St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-02
A PARK AT MINNEHAHA.
The Pledge Given for Its Loca-
ton Some Years Ago.

The Pledge Given for Its Loca-
ton Some Years Ago.
"a great deal has been said and done
during the past five years." said Gen.
c. c. Andrews yesterday, towards pro-
curing a public park on the banks of
the Mississippi river, about opposite
Minnehaha falls, but as yet no such
park has been secured. The ground is
there handsomely wooded, and the
scenery is picturesque, both from the
elevation of the banks and the views
afforded of the river and its Islands.
The great interest which is always con-
nected with the Mississippi river makes
the place very attractive, and especially
so to strangers. On its own intrinsic
merits. and without opposing in the
slightest the well-recogniZe6 claims OF
other localities, l would say decidedly
that one of the parks should be there
located.
"But there are other very strong rea-
sons for the location of such park.
When. over four years ago, various
cities in the state were warmly compel
ing for the site of the soldiers home. it
was thought it might be secured near
st. Paul and Minneapolis, If the TWO
cities would agree upon site. To pro-
mote such agreement action was first
taken by q joint committee of eX-
volunteers of the two cities. They spent
a whole day in looking over the ground,
and would have selected a site on the
st. Paul side of the river had it been ac-
ceSsible TO railway; but as it was not,
they agreed upon site on the Mlnneap-
oils side, near Minnehaha falls. This
action was ratified by large meeting
IL Dot1ls
also strongly ratified by the chamber
of commerce of st. Paul, which on
the goth day of June, 1887, after full con-
Sideration and discussion adopted res
olutiOn recommending the location of as
large park as practicable Oh the bank
of the Mississippi, opposite Mlnnehaha
falls, partly to promote the location of
the soldiers home at Mnnehaha. The
project was also supported by the press
of the city. Relying apparently on the
pledge which a representative body
like the chamber of commerce OF
st. Paul had given the matter, the
authorities of Mime apolis. through
their mayor, the very next day offered
to donate to the state fifty acres at Min
nehaha falls as a site for the soldiers
home Mayor Ames concluded the offer
with these words: If the proposition
is accepted, feel authorized III stating
that the SAID grOu nds will be connected
with the present park systems of Min
neapolis and st. Paul in such manner
as 10 make it the most attractive and
beautiful spot in this state
The trustees of the soldiers home
had many meetings before they agreed
upon a site. The contest was very
earnest. There were nInety-nine bal
lots before the site was agreed upon.
Capt. Henry A. Castle, chairman of the
board of trustees, represented the wishes
of this city in voting for and effectively
supporting the Minnehaha site. He re-
peatedly assured his colleagues on the
board that il that site should be adopted
for the home the grounds would ulti-
mately be connected with park on the
st. Paul side of the river, and they
finally agreed to the Minnehaha site
with that understanding.
1T is to be hoped that the park,
board will give these facts cOnsidera-
ton and select park as near to Mime
haha as practicable. and with view to
having it ultimately enlarged and con-
nected with the grounds of the soldiers
home. How can we expect to make
much progress in uniting the two cities
If we fail to carry out an understand
ing like the above T'