St. Paul daily globe., 1893-03-26
CONNECT OUR PARKS.
That Is the Aim and Purpose
Of the Sheridan Avenue
Bridge Bill.
1t Will Take the Place OF
Fort Smelling Bridge for
Public Use,
Forming a Direct Connection
Between All Parks Of the
Twin Cities.
A Continuous Line Of Street
Railway TWenty-Four
Miles Long.

The bill before the legislature which
contemplates the building of bridge
for the purpose of connecting West
Seventh street and Minnehaha avenue
through the medium of Sheridan ave
nue. is a very important measure, and
of direct interest to the residents of the
Fifth and Eleventh wards. A bridge at
this point will certainly have to be built
at some time in order to give facilities
to the residents of that portion of the
city to cross the river, as well as to have
close connection with Minneapolis.
Furthermore. it will become an abSo-
lutte necessity in the near future If 1t Is
ever desired to connect the Twins by
electricity in that direction, or TO give
st. Paul citizens easy access to the SOL
diers' home or Minnehaha para. 1t is
we'll known fact that the Fort Smelling
bridge is entirely too narrow for gen
eral public use, and could never be
used for street car purposes, and the
government absolutely objects to any
porto n of the south part of the reserva-
ton being used in any public manner
whatever, and in order to build this
bridge it would be necessary to secure
the right of way through the north cor
ner of the reservation, which is a seq
ment of thirty acres cut off by the Mil
waukee & st. Paul railroad. The right
Of way can be secured, but the first step
necessary is the passage of bill by the
legislature authorizing the issue of
bonds for the purpose of building the
bridge. There is not another location
as favorable for the building of a
bridge as the one mentioned above
along the entire river bank, as it is the
narrowest part of the river, and would
cost less than at any other point. This
in itself is quite consideration. and the
further fact that it would create no
Indebtedness for the next TWO years,
and then not without the concurrence
of the councils of both cities, should
commend the project to the favorable
consideration of both the citizens and
the members OF the legislature from
Ramsey and Hennepin. If this line
were built it would be the shortest,
lDOSl COllNGlllGllL anu ullGCb AOulC W etAA
the principal parks of both cities, in
cluding Calhoun, Minnehaha and lIar-
riet and the proposed River park, of
which it would be the boundary line on
the south side. 1t would also be the
longest continuous line of street railway
in the two cities. and would make dl-
rect line from Camden place in Mime
apOiIS to the Wood Harvester works on
East Seventh street in st. Paul, dis
tance Of twenty-fOur miles. Ii would
also straigthen out the interurban park
system of both cities and give the
North western twins one OF the finest
park systems IN the world.
The West Seventh Street union at
their last meeting adopted resolutions
faVoring this project, and they Will be
presented to the members or both the
Ramsey and Hennepin delegations on
Monday. Merchants all along West
Seventh street are heartily in favor Of
the bridge, and will use every endeaVor
to have the bill passed, and there can
certainly be no objection on the part of
the Hennepin delegation, as 1t is pro-
posed to donate to them that portion OF
the government land which will be
taken for park purposes, and will im-
mensely enhance the value of Mime
haha and as well as other parks by Civ
ing easy means of access to all. Fol
lowing are the resolutions adopted,
certified to by William Koch, secretary
of the union:
The West Seventh Street union would
respectfully solicit your advocacy of
the passage of the Sheridan avenue
bridge bill, now before the senate, for
the purpose of connecting West Seventh
street and Mlnnehaha avenue, for the
following reasons:
First-There being only an unopened
gap a little over mile OH the proposed
line between the terminal OF the above
named streets, it is of the utmost i'm
pOrtance to both cities to open this
route.
SecOnd-FOrt Smelling bridge being
too narrow for street ear purposes and,
the United States government positive
ly objecting TO any portion of the south
part of the reservation being utilized for
any public use whatever. it Is incum-
bent to avail us of the probability of
obtaining a right of way through tue
north corner of the reservation, being
a segment of thirty acres cut off by tile
Chicago, Milwaukee & ST. Paul rail
road.
Third-The thirty acres above named
adjoining the soldiers home and Min
nehaha park could be obtained from
the government to straighten out the
interurban park system of both cities.
FOurth-The projected line would be
unobstructed, level, continuous and
direct from Camden Place, Minneapolis,
to the Wood harvester plant, East Sew
enth street, St. Paul, distance of
twenty-fOur miles.
Fifth--The 100000 bonds asked for are
wholly contingent OH obtaining right of
way from the United States govern
ment. Conse quently creates no indebt-
ednesS for the next two years, and not
then without the concurrence of the
council of both cities.
SiXth-ThiS line would be the shortest,
most convenient and direct to the prin-
cipal parks of both cities, including Min
nehaha, Calhoun and Harriet and the
proposed new river park, of which it
would be the new boundary line on the
south side.
Seventh-The primary motive of urg
ing the passage of this measure by the
honorable delegation of both cities at
the present time is 10 give proper
status to the concessions to be asked for
by our representatives in congress III
connection Herewith.
It's Poor Economy
To buy poor quality because it's sheap
in price; better buy good article at