Frederick Law Olmsted Subject File Parks Minneapolis, Minn. 1887, 1886To the Park Commission of Minneapolis: Sirs; Public accounts having interested me in your field of operations in planning the trip to the Pacific coast from which I am now returning, I gave myself a few hours to look it over. Your President having kindly aided my purpose was pleased, as I was leaving, to ask me to give you a critical opinion upon what I had seen and upon your general plan and policy. Any expression of opinion upon particulars of mine of the class in question, the more advanced of which are last selections of results, which expected is likely to be misleading if not unjust, unless made after much more deliberate and searching study of the limitations they imperfectly represent and of the probabilities of this successful realization, must I was able to match. As, moreover, you have in Mr. Cleveland, and advisor whose judgement upon any question of these affairs, should have much greater might with you than mine, I hopeto be excused from literally complying with the President's request. Wishing, however, to make some such slight return as I am for his courtesy, I propose to offer you in this communication some general observations upon the duties of Park Commissions. What I shall have to say on the topic may be of interest to you for the reason that Park Commissions are not institutions in the administration of City governments, the duties of no other class of public officers [is] are so ill-defined by common or statute law; there is much confusion in the public mind in regard to them and widely different notions prevail [?????] between different Commissions, and [?] even between different members of the same Commission, as to their proper responsibilities and powers. The [subject] question has engaged my attention in an unusual way because I have been for a time at the head of the oldest Park Commission in the country, have had official connection with twelve other Park Commissions and in four succesive journeys have carefully compared [?]views with gentlemen in charge of park works in other countries. The more important and characteristic works of Park Commission — those with regard to which there has till lately been no provision of in the organization of City governments — are commonly classed with us as "Parks" and "Parkways," the term park being used to indicate a much larger class of public grounds than recently have been the city squares, greens, commons and gardens, (sometimes also spoken of as parks), and the term parkway referring to a class of highways designed not simply to be convenient means of transit from point to point but [because of the situations selected for them and by means of presentation and other adapted] to serve measurably as pleasure promenades. They have also another purpose, in many cases, which I shall presently point out. Taking up the consideration, first, of the duty of Park Commissions in respect to Parkways, that part of it which is apt to be least understood may be better realized if it asked: [How has it come about that Park Commissions have been][given any duty in the premises?] Why has it been thought desirable to vary at all from the methods under which the common streets of a city were laid out, and the public squares, commons and places planted and decorated, before Park Commissions became customary? The proper answer, may, I think, be approached in this way. If we go back far enough in the history of all old cities we find that the place of business of a banker, a merchant or a great manufacturer was ordinarilly under the same roof with his [?] dwelling and it was customary for all classes of master mechanics and craftsmen as well as all sorts of traders to have their beds and take their meals in their shops. Consequently there was no such distinction known as we recognize in speaking of business streets and residence streets, or of the business quarters and the domestic quarters, of a town. [????????? ??????] There was no occasion in laying out new streets or expanding old ones to anticipate that one part of a town would be occupied orTo the Park Commissioners of Minneapolis: Sirs; Public accounts having interested me in your operations, in planning a trip to the Pacific, from which I am now returning, I gave myself a few hours to look it over. Your President, having kindly aided my purpose, was pleased, as I was leaving, to ask me to give you a critical opinion upon what I had seen. I do not think that criticism based on cursory observation of such works [can ever] is likely to be of value. Moreover, the more important points of the policy that you are pursuing are probably determined by considerations of expediency the force of which a stranger to the special public opinion of your local community is not likely to fully realize. [and instead of i] Instead of the review desired of me, therefore, I propose to offer you a few suggestions upon the basis of the duties of Park Commissions. I venture to assume that what I can say on this topic will be of some interest to you for the reason that Park Commissions are new institutions; the duties of no other class of public officers are so laxly defined by common or by statute law; there is much confusion in the public mind in regard to them and widely different notions on the subject prevail in different