The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-06
Vandalistic Housemovers Run Up
( Against a Hard Proposition
/. in B. B. Townsend.
They Were Playing Havoc With the
Trees When He Appeared on
e. -..'SF
~ - s the Scene. -
Mayor Jones Is Appealed To, but
s>' Says He's Powerless
to Act. .1 -

,+h.,>1yop,t> do It requires far more hero
ic verse to describe the armed resistance
this noon Of Burt E. Townsend, a depart
ment manager of the Glass Block, to the
removal of a ramshackle house which
threatened to do great harm to the tower
ing shade trees In front of his residence.
2o5 Tenth street S. =
It was a bloodless battle. but MI
Townsend Won the day. Where ordinary
arguments were of no avail the house.
moving crew were willing to listen to rea-
son when they looked into the business end
of double barreled shot gun, held threat
eningly.
For several days Mr.. Townsend has
viewed the slow progress Of the house out
Second avenue toward Tenth street with
growing apprehension. In summer time
the trees form an archway above the
street. Even now their skeleton branches
almost interlace and for week the dry
limbs have been cracking right and left
before the steady advance of the house
which crowds the curb close on both sides
Of the street.
Mr. Townsend decided that his trees
should meet no such fate, and when he
left home this morning he warned the
movers against unnecessary harm to the
sta ely monarchs standing in close forma-
ton along his curb line. Wherever posi-
BILE they promised to fend off the limbs.
Trees Were Suffering.
When Mr.. Townsend came home q
trids earlier than usual this noon he
was Mortified to see that the crew had
failed to live up to the agreement, and
already the trees were beginning to show
the effect Of the rough treatment. The
men stolidly ignored any suggestions he
had to offer and kept steadily at work
. with horse and windlass.
When it became apparent that peaceful
measures would not suffice, Mr. Townsend
bethought him of the trusty weapon that
had done yeoman service on many duck
pass.
With blood in his eye he reappeared
shortly, armed with his bunderbuss. Thus
fortified. he advanced steadily upon the
foe until he was within thirty PAGES Of
the movers who. by this time, began to
exhibit symptoms of alarm.
With the air of man who realized that
he had stern duty to perform-not his
TO reason why Mr.. Townsend suddenly
came to all abrupt halt and with the ut-
most elaboration eoolly broke the gun.
Then he tucked two cartridges snugly
away in the barrels. while Mrs. F. C.
PiHshury and other interested residents
looked on from neighboring alcoves.
"EIalt!'' reared Mr.. Townsend in a voice
that awoke the echoes for three blocks
each way. I'll shoot the first man who
tries to move that house another foot
That was enough. Mr.. Townsend held
the trump card. The crew promptly
struck-not for higher wages. not for
shorter hours. They simply struck their
coors and surrendered.
Truce is Negotiated.
"Now. then" said Mr.. Townsend, "you
send for the man who's directing this job
and I'll fight it out alone with him.
A messenger was promptly dispatched to
F. w. Pratt, house-mover, sk Fourth
street N, who has the contract for re-
moving the house from Fourth street and
Second avenue to Columbus and Frank
lin avenues. @-
Mr. Pratt responded promptly, and after
a heated debate in which Mr. Townsend
still toyed playfully with the heavy artil-
lery, agreed to hug the opposite curb
stone as closely possible and prevent
further injury to the Townsend trees by
the use of guy ropes, which would per-
nit the limbs to bend but not break.
Then truce was declared and the CUR
was put back in the armory. Mr.. Town
send remained at his post. however, unit
the house had cleared his premises.
Mr.. Townsend's stand warmly
praised by all Tenth street residents
whose trees have suffered by the house
moving process. In several cases large
limbs have been sawed off close to the
trunk in order to permit the passage o.
the house. Mr. Pratt claims that he ha!
perfect right to move houses along an!
streets and to saw off limbs whenever i
becomes necessary. % In proof OF this III
exhibits a permit from the park board
He explains that the board provided al
employee for that purpose so as to insur
intelligent pruning Of trees. -.
II don't suppose property owners hay
any redress for such outrages." said MI
Thompson. but believe a nice point o
LAW would be involved if such a disput
should be taken into @the cour ts.'
The house is a section Of the old three
story" boarding house landmark erecte
during the seventies. Its removal wa
nacessitated in order to make way for til
new Business block which E. G. Walto
is erectihg, at Tenth street and Secon
avenue $. Three more sections are yc
to:traverse Tenth street
- The Mayor Is Powerless.
Acting Mayor D. p. Jones would like t
take a hand but sees no chance. His sym
pathies are entirely with the propert
owners. and If there was anything h
could do he would act with great prompt
ness. But the law ties his hands He ha
consulted the city attorney, and find
himself powerless. ,''.- ~: .-.a...
1T is a pity and a. shame he declare
this afternoon with considerable vigo
that there is no way to prevent tn
ruthless destruction of the finest or.ia
ments of the city. 1t may be very sent
mental, this regard for trees, but, never
theless, any human being has affection fl
the trees. which, he has seen grow fro1
sapings to large, sturdy, shade trees, giN
ing shade and beauty. 1t hurts one &
much to see one s mutilated as to ST
ones dog whipped It's personal il
jury and, though not possible of EXPIRE:
sion in dollars and cents, there should
some protection to the sentiment