St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-08
THE PARK QUESTION.
LACK OF FUNDS CfLLs A HALT IN
IMPROVEMENTS.
EXPENSES Must BE CUT DOW N

Over $1OS,OO0 = President
LOring Eulogizes What Has
Been Done.
The park board commissioners
wrestled with the financial question at
the regular meeting this afternoon.
When the years improvements were
mapped out last spring the board figured
on an income of S22S. 600. The proper
ton of delinquercIes. however, was
much larger than usual, and the June
settlement with the county treasurer
shows that their proportion of taxes,
collected is only SIG, 600. which is $40, 900
less than they expected. As only ST. 900
or $1,000 can be counted OIL from delin-
qnents, the board finds itself Obliged to
curtail expenses and discontinue some
Of the work projected. The finance
committee made a statement of the
boards finances, and its recommends
tons as to reducing we're adopted.
Among the improvements planned that
will have to be postponed are those at
POwderhOrn and Glenwood. At the for
mer place it was expected to spend
$1,000 in dredging the lake. and at the
latter -, 600 in general improvements.
Inc financial outlook is thus given:
Cash on hand. ....---. .-.... -...- $40, 945 Oh
Cash il suspended banks .......... 9, I54 IL
Total present resources. SiOa. lO1 Il
LIABILITIES.
Estimated July pay roll-...... $4,000 90
Eiils on file . ...... eS37 81
PARK certificates due Sept /, 1870. 45, AZ %
commission on same -----.-....-.. 81 z
Notes due Aug. % -............ -. 1880 II
Accrued interest on same .........., S29 20
Salaries and rent to Jan. l, '94.. 2,922 G5
Interest on bonds due Jan. l, "a. 1888. 30
Total liabilities Sos. $50 %
Balance of resources over liabilities $40 II
Appended to the report was the fol.
lowing recommendation:
" our committee would further re-
port that the tax collections last year
from June to January were SO, 101. 50.
We are unable to estimate with any
degree Of certainty the amount that
will be collected this year for the same
time. The board can easily see that it
IS necessary to keep the cost of MAIN
tanning the parks for the balance of the
year within the amount to be collected,
and would suggest that committee of
this board confer with the superintend-
ent and reduce the force employed to
maintain the parks to the lowest posi-
bic point
Commissioner Ridgway emphasized
the necessity for adopting the recon-
mendaton OF the committee and his re-
marks were supplemented by President
LOring.
Mayor Eustis, who attended the meet
ing for the first time this summer.
thought the accommodations did not 20
far enough, and after the adoption of
the report moved that all construction
of park and parkwayS and improve
ments thereon be discontinued until
furtherlnOtice. There's S, 900 unexpend-
ed of the Columbia par fund, and after
amending the motion to permit the
completion of the boulevard upon
which work is now being done, the
motion was carried.
Commissioners Brown and Ryan OBJ
posed this motion, on the ground that
the money was donated and ought to be
expended. as laDOIlng men need work.
This opposition reOpened the matter,
and President LOring and Commissioner
Brown were appointed committee to
onfer with subscribers to the fund in
regard to its expenditure.
President Loring called attention to
the improvements at Columbia park.
which, he said, will be, when completed.
one OF the finest in the city; he also CON
graduated the board upon the compile
ton of Minnehaha boulevard, which he
prOpheSled the younger members of the
board would live to see lined with beau
tiful residences. The boulevard. he
said, is one of the most picturesque
drives III the country. and the work is
remarkable. considering the money eX-
pended. Mr.. Loring also paid glow
ing tribute to the memory of the late
Richard Chute, laying particular stress
"a H. ri
system and his part in its upbuilding
Commissioner StOft referred to the
Harriet boat incident of last week He
thought If the case could be made d test
case 1t should be carried up, ana the
jurisdiction of the board over lake
waters determined. If that could not
be done. he wanted sections u and % OF
the rules, relating to the matter re-
pealed. The matter was referred to the
Judiciary committee. Commissioner
Damn thought the case should be taken
Judge Smith, six more boats have been
placed on the lake, and he thought 1t
would soon be covered with them.
Mayor EuStlS made an attack on the
proposed East river boulevard. Il uu-
derstand," he said, that the govern
ment Is about to begin the construction
of dams below the falls, and the water
power company may want 10 make
some improvements. | think, before
we go too far, we should consider
whether we can afford to take the river
bank for pleasure drive when it NAV
be absolutely needed for commercial
purposes" He moved that all pro-
ceedlngS in the matter be temporarily
suspended.
Commissioner Brown thought there
was not sufficient power below the
dams to warrant the building of dams.
NH. Willard investigated the matter,''
he said, land gave it up. Let the gov
eminent put i'll dams if it wants TO:
they will not hurt the boulevard. The
residents on the East side have asked
for the boulevard, and are willing to
pay for it. l am in favor of proceeding
with the arrangements.
commissioner lockwood moved to Law
the mayors motion on the table, which
action was taken by the following vote:
Ayes-Adams. Brown. LOye, Northrop,
Rlgway, lockwood, Stoft ana LOrlng.
Nays-Dan EustiS and Ryan.
The arrangements have been about
completed for spreading the assessment
Oh this boulevard, and the court will
probably be asked to appoint commits
SIoners Saturday. Mayor Eustis seemed
not bit discounted at the summary
way in which his motion was sat upon.
but inquired whether things had gone
too far for another attempt to be of
avail with the air Of man who intends
to renew the fight. The East side river
boulevard IS matter that had been
much discussed III the past two wears.
1t is a proposed driveway from the uni
versity campus along the river to the
Ramsey county line. Within a stones
throw of that line is the st. Paul grand
boulevard, and the completion of the
proposed drive would made a continu.
ous drive from this city TO st. Paul.