The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-07
REVEALS SEVERAL FLAWS IN THE
CITY'S TITLE TO COMO
PARK.
PARKWAY TO SMELLING AVE.
WILL FOLLOW THE LINE OF
W0ODBINE STREET AS EX-
TENDED EAST.
INSIST ON LIGHTING THE PARK.
That Is the Lenst the BOARD Will
Accept in Return for the
New Route.

1t developed at the meeting of the
board Of park commissioners last night
that there is danger of some unsghtly
holes being made in the contour of
Como park by reason of the neglect,
failure or inability of the founders of
the park to secure the deeds to the
property included in it is plated. It
also developed that Supt Nussbaumcr
has been having a merry war lately
with the owners of some of these
tracts. One Of the troublesome pieces
Is on the east shore Of the lake, where
the drive is intersected by Lake Como
and Phalen avenue, the owner being a
MI. Albrecht. The latter, it seems,
posted a notice on his property desig-
mating that it was private ground, and
directing the public to keep off Supt
Nussbaumer ordered his men to take
the sign down, and they did Then MI.
Albrecht put up a barb wire fence.
Mr.. Nussbaumers grading crew came
along and took the fence down.
Then the superintendent began In
quiry, and found that the city had no
deed to the property in question, the
same being the case with a tract be-
longing to e. F. Berrisford, and the
brick house" property, as it is known,
near the southern end Of the park,
which was owned by a number of peo-
pie, the late D. u. Merrill having per-
haps the heaviest interest.
While these owners, up to date, are
not protesting against the occupation
or Improvement of the property by the
board, there seems to be no hindrance
to their coming in later and disposing
OF the property at their pleasure? Mr..
Nussbaumer was directed to confer
with the city attorney relative to TAX
Ing steps to protect the city's interest
In the park property
Some time was devoted to discus
sion of the proposed parkway to con-
meet Como park with the state fair
grounds. This, it was decided. should
follow the line Of Woodbine street. q
short street running east from Smelling
avenue, four blocks north of IIangford.
1t has been dedicated, but never open
ed. 1t strikes the park in an especially
beautiful portion, it was stated. and
the route met with general favor Ac-
cordingly resolutions were passed for
the condemnation of the 2OO-foot strip
east of the present terminus of Wood
bine street, and of a sixty-foot strip
on each side of that street, which, as
at present laid out, is elgnty feet Wide.
1t was also decided to ask the council
to turn over that street to the board
for park purposes. That will give the
park board PRACTICAL, though not tech
meal, control of the parkway. The law
preserves to the public the right or
free passage on a public street which
may afterwards be taken up in a park
way, but the fact that beyond the two
blocks which it extends at present the
right OF general travel would not exist,
1t was believed, would keep objection
able traffic off 1t entirely.
The request of the city railway COM
pany for permission to extend its line
through the park and out Langford
avenue was also thoroughly discussed
by the three members present, Presi-
dent Wheelock and Messrs. Hamm and
Allen. 1t was decided to call an in
formal meeting Of the board in confer
ence with Vice President Goodrich at
which the board will submit the COM
pany its demands. Supt Nussbaumer
was directed to prepare an estimate of
the number Of lights that would be
necessary for the proper lighting of the
park, 1t being the general opinion that
nothing less than this should be the
price OF the privilege granted the COM
pany. In view Of of the fact that some
bridging Will be necessary along the
proposed line, it was believed that a
ten years grant would have to be
made. The company desired a perma-
nent grant, but the members of the
Beard thought that the right to order
relocation Of the tracks at q stated
time, if then deemed advisable, should
be reserved.
There was some desultory discussion
of the proposed erection of a lean-out
on the pavilion, which resulted in a
practical determination to go to work
on the improvement, which will cost
approximately $15G0, about Feb. l. In
the discussion it was decided that the
board might, perhaps, permit the street
railway company to continue the privi-
lege under its own management, al
though this was not a final decision
Estimates of the receipts and eXpendi-
lures, which would be incident to a
management of the lakeside resort on
basis Of public attraction without the
fake" element of last summer showed
some lucrative prospects, the chief OBJ
lection seeming to be the lack of a
manager to look after the place, and
especially the refreshment portion
thereof. 1t is likely, however, that the
privileges will be let by the board to
some reliable contractor
In this connection, President Vince
lcck laid down the stipulation that in
regard to possible extension of privi-
leges the street railway company as
well as in connection with the lighting
of the park by it it should be llnder-