The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-13

Against the Proposition.
The assembly committee on streets,
yesterday afternoon, by a vote of the
six members, put an end to
the proposition to use Smith
park as a public market. There
probably was no chance for the
park to be used for this purpose, but
an ordinance which had passed the
board Of aldermen and was hung up in
the assembly, designating the park as
q market place, was recalled from the
committee on markets at the last
meeting of the assembly and referred
to the committee on streets. The men,
bers Of the assembly stated at the time
that it would be a capital idea to have
the ordinance passed, and then by
friendly suit in court have the question
settled as to whether the city could
use the park for market purposes.
1t was made clear TO the committee
yesterday afternoon by w. H. Light
ner, one Of the owners interested in
property near the park, that by passing
an ordinance designating the park as
a market the city stood a good chance
TO lose what interest it had in the
property, as the heirs of the parties who
donated the tract as public square
would at once take advantage of the
ordinance and bring suit on the ground
that ii was donated for public park
and by using or designating it for
market place the city had forfeited its
interest.
There was a large delegation Of gen
tl1men interested in property in the
Immediate vicinity Of the park present
when the ordinance was taken up by
the committee. Protests were read from
the occupants of buildings in the Vicin-
ity of the park, and also from the
owners of the property. The protest
from those who are tenants and occupy
buildings fronting on the park declar-
ed that they were engaged in wholesale
and manufacturing enterprises, and had
leases ranging from one to five years.
That they were interested in having
wholesale and manufacturing concerns
located around the park and believed
that within a few years the center of
such business would be so located If
the park was used for park purposes.
The location Of a market on the park
would impair the value Of the business
in which they were engaged, and its
use as such would not be of conven-
fence to any number Of citizens. and
the damage done could not be repaired
within the terms Of their leases If at
all
This protest was signed by Gutter
man Bros, Finch, Van SlyCk, Young 81
&c, AGltOSS, JOHuSOIl N w. H. Ihdi y
& Son. Mccormick, Behnke & Co,
Powers Dry Goods company, Konantz'
Saddlery company, Ogden, Merrill &
Greer, Gordon & Ferguson, Price 81
Robbins, Wright, Barrett & Stillwell,
and NOyes Bros & Cutler.
The protest Of the property owners
recited that the vicinity of the park
was in a few years to be the center Of
the wholesale and jObbing trade. That
such firms had already developed the
property on the southeast and north
sides Of the park That the park was
between the union depot and the retail
business section and on the line Of the
proposed union depot street car loop;
that a large proportion Of the people
visiting the city passed the park on
the way to and from the union depot
and that the proposition to fill the
square with potatoes. cabbages and
garden truck for half of each day
should not be considered for moment.
The sigrers and the number of feet Of
property represented by them was as
follows:
J. w. Bishop, So; L. E. Read, 1875: Maurice
Lyons $50; Mccormick Behnke e. Co.. $50;
Moves Bros. Cutler. 904; F.. II. Cullen
325; r. r. Ogden, 50; estate of S. Bergman
90; n. L. Bowlin, 25O; Richards Gordon 80
GOtZian X Co.. 400: Allen McQuillan. $50; Paul
II. GCt2ian, AZ; Fanny S. Wilder 100; C. D.
Wilder Appleby, 125; Carrie D. Lightner, $50;