St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-15
NO PARK BOARD ELECTION.
Adjournment Came Too Quick
Last Side Boulevard and Other
Matters.


Matters.
There is still vacancy in the park
board. 1t was expected that the vacan-
cy would be filled yesterday, but it
wasn't. When regular business had
been disposed of and while three or four
members who were anxious to see the
vacancy filled were consulting in the
outer room Prof. Folwell moved that
the board adjourn. Adjournment was
taken in half trice. Right here law
point which has been raised may, with
proprety, be mentioned. Is the work
of the park board legal? Would any of
lis acts performed since the vacancy in
its membership occurred stand a test in
the courts? Some good lawyers believe
that they would not, inaSmuch as park
board, as created, does not now exist.
Furthermore, the creating act saws dis
tnctly that when vacancy occurs it
"shalF' be filled by election by the other
members of the board. The board has
no option III the matter whatever.
The committee OH designation of
grounds reported on the East side b0u-
leyard, for which Commissioner Ryan
has been working. This is the parkway
Which it is proposed to establish from
near Central avenue down the river to
SOuAitJ hC
mttee finds that nearly all the land re-
CURED for such boulevard is unim-
proved. The Improvements on such as
Is improved are small dwellings
and outbuildings. The committee also
learned that the Meeker Island Power
and improvement company will sell
Meeker island if the park board desires
to make it part of the park system.
The old river road runs parallel with
the river the whole distance at a dis
lance OF from 80 to 200 feet from the
bluff. The committee thinks that this
improvement would be as available for
West side residents, especially those in
the vicinity of the Washington and
Franklin avenue bridges.
There is another point. The southern
termination of this proposed boulevard
IS near the lands owned by Archbishop
Ireland and others who are working for
similar improvement in st. Paul. The
committee thinks that the requirement
of these lands might help along the St.
Paul project and promote tine establish
ment of Hlawatha park, opposite Min
nehaha. The committee was not yet
ready to recommend the particular
lands to be designated and asked that
all further proceedings be referred to
| the special committee on East side
| boulevard. The report was adopted.
| When Commissioner Ryan asked to
| have read letter which he had re-
celved from Prof. II. w. S. Cleveland,
! the other commissioners were at loss to
| divine what it meant. Commissioner
| Ryan had merely been seeking little
| light and wanted the board to enjoy it
with him. He had asked Prof.Clev eland
| three questions: ''What park improve
ment do you think demands most i'm
mediate attention? What do you think
of the PoWderhOrn lake improvement?
| What do you think of the feasibility of
acquiring Medicine lake for park pur-
poSes?"
Prof. Cleveland's answer to the first
question came strong and full. 1t was
notthe East side boulevard, but Mime
haha park. Prof. Cleveland discOursed
at length on the probability of many
foreigners visiting Minneapolis during
the worlds fair and upon the disgrace
which would attach to her name because
! of the manner III which she has cared
| fOr-neglected to care for, rather-the
one spot in America around which all
! that is beautiful in tradition and
poetry is entwined. 'Twould not cost
much to make Minnehaha what it should
be. All that is required is the removal
of the traces of vandalism and the
| opening of the way for Nature to do
| herself justice.
AS for POwderhorn park, which i'm
| proVement Commissioner Ryan opposes,
| Prof. Cleveland is heartily in 7avor of
| what is being done toward enlarging.
| He thinks the board made a mistake
when it failed to act on his suggestion
and acquire all the land between Lake
and Ihirtyffth streets and Tenth ave-
nue. south and Bloomington.
As for Medicine lake, the requirement
,fol, ID
| pet projects, Prof. Cleveland admits
heard that it is a beautiful spot and
thinks it would be a good thing for the
| city to acquire it now.
| The park commissioners were much
| interested in Prof. Cleveland's letter
and recognized the justice of his views.
| After the letter had been read and
ordered placed on file. Mr.. Ryan I'M
| folded his Medicine lake scheme. He
wants to see 20O-foot boulevard eStab-
| lished between the city limits and the
| lake, The border of the lake to be boule-
varded also, for which a strip of land
! from ten to twenty rods wide would be
needed.
| Attorney lockwood reported on the
| Maxwell stone quarry matter. There
| is no relief for Maxwell in law, his land
| having been condemned and the awards
! confirmed by the supreme court. The
board is not obliged to pay Maxwell
anything. However, it can pay him
something for deed. which he is not
obliged to give. He will undoubtedly
| get something, as nobody believes that
| he received enough for his land.
Observation-Disclosures John Kaltenbach
and Joseph Cousineau petitioned for
| places on the park police force.