St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-06
BOUND TO FIGHT IT.
LIVELY MASS MEETING or OPPONENTS
or RIDGEW000 PARK.
WOMEN JOIN I'm THE KHdiz

Presented to the Park Board
Mrs. Kramrath Makes Telling
Speech-The Kickers are In
Dead Earnest. 8
The people opposed to acquiring
Ridgewood park held another meeting
last night in tennis court near Engine
House No. 10 on Randolph street. There
was large turnout of people. and sew.
eral speeches were made in opposition
to the park, which were we'll received
by the audience. IA
w. q. Thorpe presided at the meet
ing, and stated that the object was to
secure the signatures of property own
ers to protest which is worded as fol-
lows:
We, the undersigned owners of prop
erty within the district to be assessed
for Ridgewood park, do hereby protest
against the creation and establishment
of Ridgewood park, and respectfully
request the board of park commission
ers to vacate and set aside all proceed
ingS taken with a view of purchasing
and establishing said park.
There are now over LOCO names
signed to this protest, with the lots
owned designated opposite the names.
Walter Holcomb reviewed the situa-
ton and spoke of the hardships of es-
tablishing the park, especially in these
ha I'd times. He was greeted with fire.
quent expressions of approval. One
man interrupted and wanted to know
how those who have nothing to eat
could raise money to pay assessments.
Mr.. HolcOmbe spoke of the high price
proposed to be paid for the park as be-
ing out of all reason. Several persons
assented to the proposition of the price
being unreasonable.
Who Testified?
In speaking of the taking of testimony
as to the value of the property proposed
to be taken. Mr.. HOlcomb asked who of
those 10 be assessed and not owners of
land proposed to be taken was ever
called before the board to testify as to
the value. Several answered Not
one" The statements that the park is
not wanted and is needless lu Xury
were responded to by men in the audi
ence by expressions of approval.
The cases OF three or four persons
who formerly opposed the park were
mentioned, and the explanation made
that they have probably been Undue ed
to withdraw opposition by being IL
uSdlilSb dSSSSSllSuIS.
A gentleman in the audience asked if
the park had not been offered cheaper
at one time, and Mr.. Holcomb said it
had been twice offered for S51, 500 at
time when property was selling like hot
cakes; but now. when there is no sale
for property and business is at stand
still, they want S62, 800 for the same
land.
The statement was made that Mrs.
Wheelock has an impression that Attor-
ney Merwin represents three-fourtilS. of
the property assessed. -l.ss
Mr.. Holcomb wanted those who OPP
pose the park to sign the protest and
show that a majority of the property
owners oppose the park. Il &
A gentleman In the audience said that
he could not see what good it would do
to go before the park board to protest.
He decl AIRED that the negroes protested
against being sold before the war, but it
did no good.
Mr.. HolcOmb replied that public
opinion is bound to be heard, and he be-
lleved that the park board will regard
that opinion.
Charles Philips made a speech, in
which he stated that the people ought
to recognize the fact that public sentl-
ment Will be sufficieL. 80 defeat the
park scheme. He urged the people to
go before the board i'll person and show
that they are still opposed TO the scheme;
that they cannot and wilt not pay the
assessment. Mr.. Philips controverted
the proposition that Mr.. Merwin rep
reSentS three-fourthS of the property
interested in language more tore
lble than elegant. He also
asserted that Mr.. Merwin does not rep
resent half of the property TO be as
sessed. lie explained that the state
ment of MIR. Merwin 10 the effect that
the owners of the land proposed to be
taken would lose $50, 900 in case the city
does not take the property, by saving
that it is true in the sense that, it the
city does not take the land. it could not
be sold to any one else for half what is
proposed to be given for it for park pur-
poses, and consequently the owners
would lose as much as claimed by MIR.
MerWin. This statement was greeted
with applause.
w. q. Thorpe spoke in protest against
the park, and asked the people To 20
before the park board Monday night to
protest. 80
A Woman Chips In.
Mrs. Mary Kramrath spoke up from
the audience and said: The park
board must have been blind when it
PAOPOoNo W RhJ CliS POI NJ ONIlCu LI0
land proposed to be taken for the park,
and lived there twenty-Tour years. 1t
is a mud hole. My husband must have
been blind when he bought the land
My husband Is dead, and lie USED 10 go
through the place with rubber boots on.
If l had my $4,000 out of the land
would not care. but | can't afford TO paw
the assessment for the park. ] don't
know how l ain to get enough to eat,
and don't want the park" She IS an
old lady, who OWNS property in the
assessed district. and created great en-
thnsiasm by her speech, which was not
expected While Mr.. Crosby was speak
ing.
s. p. Crosby was called for, and made
strong speech in opposition to the
park, and urging the people TO stand by
their action i'll opposition to the pur-
chase thereof.
a gentleman in the audience said
that II wanted to say that they were
going to take their blackth0rns to the
meeting of the board Monday night.
Another gentleman said that he hoped
that those opposed to the park would
not interrupt those, who favor the park
at the meeting of the board Monday
night.
MIR. Thorpe supplemented the state
ment by asking that no one be Iidiculed
at the board meeting.
Quite number of new names were
signed to the protest. Before the
meeting closed vote was proposed on
the park scheme. Those opposed were
asked for an expression and the vote
was strong and full. Chairman Thorpe
stated that he wanted 10 make it fair to
all concerned. and if there was any one
present favoring the park they might
make the fact known by saying Aye"
There being no response the sentiment
OF the audience was declared to be
unanimous in opposition.
WANT MORE TRAINS.