St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-14
THE ATHLETIC PARK.
An Enthusiastic Meeting Held Yester
day Afternoon.
SOME OF THE PROPOSITIONS
A Piece Of Land in West st. Paul
= Favored by a Majority Of
Those Present.

Gentlemen interested in the proposed
athletic park met at Mayor Smiths
office yesterday afternoon to listen to a
report from a committee appointed to
visit and make inquiries as to the lowest
figures for which an eligible piece of
property could be obtained. Mayor
Smith presided, and grouped about him
were Messrs. Paul Martin, James Ahern,
of the municipal court; w. j. c. Ken
yon, passenger agent Of the Burlington
& Northern Railway company; F. ID.
Abbey, j. N. Wilgus, A. M. Lawton,
William Bickel, Jr., Ii. Poupeney, John
S. Barnes, A. M. Thompson and A. G.
Kuby. According to the report of the
committee, the best site that they could
find is situated in West st. Paul in the
square bounded by Eaton avenue, State
and FentOn streets, consisting of lot
$50 feet long by 292 feet inches wide,
the upset price for which is s27, 900. of
which $4,000 must be paid in cash
and the balance in yearly in
stalments for the ensuing three
years at z per cent interest.
Another site examined was on West
Seventh street, several blocks distant
from the street car line, for which $780,
600 was demanded as the lowest figure.
Between the two locations that in West
st. Paul was preferred, principally be-
cause it was more conveniently located,
being within block of the present ball
grounds, easy of access from the State
street depot. and besides the managers
of the motor line agreed TO place suffi-
cient number of cars at the disposal of
patrons OF the park to accommodate all
who wished to attend the games. Ways
and means for putting
THESE GROUNDS IN CONDITION
were discussed at length, the sentiment
of the meeting being that they should
be secured. for even If the park asso-
citation should not be success the prop
erty would be good investment for all
who wished to become. stockholders. 1t
was proposed to organize stock COM
pany on basis of $4,000 as the capital
stock, divided into shares of $50 each,
80 per cent to be paid in at once
to make the first payment, i'm
prove the grounds and erect a
With view to aScertainining the feel
ing of the public in the matter, the fol-
lowing committee was appointed to So
liclt subscriptions and report at the next
meeting: Messrs. F. ID. Abbey, chair
man; ]. n. Wilgus, William Bickel,
Jr.. John S. Barnes, A. NJ. LAYTON, j. J..
Ahern and Judge Cory. If the site sug-
gested by the committee is purchased,
the ground available will make a larger
park than that at Chicago, and will COM
pare favOrably with similar parks
throughout the United States. The in
tentlOn is to have bicycle track and
conyeDiences for cricket, lacrosse and
base ball clubs. Manager Barnes made
an offer of $500 per annum as rental for
his base ball club to play out schedule
games during the coming season, and it
was stated that other athletic organiza-
tons could be secured to use the park,
which would make the revenue at least
$4,000 per annum. By making the as
sessment upon stock subscribed up
wards of $4,000 would be realized, and
this would suffice to make the first pay
mlent and give substantial balance to
be devoted to the work of improvement
Of the grounds.