St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-29
ILLUMINATION ITEMS.

Work was commenced yesterday by the
city engineer in putting up the plant for the
illumination of Third street during Fair
week. and the ''blaze of glory will each
evening, commencing Sept. Z, for one week.
delight the eyes of the citizens of St Paul,
and the multitude who will flock TO the city
to attend the Fair and participate in the
pleasures of the week.
SIS
A number of conflicting reports have been
published by the evening papers as to
whether the illumination will take place or
not. The facts of the affair are that the
special fund which has formerly paid for the
Examinations is exhausted, and as it was of
vital interest to every one in ST. Paul that the
attractions of the Third street decorations in
gas and electricity should be erected, a reso-
luton was passed by the council appropriat-
ing the expenditure of So, 500 for the work, to
come out of the street lighting fund.
SIS
On investigation it was found that the fund
was all appropriated for lighting the streets,
and Comptroller Ponthan, in duty bound,
notified Mr.. Van Slyke, the chairman of the
special committee, that he could notsign any
vouchers presented upon the lighting fund
other than for the actual maintenance of the
street lighting system. The position was a
serious one, but the authorities were equal to
the emergency. AS announced i'll the
GLOBE, a conference took place in the may
or's Office on Thursday, nearly all the city
officials being present, including many
members of the common council. 1t was the
unanimous sense of the meeting that the
Examinations must be put up at once as the
time was very brief in which to erect the
plant and that money must be provided for
the purpose. The charter was carefully gone
over, and City Attorney LAWYER gave his
opinion that it would be perfectly legal for
the council to vote to the mayor sufficient
money as a contingent fund to pay Tor the
Examinations The matter was settled and
the council will pass the proper resolution
voting the requisite money as a contingent
fund.
In speaking of the question yesterday a
prominent city Official said: THE city could
not allow the Fair week to pass and not have
the Examinations. Our sister city has the at
traction of the Exposition, and will also
illuminate the streets. If st. Paul did not
have the display on Third street the loss
would be serious one, for people would
not come and stay in st. Paul just to see the
Fair. l think that at the present time, when
economy has to be exercised in all city de
partments, and we have not even the means
to run our police and fire departments up to
a proper standard, that the leading citizens
should come forward and donate the money
for the Nominations. Minneapolis has a
guarantee fund of S1C3, 900 for her Exposition
of which the city railroad company has
pledged itself for $4,000. Now ST. Paul has
done more for Mr.. Lowry than Minneapolis,
and yet he does not come forward and offer
any assistance to st. Paul for the ilIumina-
lions. 1t is the same with the railroad COM
panies, the hotels and the large stores i'll this
city. They are the ones who receive the lions
share of the money spent in st. Paul on ac-
count of the attractions OF the Examinations
during Fair week. Wecan not deny that the
very men who should exert themselves for
the benefit of the city will do nothing what
ever unless they are assured of receiving $40
for every 81 they expend. If, however, the
city authorities do anything for the benefit
of the city these croakers get together and
denounce our extravaganza If these peo-
pie would stop talking, and as Deacon Tidd
says in The Midnight Bell BE little
practical the results attained would be val
table,