St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-28
Commissioner Gibbs, Of Da-
kota, Sizes Up Prospective
Railroad Building.
Mrs.Hegener's Trf@ for Shoot
ing Her Tradueer to Be
Begun To-Day.
Summary Of the Doings OF
One Day Gathered From
All Sources.
WANTED, A PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The Chamber of Commerce Has a
Resolution Before 1t Favoring
One-Fif'ty Years Old.

One-Eifty Years Old.
AT the meeting of the chamber of
commerce yesterday morning 1t was re-
solved that the committee on tranSpor
tation be requested to ascertain from
the St. Paul City Railway company
what appliances are TO be used, both
upon the grip and passenger cars, TO
obviate the danger arising from the
steep grade upon Selby avenue, from
Summit avenue TO Third street, and re-
port whether such appliances are, i'll
their opinion, sufficient Tor the purpose,
and if not, whether any such appliances
can be found.
The report of the committee on
streets. roads and parks in favor of build
ing new span in place of the long span
of the Wabasha street bridge, Which
was adopted nj the last meeting OF the
board, was reeonsidered on motion of
Capt. Berkey. who thought it very
strange that bridge that had been
built for So short 4 time-Only fourteen
NearS-Should be worn out so soon. Mr..
Rundiett explained that the idea was to
make the span wider, and
then, when the other sections were
rebuilt. also make them to match
the long span. In his opinion the new
span will cost from SS1,0GO TO $4,000,
according to the width. The report was
referred back To the committee.
The committee appointed to inquire
into the prospect of securing supply
of natural gas around St. Paul, reported
through ID. X. Moves that the results
were favorable. and that two wells were
being drilled near South st. Paul. The
report represented that the matter was
of tie greatest Importance TO the city.
+. j. Cleminger. who has had a great
many years experience in drilling for
gas, was invited TO address the chamber.
Among other things he said that he re-
garded the chances of obtaining gas III
St. Paul as better than iii any place he
ever knew. The formation here was
similar to that of the gas regions in
PENNSYLVANIA. 1t mad been found at
the depth of 500 feet in South st. Paul
in large supply.
PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMITTEE.
Gene. c. Andrews submitted the fol-
lowing recommendation in favor of
public library. and urged at some length
the importance of the matter. 1t was
sent to the committee on taxes:
Whereas, 1t is eXpedient that COM
modiOuS and fire-pIOof building be
erected for the use of the public library
of the city OF st. Paul; and,
pressed the wish that the money which
has recently been paid into the city
treasury for licenses for the sale of in
toxicating liquors might be appropri-
ated for such building, but there is
doubt about the legality of such an ap-
preparation; and,
Whereas, Chapter LOG of the General
Laws of 1879 authorizes tax levy of
half mill on the dollar for a library
fund, and empowers the directors of the
public library, with the approval of the
city council, to purchase ground and
erect thereon suitable building for the
said library,
We therefore recommend that the
common council of the city of st. Paul
cause a levy of one-half mill on the dol
lar on the taxable valuation or 1888 to
be duly made, and collected in the year
1889 and in each succeeding year for the
library fund till there shall be Il Suffi-
cient amount in said fund, after pay
ment of current library expenses, for a
public library building: that said coun-
ell give Its formal consent for the pur-
chase of a site and the erection of a
library building, and that the work be
forwarded without unreasonable delay.
FIFTY YEARS OLD.
J. Fletcher Williams. secretary of the
Minnesota Historical society, sent il the
following communication, which was
referred to the special committee of
five, consisting of MeSsrs. Blakeley,
Murray, Day, Ludden and Berkey:
On or abOuth the 4th of July next will
occur the tiftieth anniversary of the first
settlement of st. Paul by the white
man in 1888 On that date Pierre Par
rant, a Canadian vOyageur, founded the
future metropolis of this Northwest, by
erecting a cabin within the present linn
its of st. Paul, near what is now known
as Fountain cave" in the vicinity of
the Omaha railroad shops. 1t is fitting
that this semi-centennial of the civic
existence of onr city should be appro-
priately cOmmem0rated by the people of
to-day. From the one little shanty of
rough logs, with bark roof, where our
first settler carried on his Cuisines"
such as it was, men are still living in
our midst who have seen st. Paul grow
to splendid city OF 11S.000 inhabitants
and Sis, 100000 of taxable property. The
occasion of our tiftieth anniversary
should not be passed without some APP
prOpTiate celebration. 1t may be in the
nature of a civic parade: an historical
Grafton by some old settler; tabteaux
illustrative of pioneer days, and other
popular festivities. The exact day of
the first settlement is not known, but it
was about the 1st Of July. As the 4th
of July is our main national holiday, it
might be well to hold the celebration at
that date.