The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-21
OF THIS WINTERS BIG CAR
NIVAL.
SENTIMENT IN FAVOR OF 1T
WAS ALMOST UNANIMOUS AT THE
MEETING HELD LAST
NIGHT.
Suggestion That Raspberry Island
BE Selected for the Carnival
Met With Approval.

It's to be an ice palace, and a big
one.
It's to be erected in spite of the fact
that few people in the sunny South
may gain the impression that st. Paul
is not located in the middle Of the
banana belt The rollicking days Of the
old carnival time are to be reproduced,
and during the coming winter an ice
palace will be the center of attraction
in very extended programme of WIN
ter sports and merry making. To add
to it's popularity it will probably be on
Raspberry island, or some place down
town.
The meeting Of public-spirited citi-
Zens called for last evening at the Com
mercial club turned out far better than
the most sanguine expected, and over
100 Of the leading citizens of the city
answered the invitation to be present.
A half hundred others who were un-
and announced that they would indorse
all that was done.
At the opening Of the meeting there
was an extended debate upon the char
acter of the proposed carnival, but be-
fore the final vote was taken the SEN
timent was all one way, and the ad-
vocates Of an ice palace as the leading
feature Of the forthcoming carnival
carried the day with flying colors. 1t
is expected that the winters doings
will eclipse anything which has ever
come off in the country. If the en-
thusiasm manifested last night is an
indication of the spirit in which the
undertaking will be carried out, there
is no question as to it's success.
President It. L. Schurmeier was at
first strenuously opposed to an ice pal
ace for number of reasons. In fact,
it was semi understanding when he
accepted that there should be no ice
palace. He favored the locating Of the
scene of the carnival upon Raspberry
island, which was accessible from all
portions of the city. President Schur-
meier believed the programme should
be confined to winter sports, street
parades and fetes Of a similar nature,
and that an ice palace should not be
attempted. He believd that an ice pal
ace would be losing venture and felt
that the funds would not be readily
forthcoming. But sentiment was too
strong against Mr.. Schurmeier, and he
bowed to popular will.
George Thompson's idea Of the carni-
val was a free show for everyone, the
expenses of which would be born by
popular subscription. Mr.. Thompson
said that If there was to be any one
prominent feature that an ice palace
was the only one which would attract
general attenti u throughout the coun-
try. Mr.. Thoml on, however, admitted
that the jObbers and the railroads were
down on the ice palace scheme for the
reason 1t was supposed to advertise the
city all over the country as being with
in the artic circle.
H. G. Hope, Of the Omaha road, stat
ed that he believed the carnival should
be confined to winter sports and that
the ice palace proposition should not be
carried out. He was in favor Of a gen.
uine carnival of amusements
E. S. Chittenden was in favor Of an
ice palace from the start, and believed
the money could be raised for one with
out much trouble.
H. s. Fairchild said there was no
possible danger Of injuring the city
by the erection of an ice palace. He
| said the city had entertained dozens of
| conventions in mid winter, and that
| the delegates thereto had gone home
with no alarming ideas as to Minnesota
winters, and did not believe the ice
palace would have any greater influence
in spreading the "artic'' theory Mr.
| Fairchild called attention to the ice
palaces and carnivals Of past years,
! saying that it was difficult to find ac-
commodations for the people who came
| to the city.
Dr. Bean was personally in favor of
an ice palace, but feared the experience
| of last year would be repeated when
| tho iOhharG Td hn dc 4
| to contribute to the carnival fund if
an ice palace was contemplated DR..
Bean feared the same result this vea1.
William Bramhall was an enthusiastic
advocate Of an. ice palace. The event,
he said, was not local. 1t attracted at
tention all over the country. All the
| illustrated papers in the country con-
tain extensive articles upon the event,
and the great newspapers advertise the
! city in manner calculated to do an
| immense amount of good. ''It should
| not be the purpose of the people to hide
| the fact that our winters are perhaps
cold, but to advertise the fact that we
! are happy in them, that we thrive on
| out OF door sports, and grow healthy.
The newspapers of the country all pub
! lish the cold snaps, and it is useless to
| try and hide the fact that it is cold in
Minnesota. What we want to do is
to prove that we enjoy it, The old time
carnfvals we used to have were great
| things for the city. I know Of four
! families which moved to St. Paul after
the carnivals.
John Rogers was somewhat afraid
the railroads and jobbers would give
the project a black eye, but he did not
think the people Of the city should be
| frightened on that account He be-
lieved there were enough young men in
| the city who would get out and hustle
! and make the project a. success even if
the railroads and the jobbers did not
favor the plan.
Mr.. Markham said that any ATTEMPT
to make the people Of the country be-
lieve that st. Paul was in the orange
belt would be futile. We want to ad-
vertise the fact that we have cold
inVigOrating, healthy winters Mr.
Markham wanted the matter postponed
until a committee could canvass the
city and learn the wishes of the peo-
pie.
T. D. O'Brien said he would like ia
see any programme carried out which
would benefit the city. Mr.. O'Brien
| thought it would be g. splendid thing
to bring the people into the city dur
ing the session Of the legislature.
J. T. Conley, Of the Chicago, Milwau-
kee & ST. Paul railroad, did not be-
lieve there was much difference be-
tween an ice fort, an ice carnival or
| an ice palace, and stated one would
probably command as good rates as
another from the railroads.
1t was finally unanimously decided
! to introduce the ice palace as the
one brilliant feature Of the winter car
| nival. 1t is believed the palace can be
erected at a cost Of $1,000 The thing
went through with a hurrah and 1t