The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-08
PARK BOARD
ACCEPS LAND
COMMISSIONERS INDoRsE PRO
JECr FOR PARK ON REDWOOD.
Only Two Members OF Board Oppose
the Plan-Tract Donated by Mr..
Lowry and Others Includes About
Forty Acres-Board Votes $4,000
for Music at Lake Harriet

Backed by eleven votes and opposed
by only two, the park commissioners
last evening voted to accept the gift
of Thomas Lowry and others of land
adjoining the Kenwood boulevard for
"a public park. and to carry out all
the conditions imposed by Mr.. Lowry.
Commissioner w. w. Folwel OPP
+. posed the action of the board. He
declared that the land was worthless
and that the owners wanted to get
rid Of it.
''It is a question whether we have
a. right" he argued, ito exercise the
taxing power in this case. 1t Is a
question Of private benefit. 1t Is tax
ing the poor men for the benefit OF
willing to pay for the adornment OF
their homes out of their own pockets.
I hate to see the city soaked as the
saying is, because somebody has a
piece Of property he wants to get
rid off,
Commissioners D. w. Jones voted
with Mr.. Folwell.
Mayor James G. Haynes spoke at
some length in favor of the park pro-
ject. Inasmuch as Mr.. Lowry had Of
fered to bear all the expense Of Great
ing a park out Of the unsightly swamp,
the city could we'll afford to accept
his offer The need of public play
grounds was more apparent every year
as the vacant tracts become covered
with buildings. The city had wasted
too many opportunities In the past
and the present offer might never be
given again. The speaker emphatical-
ly resented the accusations of several
of the speakers that the park COM
Inissioners were Influenced In their
course by the fact that Mr.. Lowry
was behind the movement.
The tract offered by Mr.. Lowry and
others stretches from Lyndale avenue
to Spring lake and the st. Louis rail
way tracks, and includes all the land
+ between Kenwood boulevard and Erie
street. In addition, few lots be-
tween Lyndale and Hennep1n avenues
opposite Huron avenue, are taken TIC
give an imposing entrance into the
park The whole tract covers about
forty acres. Mr.. Lowry gives about
five blocks, and Mr.. Dunwoody and the
Security bank give several lots. Fol-
the remainder the appraised value is
sS3,533. AS the money is to be col
lected from assessments on real es'
tate extending over a period of ter
years, it will be necessary to levy
100000 in order to cover the in
terest.
The park board voted to set aside
$4,000 for music at Lake Harriet, or
pany contributed a like sum. Com
missioner c.. M. Loring was of thu
opinion that preference should be Civ
en- to home talent.
A communication from the United
States engineers office, asking for tn
transfer to the government of 81,
acres of land at dam No. 1, near Min
nehaha. was received. AS the gov
eminent controls some land at thi
point, which the park board can use
an effort will be made to- effect
trade.
Commissioner Fo1well made a pro
test against retaining the position 0
clerk to the superintendent He di.
not think that the office was wortl
800 per month to the board. Hi
motion that the proposal to abolisl
the office be referred to the commit
tees on finance and improvements wa
adopted.