The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-25
DRESSING TROLLEY POLES.
REPORT THAT EACH DECORATION
is COSTING $9.7O is CAUSING
MUCH SURPRISE.
INTERESTING MEETING is HELD
Where Those Present Give Express
sion of This FeeIing-Talk of
Discrimination.


tional flag, 4x21a feet, and rosette
the size of a bushel basket cost the
| decorating committee?" was query
breathed in considerable anxiety at a
meeting of the West side decoration
committee at Mayor Doran's residence
| last night.
Mine dollars and seventy cents"
came a voice from behind the book
case.
mo, no." exclaimed everyone in pale
| green surprise. "Not so much as that.
| Why, who told you SOP"
'Mr. Strickland said so, and he
ought to know, being the chairman Of
the committee on decorations and the
man who is running the whole thing"
| replied a voice which sounded very
much like that of A. M. Bartlette.
And then there came chorus of in
dignant protests. The dialogue was the
result Of suggestion that the same
system of street decorations which is
used on Seventh street, Wabasha and
other thoroughfares, be used on South
Wabasha street on. the other side Of
the river. from the bridge to the bluff.
The decorations looked so simple and
inexpensive that the West siders
thought similar ones would do for
them. But they were reckoning with
out their hosts. Those trolley posts
cost more to dress than any, one sup
posed, and several collars wilted stimuli
taneously when the sum was men
toned.
Then 1t was all figured out for the
benefit of those present, and several
very sarcastic remarks were passed at
the expense of the decoration commit
tee for such extravaganza. The West
siders have just fourteen sets of trolley
posts they want to fix up, but, sakes
alive, they didn't propose to pay 1910
per pair, not by a house afire.
Il do not consider that we are get
ting adequate results for the money
| spent" It was the mayor speaking,
and his words were looked upon as Of
fetal. 81 do not know where they can
possibly spend 500 on one of those
trolley post arrangements, but if Mr.
Strickland says so, I suppose 1t must
be true
Il would like to have the contract at
that price, remarked some one else
''It seems like a reckless waste of
money. At that rate it will cost us
$135S0 to decorate fourteen sets of
posts, and guess we will have to give
it up
There is considerable indignation on
the West side over the alleged extrav-
agance. But that is not all. The peo-
pie on the other side of the creek are
also much displeased because, for
sooth, the decoration committee are
sighting the West side entirely.
Tov
about that, too.
1T seems to me very inconsistent to
scrape the West side for contributions
to the decorations fund. getting all the
money possible, and then refusing to
make any appropriation whatever for
this side Of the river. We expect to
entertain 4,500 of the visitors on this
side, and it's a shame"
The mayors opinion was indorsed by
all those present. 1t appears that
portion Of the official carriage route
to be taken when the visitors are
shown about the city will be across the
Robert street bridge and through two
OF three of the prominent streets on
that side of the river. Although the
West side people have subscribed very
largely to the fund, they have been
unable to secure an appropriation
Hence 1T became necessary for A. M
Bartlette. Harry Franklin, Mr.. Cham,
berlain and other enterprising West
slders to make a canvass upon their
own responsibility. The field had been
thoroughly Scraped," as his honor put
it, but their success was not what was
looked for, although some money was
pledged. The West side people want
some decorations and they want them
badly, and the chances are that they
will have them. They do not propose
to pay 1910 for each trolley pole, but
they will do the best they can for the
money raised.
Then the West siders do not like an
other thing. They say the folks over
on Dayton's bluff are cheeky" The
| West side has enough to do without
contributing to sectional enterprises"
1t appears that the other day Day.
tons bluff had a grand blowout for
the Bluff G. A. r. fund. and their
emissaries penetrated into the four
quarters of the town, selling tickets.
The West side people responded gen.
erously, thinking their own funds
would be forthcoming from the general
committee. but they were disappointed
why, they sold twenty-five or
thirty tickets right around my house."
exclaimed one angry lady. II think
it was shame"
The matters will all be looked into
and If the general committee still re-
! will be some very angry people on the
West side.
The people over there want to decor
ate the bridges in suitable manner.
/ The high arches of the Robert and
Wabasha bridges, the tops OF which are
100 feet above water are in sight from
nearly oil the incoming trains. and
from all the streets at the TOP of the
| bluff. These structures and the high
! bridge should be dressed up in bright
colors. according to the belief Of the
! citizens In the west division. Another
meeting vii! be held soon. and these
matters will he disposed of The West
| side people will also have a flag rails
ing, probably Saturday afternoon. The
| time and place will be announced later.
| The schools selected by the commit
tee on Quarters for the veterans, were
| supplied with mattresses yesterday.
The Madison school was first provided
| There are fifteen schools to be supplied
| but at the rate that orders are pouring
| in from oil over the country 1t is ex
pected that that number will have to
| be doubled to house the Immense
| throngs. Minnesota, which at first
| chose the Webster school as sufficient.
finds that 1t will need two more schools.
Gen. Mason's order excluding all yehf-
| cles from the line of parade has been
| slightly modified SO as to permit De-
partme:st Commander William Shake