The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-15
FnR THE ENcAMPMENT WEEK.
THEY DELAY THE WORK AND
SCARE THE ARRANGEMENT
COMMITTEE BADLY,
PROSPECT is NOW FOR PEACE.
Secretary Pinney Visits the Objec-
tors and Succeeds in Pacifying
Them, at Least i'm Part

met with an unexpected setback yes
terday which threatens to interfere
with one of the most important fea
lures of the encampment. The obsta-
Gle arose in the form of a refusal of
the property holders on Summit ave-
nue. to allow the erection of poles in
front of their premises for the purpose
of illuminating the avenue on the
evenings when it is proposed to hold
the several outdoor receptions which
have been arranged for by the gem
eral committee and announced as a
part of the official programme.
At the last meetings of the respec-
tive branches of the common council
resolution was passed granting per-
mission to the G. A. r. committee for
the closing of Summit avenue on speci-
fed dates, from Summit park to West
ern avenue, and for the erection of
the poles in question. The uprights
We're to be twenty-eight in number and
placed in ten-inch holes on the boule-
wards just inside of the curbing The
committee was obligated to work at
its own expense and to remove the
poles and put the grounds in condi-
ton after the encampment.
There was some opposition to the
resolution when it was brought before
the council, but none of an open ma
ture, and it passed both bodies unani-
mously
Yesterday morning Contractor Nell
son, to whom had been awarded the
work of erecting the poles, appeared
on the scene of his labors with crew
of men and began operations. He got
no further, however, than brief sur
vey of the situation when he was told
by several property owners that the
poles could not be put up in front of
their premises The contractor was
not particularly DESTROYS of fighting
any Of the G.. A. r. committees bat
ties and promptly visited the city hall,
where he apprised Mayor Doran of
the situation and asked for instruc-
lions as to whether or not he should
go ahead with his work. He did not
have the names of any of those who
had objected to the pole-raising pro-
test, but the mayor gave him a note "to
whom it may concern" stating that
the work was being done according to
law and that he had a perfect right
to complete his contract
In the meantime the officials at c.
a. X. headquarters had been appraised
of the situation, and while somewhat
chagrined at the turn affairs had
taken, ordered the work discontinued
and started out to find the Collectors
with view to secure an amicable
settlement of the difficulty. Several
property owners were seen and stated
their reasons for opposing the erection,
of the poles to be on account of the
damage which would result to the
lawns of the boulevards by being cut
up and dug into in order to set the
poles. 1t was explained to these parties
that it was far from the intentions of
the committee to injure the lawns and
the fact pointed out that a ten-inch
post augur, which would make only
small clean cut. would be used in the
work to avoid the anticipated injury.
The explanation failed to satisfy the
directors and they also stated that,
though they were the ones waited upon
by the committee, there were a numller
Of others who were equally opposed to
allowing the poles to go in front of
their residences. It is not the desire
of the committee to antagonize the
Summit avenue property holders, and
as but few of those said to object to
the plans for the evening receptions
could be found yesterday, it was de-
cided to let the matter rest until all
parties concerned could be consulted.
With a view, however, to ascertain
the concensus of opinion Secretary Pin
ney, of the citizens committee, visited
the residents along the avenue last
evening, and as a result Of his explana
tions of the situation as it really exists
and the general feeling he found among
the property holders to aid the en-
campment in every possible manner, it
appears that the entire matter has re-
solved itself into q misunderstanding
rather than concentrated effort on the
part of the Summit avenue people to
oppose one of the most attractive
features of the encampment
The idea prevalent on the avenue
seemed to be that it was the purpose
of the committee to erect a string of
rough, unsightly poles for which pur-
pose it would be necessary to tear UP
the sod and generally disflgure the
lawns of the boulevards. To diSsipate
this conception it was only necessary
to show how erroneous had been the
information of those who objected to the
evening receptions, and to what extent
the erection of the poles surmounted
with electric lights would really height
en- the beauty of the avenue on the oc-
casion in question. Tne poles will be
set 100 feet apart on either side of the
street, and instead of being mere bar
rem sticks will be shapely stats an
tistically wound from top to bottom
with tri-colored bunting. On the top of
each pole there will be an arrangement
of American flags in clusters SO that
none of the bare wood will be visible
The contract under which Mr. Nelson
performs the work specifically states
that the poles shall be removed the
Monday after encampment week, and
that the grounds shall be placed in
just the exact condition they were in
before the receptions were held Fur
thermore, Mr.. Nelson is an experienced
hand at just the style of work which
he is doing, having been gagged in
the care of lawns and the transplant
ing of trees for years, so that it is
highly improbable that he will allow
his workmen to engage in methods
which will in any way injure the boul-
evards beyond the cutting away of the
necessary ten inches Of sod for the
purpose of starting the post holes.
When Secretary Pinney made the
| above statements to those who were
said to be in opposition to the erection
! of the poles, he found the sentiment
| generally favorable to allowing the
stats to be put up. Some of the ave-
nue. residents, however, thought that
! the trees along the boulevards might
/ be utilized instead of putting up poles,
and told Secretary Pinney he had their
permission TO put up cross bars or any
! other attachments which might be
| thought necessary. It is hardly prob
aple. though, that this method will be
| employed as it would only allow of
| the lights being suspended in the CEN
ter of the street, and this is not in ac-
1 cOF0a noe with the MAN af tho 1ax,,