Commissions and at different times in the same Commission. The subject has engaged my attention in an unusual way because I have been for a short time at the head of the oldest Park Commission in the country; have had official connection with the twelve other Commissions; have organized and superintended several important park works and in four successive journeys have compared views with gentlemen responsible for [Parks] such works in other countries. The park works to which I refer are of two classes, Parks and Parkways. Taking up, first, the duty of Commissions with respect to Parkways, that part of it which is least apt to be [least] well understood may be better realized if it asked:-why has it been thought desirable to depart at all, with regard to this class of highways, from the old methods of laying out, planting and decorating the streets, squares, and other public places ofa city? [The proper answer is to be approached, I think, in this way.] If we go back far enough in the history of all old cities we find that the place of business of a banker, a merchent or a great manufacturer, was ordinarilly under the same roof with his dwelling and it was customary for all classes of mechanics and craft men, as well as all sorts of traders to have their beds and take their meals in their shops. Consequently there was no such distinction known as that which leads us to the use of such terms as business streets and residence streets or business quarters and residence quarters. There was thus no occasion in laying out new streets or extending old ones to consider whether [anticipate that] one part of a town [would] might with profit be occupied or used in any materially different way from another. [Whatever] Hence the custom became established, whatever the advantages of the borders of a growing town for business purposes in one direction or for domestic purposes in another, of laying out streets [were laid out] with little regard for them. [Until the period of Park Commissions there had been no change of consequence in the arrangements or the methods of laying out towns] Not only [however,] has there been an enomous change in the manner of life of the people of towns since this period [or the character that has been indicated], but with a little reflection it will be obvious that a much greater change is near at hand as a result of [is in progress this greater change is to gradually result in a great degree from] the long series of invntions [and enterprise] and changes in methods of doing business that is, and is yet to be, associated with the introduction of railroads, street cars, telegraphs, telephones, postal, express and messenger services and new methods of fire and police protection. It is [perfectly] certain that people in general have as yet hardly begun to adjust their modes of life to the advantages thus offering, yet a sufficient change has already occurred if it is ca considered in connection with the previous change through which citieshave come to be so largely divisable into business streets and domestic streets, to reveal a tendency of social progress [to] which it would now be almost criminal to disregard in extending the street systems of agrowing city. [the great body of the men who carryon the business of a city in the future are going to live in avery different way from that which has hitherto been common and to which the laying out of our cities has been accomadated.] What is the direction of the tendency so far as it is at present revealed to us? Three things appear plainly. First, [the] it [tendency] is to concentrate and consolidate facilities for all sorts of business except that of the retail supply of daily domestic wants, in such a manner as to save long local transportation in movement [??] of merchandi se, and to save long running about for personel conferences during [?]business hours. [Second, the tendency is to disperse the fixtures of] Second, the tendency is to disperse the fixtures of domestic life, even to such an extent there the men of affairs of a city when they leave their places of business may have a considerable degree of a class of luxuries that till lately have [been the] been exclusively associated with rural residencies and that have been enjoyed almostexclusively by men free from the daily cares of business in Towns; third, to make the means of communication between [these] the new semi-rural residence quarters of a city, [and its] to be, thus established and its business quarters, of such a character that passage along thru shall be a pleasing and refreshing element of daily life. The tendency in these [this] directions appear not simply in the increasing number of [detached] villa [like] residencies, small and large to be seen in the [more distant suburbs of our cities] country surrounding a city; in the growing custom of laying out a broader class of suburban streets and planting lines of trees upon them; [in] [the growing custom] & intent of setting back the fronts of new buildings [in blocks] and having plots of garden ground before them but also in what is commonly [reckoned a] regarded as simply [a] the caprice of fashion or [a] turn of taste that has been leading [leads] to a style of building for dwellings [ever on in the more] [in the newer parts] [compact parts] in all parts of our [old] cities that is in strong contrast with [that] the style that [which] was in favor thirty years ago [and that differs most] differing from it most conspicuously [from it] in a manner that then would have been thought more appropriate to costly country houses. This fact [is most] will be conspicuous, for example in a comparison between[in] the dwelling houses built before the war in Washington [and] with those built since. It may be seen in the more luxurious dwelling houses now building in Chicago, which are in styles wholly appropriate to rural villas. It may seem in hundreds of houses in your own city. [Again it appears even] The tendency appears even where people are still living in the old houses of the old streets [adopted equally to business and domestic purposes] of old cities, as, for example, in the growing use of living flowers and foliage decorations in windows and balconies. All these and other symptoms that I will not take time to enumerate indicate [plainly, not] more than the coming in of a passing fashion; [but of a change] they indicate the [general and] rapid progress of a permanent change of habit, of taste and of commercial demand in respect to the situation and the surroundings, [the habits and the commercial demands] the approaches & out-wendings of the dwellings [demands] of the people of towns. This being the case it would be [plainly] imprudent [and extravagant] for a growing city to allow provisions for its further enlargement to be made by the old methods exclusively [and especially] [or] It would be still more imprudent to trust that the [selfish] personal interests of [great numbers] of outlying land owners, acting competitively and [always] [seeking to] naturally inclined subordinate broad and distant public aims to narrow and immediate local and personal aims, willwhat the permanent interests of the community accomplish [what is desirable.] as a whole demand. What are called Parkways, if judiciously designed are likely to become the stems of systems of streets which will be the frame work of [the] [the] the permanent residence quarters of our cities in the future. The attractiveness of these quarters; the degree in which they will be refreshing and in which those engaged in the business [will] of a city will find in them relief from the fatigues of their [business] various occupations [in them] and take pride and pleasure in the improvements that they may privately undertake in association with them, will become elements in the prosperity of [the city] cities of great importance; of far greater importance, for example, than the situation and character of its their public buildings. This consideration [shows] suggests the real nature of the duty of Park Commissions in respect to Parkways and from it is to inferred what responsibilities, [what] powers and [what] duties, [properly belong to them.] they are called to assume.The essence of the duty of Park Commissions in respect to parks, may be come at in a similar manner. With respect to parks, that is to say, so called in distinction from all those classes of grounds with which cities were more or less furnished before Park Commissions were [thought of] made a part of the machinery of City grounds. [It is only during the last thirty years that the want of what parks supply has been clearly and practically recognized by city governments. Previously there] Thirty years ago there were [none] no parks in America, and the few in Europe did not originate in any popular demand; they were not the property of the cities that made use of them. They [were originally] had been formed and held for private purposes and so far as they were adapted to serve any others [civic purposes were] had become so by accident. To realize how rapid and how distinct the [occasion] demand for these parks has since come to be [been] it is only necessary to consider that already nearly every considerable city in the civilized world has become possessed of one. Let us look, however, more particularly at what has occurred in America. [*(insert) .X. London has acquired six thousand acres of park lands; Paris about three thousand; Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Brussels, Amsterdam, Florence each considerable areas.*]When, in 1858, Northpark set about making a park of 760 acres there was [a general feeling] reason for the apprehension that the undertaking was not merely ahead of the times but that it would saddle the city with a piece of property much larger than it could even be profitable for it to maintain. [But the] The manner in which [it was soon used] the parks soon came to be used, however, proved the existence of a popular want [to be met by] [it, [parks] the extent of which no one even of those who had been most active in promoting the scheme head suspected, and [it met] [the first park] this first park was found to add so much to the value of the city as a place of residence and indirectly as a place of business and thus to its wealth and tax-paying capacity, that the [city] government has since, without serious opposition, acquired land for several additional parks, the entire area of her park land being now upwards of 4000 acres. Philadelphia during the same period has acquired 3000 acres of land for park purposes and Brooklyn, Boston, Buffalo, Baltimore, Montreal, Chicago, St Louis, San Francisco [have] each [and that in parks from 500] [obtained] from 500 to 2000 acres.