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

Merriam Realty company, 675; T. L. schur-
meier, $50; John Wann. $50.
d. r. NOyes spoke briefly to the COM
mittee on the proposition to turn the
park into a market place. No number
of men desired the change, and there
were plenty of lots which could be
secured in other parts of the city for a
market. The owners and occupants of
property in the vicinity had forced
the express wagon stands from the
streets around the park in order that
the park and the streets might present
better appearance. When 1t was
proposed to use the park as the site
FOR an auditorium building, the oppo-
sition was so strong against it that the
project was given up. Later 1t was
the intention of a real estate syndicate
to have the park closed and built up
with wholesale houses. The leaders in
this scheme We're, however, forced to
give up the idea, owing to the oppo-
sition from the property owners against
the use of the park for anything but
public park Personally, he would
rather lose $40, 900 than have the park
turned into market The firm he
represented would contest the matter
TO the end and spend any amount Of
money to prevent the use of the park
for market. 1t would be an evil to
the wholesale men as we'll as the city,
and would kill the vicinity as a center
for the wholesale and jobbing trade.
Assent lyman Albrecht said that the
committee was very anxious to secure
market accommodations, which at
present the city lacked. The result Of
this was that large number of farm
ers and gardeners went to Minneapo-
lis, and what the council wanted was
to provide a suitable market.
W. II. Lightner said it was not pos
sible to have Smith park used as
market, and this talk about having 1t
so designated was but retarding the
selection Of q tract somewhere else
for such a purpose. The heirs had at
one time brought suit against the city
to recover the property, but were beat
en- in court. Now, if the city passed
an ordinance designating 1T as a mar
ket, in his opinion, there would be good
ground for another suit, on the ground
that the property having been donat-
ed for a public park, was being used
as market. The city could not af-
ford to take any chances of this kind,
and, If one of the parks had to be
taken for market, he advised an at
tempt be made to secure Rice park,
as the parties interested in that prop
erty all resided in st. Paul, and a deal
might be made with them by which it
might be secured.
In the case of Smith park, the heirs
of the persons who donated it resided
outside of the city and state, and the
least mistake on the part of the city
would be seized as an opportunity to
make legal fight for the possession
of the land.
7. l.. Schurmeier said he had been
asked to improve property fronting on
the park by putting up a large build
ing. If the park was used as a market,
the building would not be erected. as
the proposed tenant would not want to
locate in the vicinity There were about
$1,000, 900 represented in the land and
in improvements about the park
at the present time, and improve
ments to the amount of another 81 000,-
GOO will be needed soon, to supply the
demands Of the jobbing business. From
these the city would receive
about 100000 IN the way Of
taxes, and, if the market was
put in the park, the values would
certainly depreciate at least One-half.
This would reduce the taX-prOviding
power of the city, drive away from the
locality the wholesale and jobbing
houses and be Of no benefit to the
city.
If placed somewhere else where land
is not valuable, instead Of proving q
detriment, it would enhance the value
OF the property, and thus increase the
taxes.
After some further discussion as to
the cost of providing a market place,
which, it was stated, would cost all the
way from $4,000 to 100000, the COM
mittee, by a unanimous vote, recon-
mended that the ordinance be reported
on adversely.