St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-21
UP THE WRONG TREE
ARE THE RjDGEW00D PARK 0PP0-
EENTS so LOUDLY BARK NC.


The Same Old Story Is Repeated
Before the Board of Public
Norks-Rash Words on Both
sides-Widening Of Seventh
Street Considered.
The matter of completing the assess
ment for Ridgewood Park was taken up
by the board of public works YESTERDAY
afternoon. A week ago the board adj
Journed the hearing with the under
standing that the park board would
send word to postpone or annul pro-
ceedings in the matter. The park board
held meeting Monday night, but took
no definite action, and failed to notify
the board of public works to suspend
proceedings. When the matter was
taken up yesterday afternoon, a nun :
Der OF the property owners who are oD-
posed to the park were present to argu e
as to the people not being in favor of
the site. T.> D. Merwin, representing
the owners of the land TO be purchased
for the park, and also those who are in
FAVOR or the park, explained that the
proposed site had been suggested to the
park boark by Landscape Architect
Cleveland as being particularly
adapted in every way for a park.
Walter Holcombe, who appears for
those opposing the park, read
from the records Of the park board to
show that on Oct. 8, 1887, Messrs. Har-
per and Johnson offered to the park
board the lots in the proposed park site
for $1,000 per acre. At the same time
they made a proposition that if eight
acres were taken the price would be
So, 1000 an acre, and if more than eight
acres were taken the price would be
$4,000 per acre. Mr.. Holcombe went
further, and said that Mr. Cleveland
was not appointed landscape architect
fer the park board until Oct % of the
same year. Mr.. Davidson. who is in ia
Yor of the park, commended that the
meeting held i'll the vicinity of the park
was not representative one, as he
knew at least thirty of the men who
were present had no title to property in
the district to be assessed. This state
ment was denied by those on the other
side, and w. g. Thorpe asked the board
if they would pay any attention to
a protest signed by a majority of
property owners against the lOca-
ton of the park. President German
Informed Mr.. Thorpe that the park
board was the proper body to present
such protests to, as the board of public
works had no authority iii the matter,
They had been ordered to make the as
sesSment by the park board, and unless
some further order were received from
them would go ahead. j. Ham David
son requested the board to adjourn the
hearing for another week, and promised
i'll the meantime that members of the
park board would be seen and WORD
sent to the board of public works to
suspend or postpone proceedings.
President German said such order must
be in writing, as he for one was not go
ing to be made the catSpaw of the park
board and have the blame placed on the
board of public works when the remedy
laid with the park board. The matter
was adjourned for one week, and the
citizens promised to stir up the park
during that time and have an order
poStpOning the proceedings sent to the
board of public works either from the
board or the individual members.
AT the morning session the district to
be assessed for the widening of Seventh
street between Broadway and Rosabel
streets was under consideration. f.
Knauft, w. c. Knauft and William
COnStauS were examined as to the terri
tory benefited by the proposed improve
ment. Ali three were of the opinion
that only the realty in the immediate
vicinity of Broadway and Rosabel, in
Guiding the block between the two
streets and the four corners at the i'll
tersection of R0sabel and Broadway
with Seventh, would be benefited. The
hearing was adjourned to this morning
at 10 o'clock.
Assessments were confirmed for the
grading of Payne avenue between Ivy
street and the White Bear road. the
opening of Linwood place and for a
ever on Grand avenue.