St. Paul daily globe., 1891-09-07
PERTINENT POINTERS.

The diversity of opinion existing ON the
location of public parks for st. Paul is most
bewildering. Every man has his own par
ticular scheme of public parks and boule-
wards, and will talk by the hour thereon 1t
is largely owing to what may be termed this
state of public unrest that the park commits
sioners have accomplished very little. In
speaking OF the park commissioners i'll this
particular, reference is not made to the pres
ent members, but their predecessors on the
board. The commissioners now in Office
have just about taken in ali the bearings of
their position and are ready to show the
kind OF mettle they are built Of The pre-
ceding commissioners are largely responsible
for the unsatisfactory condition in which the
city now is in regard to its parks and boule
ward. There were some very estimable men
on preceding commissions, but beyond talk
ing about great schemes, condemning good
sized lot or two in various parts of the city
for what they termed parks and rolling
up expenses in the way of salaries
for employees and fat fees for lawyers,
comparatively nothing was accomplished.
In fact, years have been wasted, and now,
when property has to be purchased for
parks the cost is almost double what it might
have been purchased at. 1t is to be regretted
tl1dl III OoStidS 4OI o1tCo lOI pain Pul-
poses, the commissioners have been con-
siderably hampered by citizens, devoid Of
patriotic pride in the improvement of the
city, but with an eye on the almighty dollar.
The schemes of this character attempted TO
thrust down the throats of commissioners
are largely responsible for the delay in Sc
curing parks. 1t is manifestly farcical to tax
the city heavily tor the purchase of few lots
and then call it park, and it is satisfactory
to note that this small park idea is likely to
be relegated to the rear OF the present COM
missioners.
"Nha we want in this city is large park"
remarked CommissionerAberle, ''and we want
it right away There must be no more daily
ing. There has been plenty of talking done;
it Is time to act. i look at the question in
this light: Lake Phalen is admittedly one of
the prettiest places within the city limits. 1t
is easy of access and once park is located
there viii be placed in direct communication
with our electric street car system. The sur
roundings of Lake Phalen are decidedly
favorable for park purposes. especially on
the west side. We want to purchase site
for large park right away. 1 am utterly OPP
posed to considering any sites for small parks
at present. If we ever arr to have large
park, worthy of the city and equal to those
of other cities 1t must be secured now. In
year or so all the available land will be built
upon and then its purchase will be Impracti-
cal. want to go right on with this large
park scheme at Lake Phalen. If property
owners are not willing to dispose of their
land let US condemn what we want. Then
after getting our large park, completed our
system of boulevards, in years to come there
will always be money coming into the treas
ury of the park commissioners, and with that
/ say purchase your small parks If, on the
other hand, you get the small parks first, the
city will never be in position to secure
large one. A large park will be of more bene-
hit to the general mass of the citizens, and
that is, to me. good reason why we should
at once proceed to get one."
+++
Col. Lowry recently gave some interesting
facts to Boston reporter which it would be
we'll for the citizens of st. Paul to read and
inwardly digest According to the city rail-
way magnate, the abolition of the horse car
system and the introduction of the electric
system has been an unprecedented success.
Expenses have been Topped in every direc-
ton, and receipts have run up almost three
fold The net profits of the railway for the
year promise 10 loom up into the millions.
- -
No one will grudge the city railway com
pany, and Mr.. Lowry in particular, proper
return for the twenty millions invested in
the electric street car system of the Twins.
but many will object to being made the
vehicle whereby the profits are outrageously
increased. How is this done? In the first
place the cars running on the most frequent
line are totally inadequate to meet the traffic.
Tage the interurban line. There is not one
train that passes over that line during the
busy portion of the day upon which men, and
in some Instances women are compelled to
stand. The city railway company has been
granted a franchise, under which they agree
to furnish street transit facilities. The value
of that franchise can be imagined when ii is
considered that i'll a few years the owners of
the system will be running Rockefeller.
Gould 6sCo. a close race for the ownership
of the most millions. Is it then, asking too
much that the street railway company be re-
quired to furnish their various lines with
adequate ear service? There is nothing I'M
reasonable in such demand, and we're not
the controllers of the company too grasping
to keep down expenses it would be conceded.
AS long as the city representatives are in
active the pc ople must continue to bear the
inconvenience.
And this thing. if the street car company is
making so much money, Is it not also
reasonable request that on certain linas an
all-night car service should be maintained?
There is absolutely no reason why hourly
cars should not be run on the Interurban
between midnight and o'clock in the morn
ing. The running of such cars may not give
MIR. Lowry 50 per cent profit; it may hardly
pay expenses the first year or so. but in return
for the franchise which the citizens have
foolishly given him freely, without the hope
of even getting anything i'll return without
paying for it. it is not too much to ask that
such concession be granted.