St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-18
TO TAKE II ANYWAY
-
ASSEMBLY,S ACTION ON THE SUM-
NIT AVENUE STRIP ONLY DE-
LAYS MATTERS.
LAND WILL BE CONDEMNED.
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
STRINGER SAYS THE GOVERN
MENT Will TAKE 1T.
MONEY IS WAITING TO BE SPENT.
Luther s. Cushing Explains the Ad-
vantage of Helping the Pro-
posed Improvement.

United States Attorney Strnger said yester-
day, speaking of the failure of the assembly
to pass the ordinance for the vacation of the
strip at the end of Summit avenue to be util-
lied by the government in the building Of the
dam across the Mississippi, that should the
council finally refuse to vacate the strip, the
only effect twill have will be to delay the
work until it can be taken by condemnation
proceedings, as he has authority to begin and
prosecute such proceedings, if necessary.
United States Engineer Dushane said further
that the delay simply means the postponement
of the expenditure of $195,0O that has been
provided to carry on the work Of building the
DAM He did not see what purpose the city
could have in holding onto the property, when
it would have to surrender 1t in the end any
how. Even if it retained it, 1t would be Of
comparatively little value to the city. 1t Is
situated on the side of "a bluff; and can be used
for nothing except park purposes, and the park
board could not afford to improve it for years
to come. Continuing, Mr.. Dushane- said:
THE government will spend more money in
the improvement Of that property than the
park board could spare at any time. 1t has
always been the policy of the government to
improve the property surrounding its locks,
parking it in the handsomest manner. 1t is
not always done at once, nor in hurry, but
1t is done: The Sault lock is an instance be-
ing provided with graveled walks and set
with trees, so as to turn 1t into beauty spot.
Then, there is the Des Moines rapids canal at
Keokuk, which is surrounded by a smaller
acreage 1t has been laid out in much the
same manner; the Office is a handsome build
ing, costing $1,000, at least, and the engine
building is ornament. The place has grown
fO he of tha iUht of -oit fOr+ +Io1 vic
itor to Keokuk invariably, If he has a little
time, pays a visit to the lock grounds. The
same is true of Sault Ste. Marie and the gov
ernment will do much better by the grounds
in st. Paul than the park board could hope to
do
There seems to be general impression that
the assembly is making an unfortunate mis-
take in delaying the passing of the proposed
ordinance to vacate portion Of Summit ave-
nue. upon petition of the abutting owners. 1t
is now well-known fact that the government
has $195,OOO available for prosecuting the
work of building a dam across the Missis-
s1ppi, just within the city limits on the
north; that the dam is to cost $500 000 and is
to be followed by two more, each to cost the
same amount, and all to be within the city
limits. The large army of the unemployed
has been awaiting impatiently the beginning
of the work, which shall let loose $3.50 900,
at least of government money, most of which
will go in and about this city; and it is dis
tressing them to find out that this great ad-
vantage to the laborers and tradesmen may
be postponed for year on account of the
unwillingness of the assembly to help 1t
along. 1t appears that the government has
the intention as we'll as the legal right to do
the work in any event, and whether or not
the city council consents to it; but the gist
of the matter is that the refusal Of the as
SomblV Vacata 0f
compels the government to go into court with
condemnation proceedings and to delay the
work until those proceedings. are completed.
The laboring men would rather have the
work offered to, them now when. nobody but
the government feels able to furnish it.
Luther S. Cushing, one of the parties in
terested as trustee of the Union Land COM
pany and owner Of abutting property, said
to G o b e reporter yesterday:
"We cannot understand the adverse report
of the committee on streets on this ordinance
The property sought to be vacated, although
| called Summit avenue is in reality Just on
| the northern edge Of Ramsey county, and at
| great distance from Summit avenue as now
opened. The strip is on the side OF the bluff
and can never be Of any service to anybody.
| If 1t could, we never should have plated a
street 200 feet in width. The 100 feet which we
ask to have vacated we threw into the street
| because it looked well on the plat.
| 1--WE are, of course, anxious to have the gov
ernment work begun as soon as possible, be-
| cause it is well-known fact that the govern
| ment does its work Of internal improvement
| we'll, and that the existence of government
| works is always Of benefit to adjoining prop
| erty When the government instituted pro-
| ceedings for condemnation we asked that we
| be spared the expense of litigation and we
| agreed on the price of some adjoining property
| without an idea that the council would hesi-
! tate to allow the vacation of this strip. Other
wise we would have finished before this The
| city has never opened this street and, ex-
cepting for the plat, nobody would know that
there is street within half of mile from
| this strip. Our attorneys advise us that in
| condemnation proceedings the abutting own
| ers would, as matter of law, be entitled to
the entire amount of damages awarded, but
we are willing to give the city something for
the vacation. We hope that the ordinance will
| yet pass, so that we may keep faith with the
| government. We think that citizens In gen.
| eral are not in favor of refusing to grant the
| government willingly what it has an unuues-
| toned right to obtain by legal procedure Ny
| experience leads me to suppose that 1t would
be OF great advantage to the city to keep on the
| good side of the government
Less Than Pannv VUo.d