¶ What is at the bottom of the popular want that is to be served by these large bodies of land? What is their distinctive essential purpose that could not be served on the greens, squares, commons, gardens and play grounds of from five to fifty acres that [from time immemorial] various cities had before possesed? Say it is an opportunity for recreation. But for what kind of recreation that could not be had upon the smaller grounds or that could not be supplied by means that had been in use forty years ago? There is but one answer that will bear discussion. The kind of recreation that these large parks supply, and that nothing but these large parks supply, near a city, is that which a man insensibly obtains when he puts the city behind him and out of his sight and goes where [he wan] will be under the unmitigated influence of pleasing natural scenery. [The larger,] The more simply and purely natural[,] the scenery, consistently with reasonable convenience in the use of it, the more unsophisticated, the less adulterated with artifi-objects of interest, the more valuable the park. Hence, other things being equal, within reasonable limits, the larger the park the better, because the larger it is the smaller relatively; the less numerous and the less conspicuous, will be the elements counteractive to the influence of scenery of a natural character. [appear to be. The] [But the most] Yet, because the most important condition of permanent value in a park [being] is that it shall be self-contained, (that is, that the recreation of its natural scenery shall not be disturbed and neutralized by the mingling with its proper scenes of objects of a different character, such as houses situated on high ground about it and that cannot be planted out,) [Hence,] an area of [[?]] a certain extent situated favorably to this purpose will be more valuable than another much larger the boundaries of which are less happy in this respect. For the same reason a small park may be more valuable than a comparatively larger one where it has been better planted with reference to the object of exchanging artificial or urban objects from view and disposing of its natural elements in a manner tobring about by their growth, [under considerable skilled management] broad, simple, ingenous and unaffected passages of natural scenery. The second principle should control the situation and the form of all buildings and other construction on a park [for convenience] Consistently with convenience and a suitable expression of it, which would not in all cases allign there to be absolutely hidden away, that is to say they should be as much as possible sequestered, unobtrusive and [made] by all means made assuredly subordinate in interest as the natural elements of scenery. In short this principle [is at] must be cordially accepted, as the center [of all trees and] the central principle of all genuine park work. If is [is not accepted and allowed rule] is not every [?] public currant having to do with a park may be a law to himself and there is no limit to the waste and extravagance that may at the public expense for gratification of private follies be organized in. [Say that the object is to promote healthful recreation with out the limit thus imposed as to the kind of recreation to which park lands and park funds are applicable, and one man's opinion] What other clear practical working limit upon the outlays of a park commission can be found? There is none and where ever and whenever and to the degree that,the principle has been disregarded in parks the consequences have been [deplorable.] regretted. There has been no case within my knowledge, where, when the project of a large park has come to be discussed, there has not been lamentation that the want of it had not been recognized and provided for some years sooner, and, again and again, I have been pointed to opportunities that had been lost for taking advantage of natural conditions of rare value for the purpose. Nor do I know a single case where a park has been well-formed and brought into use that [there has not been] thinking people have not found reason afterwards to regret that its boundaries had not at the outset been determined more carefully and judiciously with reference to [its objects. There is] [proper] the distinctive object I have advised to be had in view. There is in the neighborhood of Minneapolis, such a wealth of opportunities for finding ground for a park that would possess [that] the supreme quality that I have termed self-containedness, and the city has taken up the question of a parkso early in its career and with so much obvious enterprise, [that] and has at its command in Mr Cleveland; so experienced & excellent a professional counsellor, that it is reasonable to hope that it will not meet with a similar experience. Yet a caution against mistaken economy in the respect indicative may yet be timely. Within fifteen years after the first boundaries of the Central Park of New York had been established and the land within them acquired, the importance of a few small additions to its area [that] had already become so much more evident than they were to the original projections that one after another provision was made for taking them. The cost of doing so was more than two million dollars greater than it would have been had they