ion of Prof. Ell. W. S. Cleveland, the
veteran landscape gardener, whose
good taste, sound judgment and disin-
terestedness is admitted. Speaking of
the subject, he says:
IAN hours inspection in the area
of the peighborhood of these springs
satisfies me that no place in the neigh
borhood of the city, except the vicinity
Of Minnehaha Falls, was so well adapted
by nature for the construction of
a park, comprising rarely attractive
typographical featureS-while the dis
lance from the center of business was
less than half that to Minnehaha, and
the apparently:unlimited capacity of the
springs, which guSh from the hillsides
at varions points over widely extended
area, seem to offer every possible oppor-
tunity for the ornamental use of
water. The natural features which
adapt the tract for use as a park are the
beautiful, varied surface, comprising
hills and valleys of graceful form,
able without heavy expense in grading;
the presence of large bodies of very fine
native forest, and the abundant supply
of the purest water from the springs.
Now, to judge from appearances, the
body of water from which these
springs are supported must be sufficient
for the whole city. / have not been
able, after diligent inquiry, to ascertain
that any accurate examination and eSti-
mate of their capacity has been made;
but surely, in view of such a supply
being available, it is well worthy of in
vestigation. | can testify to the excel
lence of the water, and also to the fact
Though cannot of course prove that it
is owing to the water) that not the
slightest symptoms of winter cholera
have been experienced by any member
of my family during the period of its
prevalence here, though it has been all
around us in every family we have
known"
AS to the purity of the water from Or
ganic matter that is admitted by all who
have drank it. Next comes the ques-
ton as to the
VOLUME OF THE SUPPLY
and the probability of the contamina-
ton of the water when the vicinity of
the springs shall become thickly popu-
ldGCu 40 W luUIOl pOiuO-lu 10 dllO-
gether probable that the springs are
supplied by Lake MinnetOnka,
as is shown by the fuctua-
tons at times when water
in the lake is high or low, whether the
springs would be sufficient to supply
the entire city is problematicaI.
The water now comes from
only fifteen feet below the sur
face, and gushes through a five-inch
pipe like mill race. Probably if
deep we'll should be sunk the supply
would increase in proportion and
would be abundantly sufficient.
The distribution of the water
throughout the city would involve
practically another system of
water works, although comparatively
an Inexpensive one. The pipe would be-
small, of course, and the same
mains could be used. The city of
Rochester, N. Y, has twos such dis
tinct systems-one for general purposes
and the other for furnishing drinking
water. To allow a private corporation
franchise for using the streets to
convey the water to the city and
distribute it is too hazardous to be con-
sidered, but the feasibility and advisa-
bility of the city purchasing the springs
and furnishing the water supply at the
cost of operation, is matter worthy of
series consideration.