St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-25
SAINT PAUL.
Additional CITY News on Page 8.
ODDS AND ENDS.

There can be no doubt that william
A. Van Slyke retires with pang of re-
greet from the board of park commits
sioners. at is nothing but justice"
quoting Mayor Smith, "to say that Mr..
Van Slyl1e is the father of the park sys-
TEN of the city," He entered the work
at the inception with a zest that assured
ultimate success, and, although certain
citiZens-often, unfortunately, men OF
infiuence-have INSTRUCTED the process
of acquiring the lands and etfecting
their improvement with perslStency
and determination that has threatened
defeat. st. Paul now has over forty
different parks located in the most pic
turesque spots that could be chosen.
These sites were largely selected by
Mr.. Van Slyke. and he has devoted him
self with enthusiasm to the work OF
Identifying the city in this way until 1t
promises soon to rival the larger and
older cities of the East AS member
of the city council, however, Aid. Van
Slyke will undoubtedly keep a jealous
eye on these forty objects OF his PRIDE,
and will contribute all he can in the
way of suggestions and advice to his
late co-members of the board.
II Il
Property owners on st. Anthony Hill
who are affected by the Selby avenue
bridge over the railway tracks are
growing. They say that there was no
petition for the bridge and that they are
to be assessed for something which is
of more benefit to the cable line COM
pany than any others. The Selby ave-
nue. cable extension came up some time
ago. To continue the line out the
avenue bridge was imperative at the
crossing of the tracks, so a bridge to
cost $4,000 was ordered. The agree
ment is that the city is to give $4,000,
the street car company $1,000, and the
remainder, 100000, to be raised by as
SeSSment. Upon the assessments the
board of public works is now
figuring. The proposition IS to
assess Selby avenue lots $50 each,
Dayton and Hague avenue lots, $50
each, and Marshall and Laurel avenue
lots, SIS each. The property for dis
tance of several miles is brought in for
the levy. Laurel avenue parallels SelDy
on the south to Dale street, where there
is an Offset, and the continuation of the
street OH westward is Hague avenue.
Dayton and Marshall avenues, in the
order named, parallel Selby on the
north. Since the briege across the
larly beneficial to the street car com
pany, the property owners affected hold
that the company is putting up a
ridculouSly small proportion of the
cost. The city's being entirely too high
to say nothing of the individual own
erS upon whom the burden falls. This
is the view of the persons assessed, and
per consequence they groWl.
If to-day should be fair and pleasant
the summer Sunday picnicS and excur-
sions will bud. 1t VIII not be long UNI
til those buds shall bloom out in their
varied hues. The park commissioners,
anticipating the approach Of outdoor
lounging. have had the city parks put
In first-class condition, and an abundant
supply of electric lights and seats have
been provided. The people are stand
ing on tip-toe waiting to catch the first
zephyr that shall hearld the approach
of mild weather. Summer toggery is
already waiting for an airing, picnic
and fishing parties have been arranged
all is in readiness awaiting the sane
ton Of the weather bureau to conSum-
mate their arrangements.
NJ. ]. Bell says that st. Paul should
not be Jealous of Duluth because of her
immense real estate transfers. Said he:
duluth is one of our children, and will
never surpass st. Paul. The shipping
by water affords temporary advantage
to Duluth, but the time is coming when
improved railroad facilities will offer
transportation for grain and other CON-
modities at rates so low that water
traffic will not be able to compete with
that on the rail, because the facilities of
loading, unloading and shipping to the
desired point will operate in favor of
railroads. Then Duluth will have but
one side to draw traffic from, whilst st.
Paul is centrally located and will stead
lily increase her annual shippingS."
L. Fl. MaXfeld is firm believer in
the future of st. Paul as the metropolis
of the Northwest. He speaks with
pride of the fact that her shipping bust
ness exceeds 100000, 900 annually.
II II
O. L. Haase regrets now that he cast
his lot in with the Kiefer crowd and
was forced to join the colony of diSap-
pointed place hunters.