Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1919-11-07
CITY PARK REPORT THE MINERS STRIKE

INTERESTING REVIEW SUBMIT
TED BY VAL. KAsPAREK OF
PARK CONS ACTIVITIES
! What the Pine Grove park means to
! Little Falls and what has been accom-
! plished in or for the park by the park
committee Of the Civic league is shown
in an exhaustive report submitted by
Val. E. Kasparek, chairman of that
committee, at the annual meeting of the
Civic league last Tuesday evening.
| Mr.. Kasparek reviewed the work of
the committee since it was elected in
1913, stating that the committee guild
ed itself by public sentiment, accord
ing to what the people wanted and were
willing to pay for. He told Of the
acquisition OF the Pine Grove park on
September 18, 1907, through the COOP
GRAFTON of c. E. Vasaly, then city may
or, and NJ. NJ. Williams. The original
cost of the land, SIS acres in all, was
50, 100, of which the citizens subscrib-
ed ST., 100 and the balance was donated
by individuals as follows: NJ. M. Will
liams $1,000; A. r. Davidson $1,000;
G. A. Weyerhaeuser $500; r. D. Mus
ser $500. The park was decided to the
city with the following reservations:
"None Of the growing pine on said
land shall ever be cut or removed ex-
cept when necessary for the health of
other pine of the grove and the land
shall be used and cared for and pro-
teeted for park purposes" It was the
wish Of the lalge donors that the park
should be preserved, as near as possible,
in its primeval state.
In 1913 it was decided to introduce a
"zoo' in the park and in June, 1913
two horned owls were purchased and
donated by the committee, the city
council providing funds for the cage.
The birds attracted much attention and
the committee decided to add to the
collection whenever possible. In Sep
tember, 1913 two deer were secured
from Mankato, the citizens contribut-
) ing the funds. l.. V. Tanner donated
the feed for the animals for the win.
ter Of 10 1914. In August, 1914, cow
moose was secured from Glendale, n,
+ D., the cost being met by public sub.
lscription. This animal attracted q
great deal Of attention and all tourists
who came here made it point to see
it. Owing to the fact that the corrall
for this animal was too small, the ma
tural food supply becoming exhausted
the moose did not thrive and it finally
died.
Through the support of the local Elks
lodge two elk were secured. These
animals are now the main attraction in
the zoo.
In 1915 efforts were made to secure g
bull moose and the local Moose lodge
raised enough funds for it's purchase
but owing to the existing state laws ar
n animal could not be captured or import
, ed. Therefore special bill was pass
. ed by the state legislature permitting
, this city to capture bull moose for the
park, but the permit, issued in July
1917, came too late to capture cali
moose.
In 1914 peafowls were added, but
they were hard to manage and could moi
| be kept. Goats, squirrels, porcupine
woodchucks and raccoons have been do
mated at different times by interested
, citizens, but these animals required too
, much care and consequently could not
, be kept.
,t Some 500 seeds of wild ornamental
; shrubbery were planted in the park
5 such as wild thorns, plums, nuts and
j., crab apples. The committee hopes that
, at some future time these will be orna
ments in the park. Mr.. Kasparek stat
| ed in his report that the committee be-
lieved that nature should be appealed
, to to beautify herself in the park but
, that in this respect the committee die
not enjoy free hand.
In connection. with the park repor,
Mr.. Kasparek reported as to what had
been done to beautify other parts Of
the city. Through their efforts the
dead shrubbery around the postoffice
/ was replaced. The lot adjoining the oil
filling station has been cleaned up and
fcan be used as park during 1920. Fol
the information of the league he men
toned that last September the Morrison
County Memorial Association was or
ganized for the purpose Of acquiring
property and erecting suitable monu
ment to the soldiers of the World wal
from this county. This organization
he stated, has or is about to acquire
property on the east bank Of the river
near the bridge, for this purpose.
In conclusion Mr.. Kasparek stated
that reliable persons who are in position
to know state that as result Of the
zoo at the park real estate on the West
side has changed hands, buildings
have been remodeled, Broadway west
has been macadamized, wooden side:
walks have been replaced with cement
walks and citizens have been spurred
to higher and better level. For this
the committee takes no credit except
4 as performing the ordinary duties of
American citizens. It has been a plea
sure for the committee to work with
the general public for the benefit and
enjoyment Of all concerned and for fu-
ture generations, the only regret being
that not more could be accomplished.
What little the committee did was with
the thought of making this more
pleasant place for all to live and to help
tighten the burden on life's journey.
AMERICAN LEGION MEETING.
A meeting Of the American Legion Of
this city will be held at the city hall
tonight, at which time the Legion but
tons will be distributed. Another meet