The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-17
So Says President Wheelock
in His Annual Message
Written in Southern Cali
fOrnia---Advises the Secur-
ing of Legislative Author
ity to Issue Bonds for That
Amount.

can pFlng the st. Paul park system to
the desired condition that boards have
been planning for ever since it's estab-
lishment.'
This is what President Wheelock, of
the board of park commissioners writes
from far away California. where he is
briefly sojourning for his health. His
views in this respect are embodied in
his annual message, which he forward
ed yesterday to his colleagues in ST.
Paul, and which was submitted to the
park board at It's annual meeting last
night.
There are many things that the
board, under Mr.. Wheelock's leader
snip, has been planning for years, and
THESE include the Lexington parkway,
recently knocked out by a court de-
clSlon because of a faulty assessment;
the Mississippi river boulevard, the
proposed parkway approach from the
new capitol to Como park, and land
additions to Phalen, Como and Indian
Mounds parks.
Altogether" says Mr. Wheelock in
his message, "the park board is in ur-
gent need Of nearly or quite 100000 to
purchase the land Immediately required
for park and parkway purposes which
cannot be otherwise obtained The
present session of the legislature af-
lords favorable opportunity to Sc
cure the necessary legislative author
ny LOT thlS purpose. 1t is to be hoped
that the. efforts which are being made
to this end will receive the united sup
port of the delegation from Ramsey
county. The failure to secure such au-
thorlty now would result in costing the
city great deal more in the future.
For these are matters which NAV be
postponed, but which cannot be aban-
doned; and every years delay will add
largely to the cost
'MOrROVlr VIII bn
templated by the proposed bond issue
snail have been made, it Is not likely
mat any more funds will be needed for
the extension of park areas for MANY
years to come. The eXorbitant prices
are such as to render it impossible to
acquire them In this way. In such
cases the board has no power, under
law, to resort to condemnation pro-
ceedings to determine the value of the
land In question; for the law, as it
STANDS, prohibits the payment from the
park fund of more than 40 per cent Of
the damages in condemnation proceed
!ngs, the remaining so per cent to be
levied on the property benefited In
the cases In which the power to DUR
chase is now asked there is either no
property to be benefited or the benefits
amount to only a small fraction of the
cost of the property.
Park Board Handicapped.
This unique provision, unknown in
otner condemnation proceedings, de-
pr1ves the board of an alternative,
which is absolutely necessary to effect
uate the power to purchase in cases
where the owners demand eXorbitant
prices. The park board concurrently
with the power to purchase land.
should have the power to resort to con-
demnation proceedings to determine
the value Of the land when it is unable
10 reach a satisfactory voluntary
agreement with the owners. This is
the only way in which legal limit can
pc imposed upon the rapacity of sell
hsh and INSCRIPTIONS owners of prop
erty required for park purposes. and
1here is no reason why 1t should be de-
pr1Ved OF a power poss essed by the city
In all other cases.
Direct purchase is the only way to
secure land cheaply for park purpOses
and Mr.. WheeIock points out az an
example what was done under a recent
legislative enactment whereby eighty
acres was purchased at a cost that
would have been double had con-
Qemnat1on proceedings been resorted
to. At Como park Mr.. Wheelock desires
10 clear all of the shore of existing
private residences and holdings, while
at Indian mounds additions of land
must be made that he says are abb
solutely necessary
Much of the legislation under which
the park board is now working is
doubtful, and Mr.. Wheelock advises
that 1T be corrected. It is this doubt
1nat IS retarding the enlargement of
Phalen park. Some of the land is out
side the city limits, and the board
is unable to get possession of it. 1t
consists of the shore rights, and these
must be obtained if the lake is to be
kept intact from private interests.
Concluding Mr.. Wheelock calls at
tent1on to the smallness of the annual
appropriation in the following Ian
guage:
Appropriation Too Small.
1T has become obvious that the limit
or $4,000 fixed by the present charter
is entirely inadequate to the mainten-
ance and Improvement Of the extensive
areas now embraced in our park sys-
tenn, to say nothing of their necessary
future expansion. With the large in
crease in the cost of labor and ma
terial this amount is not equal to $50
600 four years ago, and meanwhile the
cost OF maintenance and Improvement
mas increased, and will continue to in
crease, with the expansion of the Gull
t1Vated park areas and the extension
OF park roads. 1t Is apparent therefore
that, instead of a fixed and infexible
maximum Of expenditure the charter
should be so amended as to provide a
movable limit, which shall permit its
gradual expansion with the growth of
the city and with the corresponding
development of our park system
Il have written this address under
the disadvantage of being far away
from home; but have written it in
the midst of the sunshine and flowers
and orange groves Of thriving rural
town in Southern California, which
owes its prosperity, the prevailing
beauty Of it's homes and It's high stand
ard of civic spirit and culture chiefly
to the stimulus to all those elements
Of civic growth afforded by it's beauti-
full parks, maintained and thrown open
to the public by wealthy gentlemen
from the East who make their homes
here in winter, and by the example
which they have set Of generous pub
lie spirit 1t is a striking instance of
the economic benefits and elevating in
fuence of parks"
Entertainment at ST. Luke's Church.
There will be a st. Patrick's day
entertainment at st. Luke's church
this evening at 8 o'clock, in which a
number of fine stereopticon views of
both Ireland and America will be
shown. Father McNulty will deliver an
address. and A. T. Phillips and Miss