The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-17
Park commissioners.

To the Editor Of The Journal.
You have allowed candidates of tho
park board and officers of improvement
associations the use of your columns to
answer an editorial in the Tribune in
which it was stated that these candi-
dates had a selfish interest and were
working in the interest of large
estate, the owners Of which desired to
have their lands drained at the expense
of the public. That criticism was prob
ably made in view of the fact that
these parties had been trying for two
years to get favorable action by the
city council, and to secure nomination,
and election park commissioners
without salary. In the reply signed by
these candidates and in the cards which
they circulate they admit that they are
pledged to the scheme to divert Bas-
sett s creek, which is an engineering
impossibility, as water will not flow up
hill, and when it is given an opportun-
ity to flow down hill, unobstructed, as
they propose ,(without locks or dams)
it would soon drain, not only the swamp
lands of the town Of Golden Valley, but
it would drain Cedar lake, Lake of the
Isles, Calhoun and Harriet. And in
their places we would have thousands
of acres Of swamp land, sluggish creek,
typhoid fever and perhaps no Mime
| haha falls, as this combination of Pen
berthy, Nelson, Henry and Witch pro-
pose creek forty feet wide between
the lakes.
Every voter should read the report
Of City Engineer Andrew Rinker on
this subject. It is now up to them to
| say whether they wish to expend mil
lion dollars or more to drain few
acres of swamp land for one of the
animation at the risk Of DESTROYING
the beautiful lakes and the grandest
| lake drive in the world. 49,
The combination claim that they pro-
pose to pay this expense by special as
assessments for benefits, but I know of
no law that will permit the park board
or the city to levy a tax for special
! benefit upon property in the town of
| Golden Valley where four-ffths of the
benefit would be.
In their reply to the Tribune they
estimate the cost of the diversion Of
the creek at $4,000, when they know
that the cost will be. more than ten
damages, damages to railroads, locks
and dams, foWage damages and the
| Minneapolis Mill company.
The property owners in all parts of
the city are demanding park improve
ments, and they are entitled to them,
and they should shut off this raid on
the park funds by defeating these can
didates.
There are twenty other candidates
for the park board who are not pledged
to any scheme to benefit persons or
localities, who will consider fairly all
matters relating to park improvements
that should receive voters considera-
ton. DIR. H. w. Brazie.
Minneapolis, Sept. II.
| The city eng ineer estimates the cost
of the proposed improvement at $780,
900 without allowing for property
| damages, either in securing new right
of way, which would, in all probability,
not be very expensive, or for taking
away from the property owners in up
per Bassett creek valley any rights
they may have in the present creek,
claims for which are liable to amount
to considerable sum- The engineer
says in conclusion: "While the whole
scheme outlined is not entirely imprac,
ticable. it is, in my opinion, mad.
visable.'1