St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-04
LoR1NG's FAREWELL.
He Talks to the Old Board on
Park Matters.

Yesterday afternoon the park board
met for the last time, as at present con-
stituted. There was but little business
before the board. What little remained
to be done was hurried through. The
matters of charging PowderhOrn park,
of accepting Col. w. S. Kings gift, the
several other smaller questions held in
allegiance, were not considered. The
various committees merely reported
progress, and final action Was deferred
until the next meeting. Secretary Nye
presented the financial report of the
year. That was all.
Commissioner Haugan thought it meet
that the board should, in some way,
acknowledge the long and faithful serv-
ice of G. M. Loring, both as chairman
and president. He moved that the
thanks of the park board be extended to
Mr.. Loring on his retirement. The
motion was, Of course, unanimously
carried. Mr.. Loring replied by review
ing at some length the history of the
Minneapolis park system, its advaD-
tages and its possibilities. He spoke of
the adaptability of the banks Of the
Mississippi for park purposes. Said he:
II hope that the new board will look
at this matter in the right light. There
is no part of the city which can be beau
titled to better advantage than the river
banks. | hope to see all the land along
the river from Minnehata to Lake
street, on this side, and from Lake
street to the university on both sides,
acquired by the board. For my part, L
never would have voted for acquiring
any part OF the river banks had L not
believed that this plan would be carried
out"
He referred to Rochester, N. Y, as a
melancholy example of city which did
not appreciate the advantages of
picturesque river banks. Referring to
Minneapolis parks, he continued:
But the work that has been done has
been well done. There is no city in the
world where parks are of more utility
than are ours. While | would like to
see one big park of 1000 acres or more,
l believe it better to have great front
age, as we have, than to have our parks
scattered through the city,"
Mr.. Loring hoped that Minneapolis
would, in the matter Of parks, never
lose sight of the future needs of the
city. Boston Common was the noted
park OF the country. But Boston people
did not appreciate it until it was pro-
posed to sell part of the Common. They
wouldn't hear OF it. Now the Boston
park board thinks nothing of asking
appropriations of hundreds of thousands
of dollars. And they get it,.
AS an illustration of how little
Minneapolis parks have cost,
he mentioned that New York is intend
ing to spend 100000 Oh a strip along
the Hudson river less than mile long.
He hoped that the new board would
carry on the work begun seven years
ago-cOmplete Minnehaha boulevard
and acquire the river banks. 1t would
be good investment. The establish
ment of Minnenaha park has so stimu-
lated building down there that the in
crease in the taxes more than pays the
interest on the bonds which were sold
that it might be established.
But" said Mr.. Loring, 81 believe
there should be limit to expenditure.
don't advise putting all of our money
into parks more than into court houses.
But we should acquire all the land we
can now while the land is cheap, even
if we have to wait for some years before
improving it. We may think that we
are spending good deal Of money for
parks, but our whole system has not
cost as much as much as San Francisco
Is putting into one tract of 1000 acres"
Mr.. Loring commented on the liber-
atty of Minneapolis people. To their
generosity he attributed much of the
success of the park board. Such men
as Col. w. S. King, Thomas Lowry, III.
B. Beard, Gen. Reeve. Edward Murphy.
S. G. Gale, Franklin Steele, E. S. Cor
ser, John Green, w. A. Barnes, G. p.
Lowell, l.. +. Menage and others have
given over $780, 600 worth of property to
the park board. AS an illustration, the
park board once tried to condemn the
land around Lake Harriet. The APP
praisers returned $276,000 as the amount
to be paid for it. The board couldn't
pay for it, but it secured it through the
generosity of private individuals. Then
there is the Minnehaha boulevard.
When completed it will be four miles
long and will comprise 150acres of beau
tlful parks. All this he hoped the new
board would do. That was all he had
to say.
Some one called upon the mayor for a
little talk. He replied that he would
make himself heard on Monday. Mr..
Lorlng arose again and said he didn't
want to leave without saying word for
Supt. Berry, who, he believed, was the
best superintendent In the country.
Berry blushed and hid behind his hat.
Secretary Nye reported that the re-
ceipts for the year have been 1928, 530.41 j;
disbursements, $2lS,3S7.64; balance,
SO, 142.77; contingent fund, $1,000; total
on hand, 81, 142.W. The projected ex-
penses for 1891 amount to Sl54. 302. 80
resources. S237, 3SS.77; balance unpro-
vided for, $93, 0s6.45. The tax levy of
1889 amounted to S133, 531.53, of which
S126, 1928. As has been received. During
the past year $3.50 has been borrowed
temporarily and s52,sS0.S5 has been re-
paid.