The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-02
HASTINGS VS.. AH0KA
Continued From First Paga

FIRST rage.
he believed it was for the best interests of
Inc state. He did hot pretend to assign any
different reasons than that for his change
/ OF VOTE When confronted with this state
ment on the stand, he admits that he only
assigned as reason for changing his vote,
the statements made in his affidavit, tho
sentiment OF his district and the petitions he
mad received, but declares that he was not
asked foc any other reason. These were the
only reasons he assigned at that time. He
stated that he was somewhat excited at the
time, and while this might explain his atti-
tuoe TO a certain extent upon the reconsid-
eratlon OF the motion to locate the hospital
IL does not in our opinion, show any good
valid or sufficient reason for his making the
sworn statement in the district court sew
eral weeks afterward, in which he assigns
only as reason for changing his mind the
sentiment OF his district and the petitions
he had received. The explanation of his
excitement at the meeting might explain his
FAILURE to give any other reasons at that
time, but certainly not his failure to assign
any other reason in his affidavit.
1t seems perfectly plain to us IN the first
the sentiment of his district, but in any
event under the statute it was his duty to
exercise his own judgment, and not to fol-
low the suggestions of any one else. He had
personally visited the different sites; the sign
ers OF the petitions had not. The commits
sion, by the terms of the act was authorized
to secure site for the hospital as should
In their Judgment be most advantageous to
the state for the purpose contemplated in
the act. 1t was not proper for Mr.. Hopper
in our opinion, to change his determination
for the reasons which he assigns. In fair
ness to Commissioner Hopper 1t should be
stated that he denies that he declared upon
the vote to reconsider that he still believed
Hastings to be the best site. He says he
did not so state. Commissioner Smith posi-
lively and emphatically testifes that such
was Mr.. Hoper's declaration. 1t seems to US
to unavoldably follow that If Mr.. Hopper
believed Hastings to DO the best site for the
hospital at the time ne voted to reconsider
the location that he had not the right as
an officer Of the state to- vote for Anoka.
AS to the action Of the commission it ap-
pears from testimony Of the secretary that
soon after the meeting at which Hastings
was selected he began TO inquire as to wether
the commission could undo what it had al
ready done, and being advised that it could
lawfully exercise that power, there was pre-
pared number Of petitions to Mr.. Hooper,
many of which were in the same language
and to be circulated in different portions of
MS district, and to be presented to MIR. Hop
er upon the train on his way to Fergus Falls
he caused to be prepared a typewriter reSo-
lutfon locating the asylum upon the site
offered by Anoka, and he also testifies as does
Mr. Hopper. that the members Of the commits
sion, Smith, Bondy and Carlson, known to
be favorable to Hastings, were kept entirely
in the dark as to the proposition to reconsider
the vote by which the asylum was located al
Hastings. When Intercepted as to whether
he thought such conduct was fair treatment
Of the other members of the commission, he
replied that inasmuch as they did not notify
MIN or what they intended to do, he did
not feel called upon to notify them. We can
but think that If a motion to reconsider was
intended to be brought before the meeting
at Fergus Falls, 1t should have been brought
to the notice Of the members Of the COM
mission before the meeting 1t appears from
Mr.. Eastman's testimony that the minutes Of
the meeting Of Dec. is, by which the hos
pltaI was located at Hastings, were not
signed. 1t also appears from the testimony
that the secretary did not sign the minutes
Of the meetings CT Dec. Is, 10 and 90 until
the case was decided in the supreme court
because the commission, among other objec-
ttuns raised in the district court, protest
ed that the action OF the commission Dec
1S was not binding ard 10 legal contract Of
acceptance was made because of the failure
81 the secretary to sign the minutes. This
point was made both in the district and
supreme courts snd the minutes were not in
fact signed until after the decision of the
supreme court in the case. Mr.. Eastman, in
explanation Of his conduct, makes the state
ment that he did not sign the minutes be-
cause the meeting was adjourned until the fol-
lowing day and he considered the meetings
Of the two days as parts of one continued
meeting, but it appears that on other &C.
caSiOnS, when the meeting of the commits
sion was adjourned, the original minutes
show the signatures Of the secretary.
AS to the merits Of the two sites, your
committee visited the Hastings site and that
at Anoka. We find that the site at Hastings Is
located one mile from the business center Of
the city on the banks Of the VermilliCn river
in two plateaus, one 50 feet above the Mis-
Is to 100 feet above the river, containing
about 543 acres. The soil is chiefly very
fertile, light loan, entirely free from stones
ranging from 20 inches to two feet deep
with clap subsoil.
The entire tract, for purposes Of cultiva-
ton cannot be surpassed 1t is adapted to
any and all crops, and is SO provided with
natural drainage that there is nc waste land.
Five hundred and forty acres are now cult
waited. The tract presents two beautiful
building sites, requiring practically no grad
ing The building can be erected on either
plateau and provided with the best of sew
erage ait a minimum cost, the farthest posi-
bic distance necessary to construct a sewer
being 100 rods. This abundantIy appears
from the testimony Of Engineer Wilson. Eli
Their of these building sites presents a most
magnificent view OF scenery for miles either
way. The tract contains several acres Of a
most beautiful natural park covered with
many varieties of trees and bordered on one
side by natural bluff, broken with ravines,
and on one side it is bounded by a natural
rayine cut down through the stone from
forty to sixty feet deep, through which the
Vermillion river runs. This is the dividing
line between the city and the. proposed site,
and affords a practical means Of isolating the
grounds from the city. On the site is
water power equal at the lowest stage Of
water ever known TO flfty-horse power. This
can certainly be made Of value for furnishing
power for operating electric plants and other
purposes On the site open quarries Of
unlimited quantities Of the best Of building
stone suitable for all building purposes. AS
indicating the durability Of this stone, as