The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1917-09-15

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sides Of what now is the ship
canal and even where the canal
now is.
When the canal was cut
through nearly half century ago,
it left a considerable portion Of
the city isolated. The access be-
tween the two sections was by row
boat, scow, some times larger
steam craft and, in winter, either
over a shifty suspension foot
bridge or over the ice.
After the panic of '73 had put
the City of Duluth into bank
ruptcy, the canny pioneers gave
up their organization as city and
incorporated as a village, there
by beating a goodly lot Of cred
itors in a goodly sum.
When this village organization
was effected, that portion Of Min
nesota Point lying across the canal
was left out, therefore it was a
sort of municipal stray or MAYER
lex. 1t did not seem good to the
people there to be without some
form Of municipal government. A
movement was started to effect a
village organization which was
accomplished early in 1881.
The Village Of Park Point ex-
listed for nine years. For a num-
Der of years, it was neighbor to
and contemporaneous with the
Village Of Duluth. Finally, the
Village Of Duluth once more was
made the City of Duluth and,
few years later, by act Of the state
legislature, the Village of Park
Point was put back into the City
Of Duluth as part and parcel Of it,
very much against the will Of the
leading spirits in the Village Of
Park Point, especially in view Of
the fact that the City of Duluth
did not seem at all inclined to
provide easy access between the
mainland and Minnesota Point.
The Park Pointers put up as good
a fight as possible to keep. from
being arbitrarily put back into
the City Of Duluth. Finally be-
ing promised a bridge, rather in
formally and not truly officially,
perhaps, they surrendered as
gracefully as possible and dropped
their opposition.
The promised bridge eventual
ly came in the form Of the present
aerial bridge, just about Is years
slow, but it was much better
than row boats, scows or even lit
tile tugs and steamboats,. The sus-
pension bridge was cut out many,
many years ago, but, for few
winters thereafter, a sort of board
walk was laid across the ice.
The old suspension bridge was
a loose, rickety, wobbly affair. 1t
is conceded that one man, at one
time, took cow across it. There s
a legend that another daring chap
rode his horse across it but some
of the pioneers are not inclined to
concede that. It may have hap
pened and it may not. The Rip
saw has not fully secured proof
that it did happen.
There are men living now down
across the canal who many times
went across that bridge on their
hands and knees, late at night,
with gale blowing off the lake.
That hand and knee stunt was
made imperative by the tossing
and swinging Of the bridge and
not by any convivial drinks that
may have been secured along Lake
avenue.
The following synopsis Of the
transactions of the council of the
Village of Park Point includes the
more important and interesting
matters of business. Space and
lack of Importance compel many
acts to be omitted and some meet
ings left unmentioned. The COM
plete and original records are in
the city clerks office. This print
ed record undoubtedly will inter
est many Of the present generation
as well as refresh the memories
of the surviving pioneers.
The first meeting Of the board Of
trustees of the Village Of Park Point
was held at the shop Of E. R. Jefferson
April 9, 1881. Certificates Of election
were presented by r. H. Palmer, presi.
dent; Henry Kiichli, James s. Pearce
and F. T. GOWN, trustees. z. D. Scott
treasurer; j. M. U. Thompson, recorder;
D. E. Holston, justice Of the peace. Of.
fetal bonds were required as follows:
Trustees, $500, each; treasurer, $500
recorder, 5000; constable, 800.