St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-14
TO MAKE ROME Howl
Three Thousand Of Ridgewood
Park Assesses
TO STORM THE PARK BOARD,
And Compel the Resembling OF
the Recent Order.
CANNOT PAY THE ASSESSMENT.
TO STORM THE PARK BOARD,
CANNOT PAY THE ASSESSMENT:
An Indignation Scene at the
Public Works Board.
TOO HARD TIMES FOR PARKS.

One hundred and twenty-five prop
erty owners who are opposed 10 the
condemnation of the proposed Ridge
wood park crowded the Office of the
board of public works yesterday after
noon. The matter came up before the
board on the completion of the assess
ment rolls. President German an
nounced that the assessment district
having been fixed at the last meeting,
the question of damages and benefits
was the only thing to be settled.
From evidence heard by the board
the value of the property to be taken
haszbeen fixed at about $4,000, to which
must be added about $1,000 for incl
dental expenses, making a total of S6s,-
600. The sum of $4,000 had been set
apart from the park fund to help pay
this amount, leaving $3.50 to be as
Sessed against the property benefited.
The assessment district was half mile
east, north, south and west from the
park site, and there were 1900
lots to be assessed. In arriving at
their decision, which was not final
as to the value Of the property
to be taken, the board had divided the
assessment as follows: All lots fronting
on the park, 800 each; III the first block
from the park in all directions each lot
would be assessed $40; in the second
block, $3.50; in the third block, SIS; in
the fourth block, $3.50; in the fifth
block, $40; in the sixth block, $3.50; il
the seventh block, So; in the eighth
block, $3.50.
One of the spectators smoke up and
said he had come tc the meeting to pro-
test against the assessment being COM
pleted for the reason that no park was
wanted by the property owners at this
time. President German explained that
the board had nothing to do with that
part of the proceedings. The park
board ordered the condemnation and
assessment, and all the board of public
works had to do was to proceed. He
advised the gentlemen present that
after the assessment was completed it
would take twenty days before it would
be confirmed, and in the meantime they
could see the park board and get the
order recalled, or proceedings aban-
doned.
w. &. Thorpe, who was appointed
chairman of a committee of five by the
citizens who held mass meeting
Wednesday night, said the unanimous
decision of the mass meeting was that
there should be no park purchased at
this time. 1t was not because the peo-
pie were opposed to improvements, but
because the owners of property to be
assessed could not pay the assessment.
The territory was one of the poorest in
the city, the majority of the property
owners being those who had purchased
homes on the instalIment plan,
and at this particular time had no
money. The railroad shops had shut
down to reduce expenses and a large
number of the owners in the dis
trict were out Of employment. These
men, he said, who were earning nothing
could not support themselves and famil-
les, let alone pay for parks. A gentle
man who said he owned eleven lots in
the vicinity of the park and would have
to pay heavy assessment spoke i'll
favor of the park, but he was hooted
down by the others, who advised the
board to assess him $500 lot. j. II.
Davidson, after being told the price
allowed the owners of the property
to be used for the park, ad-
vanced the argument that the price
was eXorbitant for the property at
this time when nearly every one bad all
l,n onnld do RI nhroiT1 tho ariQc Of
life, without paying for parks. The
people, he said, could not pay 81 assess
ment per lot for the finest parks IN the
world at this time. Every proposed
park in the city ought to be postponed
until better times. Not only this, but
salaries of city officials should be re-
duced and every means taken to re-
trench, in order that the taxpayers should
not be distressed. There was money
in the banks and in the hands of few
people, but the masses had none. He
advised that the park board be visited
at their next meeting and cry made
which would reach them and result in
the park being abandoned for the pres
ent. Several others spoke III the same
strain. and after eXacting the promise
that Mr.. Davidson would make the
same kind of talk TO- the park board
the hearing was adjourned for one
week. The committee promised 10
have 1900 men at the next meeting Of
the park board to protest against the
proceedings going farther.
E. &. Rogers appeared on behalf of
the property owners to protest against
the confirmation of the assessments for
the Indian Mound park.
MIR. Quinby was in favor of confirm
ing the assessment for this park. as was
also President German. Mr.. Minea ad--
vised that the assessment be adjourned
until another appeal could be made
to the park board. The melton
OF Mr.. Quinby prevailed, both
he and President German voting for
the confirmation and Mr.. Minea against
it. The two members who voted for it
Informed the professors that should the
park board send in an order to recall the
assessment they would vote to recon-
slider.
A mass meeting has been called for
Saturday evening to protest against tho
assessment for Ridgewood park. The
meeting will be held at Ayd's hall.
Frank Ellison, who assaulted Broker