St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-03
PARKS A NECESSITY.
Gen. Andrews Expatiates on
the Advantages Accruing
From Boulevapds.
Parks Attract Hordes of
Workmen and Plenty Of
Manufactures.
The Work Accomplished by
the Summit Avenue Bou-
levard Addition.
Energetic Officials Needed to
Perfect the City's Public
Park System.

The annual meeting of the Summit
Avenue Boulevard and Park association
was held at the chamber of commerce,
yesterday afternoon, at o'clock.
Twelve members of the organization
were present, and they entered upon
discussion with considerable spirit. On
taking the chair, the president, Gen. c.
G. Andrews, made the following re-
marks:
This is voluntary association, with
out any official powers. and has been in
operation five years. Its membership
consists of owners or occupants on
Summit avenue between Kent street
and the Mississippi river, distance of
a little more than three and half
miles. Among the improvements it
has promoted have been the widen
ing 10 200 feet of the avenue
from Lexington avenue to the
river, a distance of two and a half
miles. without expense to the city.
Largely through its influence the Mar
shall avenue bridge across the Misss-
Slppi river was constructed. 1t pro-
cured the extension of the city water
main out to the short line bridge. 1t
also secured an appropriation from the
city of $4,000 to be expended by the
board of park commissioners in boule-
varding the avenue and planting trees.
With this fund the park commissioners
have caused very much grading to be
done, broad and good lawn to be made
between the two driveWayS the whole
length of the boulevard, and also plant
ed about 1000 trees. The basis has
thus been created of what will some
time prove
a Beautiful Boulevard.
l am informed by the secretary of the
board of park commissioners that the
uneXpended balance Of the Summit av-
enue boulevard Improvement fund is
S., S9S.74. The city water main how eX-
tends down Smelling avenue to Summit
avenue, and along Summit avenue one
block west of Smelling. 1t is not likely
to be extended till a sewer is built. |
am informed that pipe sewer could be
constructed Oh the south side of Summit
avenue at a cost of $3.50 per foot. 1t
would have to be constructed all the
way from Smelling avenue to the river.
if at all. The report of the park COM
miSSiOners shows that for some distance
west OF Smelling avenue trees will not
thrive unless the land is drained. Ii it
is expected to see fine residences along
the boulevard the property owners will
of a sewer and the extension of the
water main.
About the first thing 4 stranger no.
tees in city is its parks and bOule-
Yards. The London Times lately sent
over correspondent to Chicago, and
his first letter. printed
Int the Times
of Oct. ), gives the following descrip-
ton of that city's parks and boulevards:
Nature gave To the monotonously fiat
prairie around Chicago no scenic charms ex-
cepung the glorious view over Lake Mich
igan. 1t has been most admirable thing
for the city that somebody has been able to
pause i'll the universal and engrossing chase
after the almighty dollar long enough to de-
sign the pleasant PARKS. The broad eXpanse
of prairie was low level and treeless origi-
nalIy, but abundant foliage has been planted.
and art has made little lakes and miniature
hills ornamented by attractive flower gardens
and shubbery. There are nearly 20C0 acres
of these parks, the system beginning on the
northern verge, with Lincoln park on the
lake 'front.' covering 25J acres and stretch
ing around to the South park, and thence
down TO Washington and jackson parks,
the latter fronting for almost two miles on
the lake shore in the southern part of the
city. Large sums have been spent on their
care and Development and about 940O 900
($2,000,000) additional will be spent on these
parks III anticipation of the fair. The DreXel
the South park. 200 feet wide is the most
handsome OF the connecting roadways, aed
is among the celebrated avenues of America
A magnificent fountain. SurmOunted by a
bronze statute of the late Francis NJ Drexel
the founder of tue noted Drexel banking
firm, adorns its entrance. This broad park
way has fine carriage road on either side of
central walk Tor pedestrians. the latter
winding among picturesque gardens, and the
whole boulevard being well shaded though
the trees are stlll young. Washington park,
beyond the South park, contains 81 acres,
jackson Park $50 acres, and the brood Mid
way plaisance, connecting them, so acres
Necessity for Parks.
What beauties a city also promotes
its prosperity. The mechanic lows to
live and bring up his family in beau
tiful city. He cannot. like the rich
man, make frequent trips abroad, but
must find recreation, If anywhere,
in his own city. Philadelphia,
New York and st. Louis are great
manufacturing cities and they are
beautiful cities. In each of these cities
the parks run up into thousands of
acres. 1t costs the workingman no
more to live in either of those cities
than it does in St.'PauI. In such cities
as those labor is generally abundant
and contented. One way 10 promote
| manufactures here is to make our city
| beautiful; to make it a city that the
mechanic and wOrkingman and their
| families wall have reason to love and be
proud Of. This city may not hope very
soon for fine galleries of art, but there
| is no valid excuse for its failing to have