The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-26
WOULD NOT CONFIRM 1T.
Commissioner Copeland Postpones
the Phalen- Park Assessment

the f-haIen f4Tk Assessment.
After granting another and an ex-
tended hearing in the matter of con-
filming the assessment for Phalen
park, the commissioner of public works
| complied with the request of the park
beard and adjourned the confirmation
of the assessment until Nov. IT, 1896.
The First ward property owners were
well represented. The majority pres
ent were in favor Of the immediate
confirmation of the assessment, and a
petition to that effect was submitted
bearing 1870 signatures. But Commits
s1oner Copeland had come to the con-
clusion that the assessment was unjust
in some instances and decided to con-
tinue the confirmation until next No
vember.
c. w. Horn, Attorney Gribble and
Assemblyman Thompson urged the
postponement of the assessment Mr.
Horn repeated his former arguments
against the Justice and fairness of the
assessment and expressed the opinion
that the entire city ought to be as
sessed for Phalen park.
Assemblyman Thompson wanted the
park, and declared that personally he
was perfectly satisfied with the as
sessment on his property, but he
thought there were good reasons for
delaying the confirmation provided
such delay would not endanger the GER
tainty OF securing the park. Mr.
Thompson considered however. that
the assessment was unjust in the case
of much of the farm land lying on the
northeast of Lake Phalen. AS evidence
of this, Mr.. Thompson cited the case
of farmer owning forty acres of farm
land, which had been assessed for
more than $1,000, whereas the land
would scarcely bring 500 an acre in
the real estate Market
Therefore, he thought that the as
sessment ought to be readjusted in JUS
tice to the farmers
Charles Sharood, Of the First ward
considered that postponement Of the
confirmation would work an injustice
Como park had advanced the price of
property In its vicinity 100 per cent,
and in his opinion Phalen park would
increase the value Of property in its
ne1ghbOrhOOd to similar extent Mr.
Sharood argued that the people could
not expect their property to be worth
anything unless they did something to
render it valuable.
A representative Of the First Ward
Taxpayers union presented petition
signed by 100 owners of property urg.
ing that the assessment be confirmed
at once. He was satisfied that con-
tinuance of the confirmation until sNoe
vernber would cause all proceedings to
lapse.
Commissioner Copeland INQUIRED
whether there was any more reason to
suppose that another delay would in
validate the proceedings any more than
the delay already experienced In re-
ply. the First ward representative said
that the past delay was occasioned by
physical obstacles, which, according to
the supreme court, could not invalidate
the proceedings
The commissioner suggested that it
might be necessary to levy new as
sessment In order to render it just and
fair, but the First ward man replied
that If the city waited for an abso-
lutely just assessment it would never
secure a park.
Another property owner called the
commissioners attention to the fact
that the petition was the voice, not Of
lawyers and bankers, but of plain
working people. The petition just sub
mitted had been circulated in only two
precincts of the First ward Other pc
titions were being circulated in the
ward and would be- presented SOON
The commissioner then announced
his decision, continuing the assessment
until the date mentioned.