been included in the original scheme. Again, the boundaries originally advised by the Landscape Architects of [of the Buffalo Parks] employed (for into of the Buffalo parks) were contracted each at one point. This was done on the ground that the pieces thrown out could be of little importance and that they would cost less than they were worth. But after the park had come into popular use a different understanding of their value came to prevail sostrongly that after long agitation and many miscarriages each has been [obtained at] lately acquired at a price ten times greater than would originally have been [willingly accepted] necessary to pay. This is the cost of a small piece of ill-considered economy through a misconception of the true elements of value in a park, after a period of fifteen years, in a city which cannot have been gaining in population at the rate that your city is sure to do. Another error into which park commissions have been apt to fall grows out of a [confusion of [?]] propensity to confuse the object of providing people with the refreshment of natural scenery with that of providing [a] good places for driving and walking and a series of pleasant [objects] things to be seen from [it] those places regardless of [their effect on the] the object of proper park scenery. In the New York park at one time a large number of trees were planted by the road sides in a formal way at regular distances and in the manner of common urban street [trees] plantations. Afterwards their inconsistency with the general informality of the proper park scenery was recognized and they were cut down. For the same reason substantial structures ofmasonry and bronze statues on granite pedestals, first so placed as to be one of concert with the natural landscape as [any landscape gardener] a proper professional adviser, like Mr Cleveland would at once have seen, have since been demolished or removed and this is a growing public opinion that other objects valuable , in themselves but [foreign to the] clashing where they stand with the main purpose of the park should be [removed] disposed of in some other manner than they are. In the early days of a park undertaking the mistake is sometimes made of regarding the ways through it as its more important features, especially the driving ways. It results that roads are sometimes laid out in such a manner as to greatly injure [the] natural advantages for rural scenery, [dividing landscapes] compelling embankments as artificial in character as those of railroads to be formed on the shores of otherwise beautiful waters; [or] dividing verdant features with a result like that of drawing a piece of chalk across the face of a painted landscape or nullifying all X There is no more important rule in park making to be derived from the principles this [I have] has been laid down than that roads must be regarded X opportunities for breadth, unity and tranquility of rural sentiment.ments are needed to draw many who will come to it in carriages to leave them and take walking exercise. [Physicians often urge this.] Lastly, it may be promoted and as a logical influence [It will be plan] from all that has been said that it is the duty of a Park Commission [to lead] to open the way to new not to follow old customs; to lead, and not to [follow] tag after public opinion [in respect to the detail of its business.] If it is not prepared to move in advance of the people [it serves] of whose interests it is placed in charge, nothing, is more certain than that after a few year its labors will be rewarded very ungratefully & the question will often be asked Why could they not have used a little more foresignt & get a little more use of their intended [?]. Respectfully Fredk Law Olmsted. as implements simply for making the enjoyment of natural scenery available and must be laid out, maintained and used at the least practicable expense to the [natural] scenery. [which they are designed to bring under exhibition.] It may be well therefore that it should be pointed out, [also] that at first, in the history of a park, most of those using it are likely to come in carriages, especially so if the park roads are better, simply as , than can be had elsewhere. Ultimately, however, the walks of a park are much more used than its wheel ways and if due consideration is not given in laying out the park to this consideration revisions of the plan are likely to be afterwards demanded such [as cannot afterwards] such as cannot be made with out great destruction and at some cost. It is of the highest [importance] consequence that enjoyment of the best scenery of a park should be had from its walks. [It is better that something should be sacrificed to this purpose of the enjoyment of beauty from its drives, and it is] It is ever desireable that [something should] there should be attractive [lines of view] passages of scenery available to those who walk that cannot be reached [from drives] by those in carriages. It is so for this reason. Considering a park as an institution for the sanitation of a city induce-[It is not to be reasonably supposed that the habit of preparing a meal have as one mind than begun to be favorably adopted to the new conditions that have there come and all coming to them.] Repeat to Pack Commission of Minneapolis 1896 Established in the Park Com Report of Minn. for 1887[*IV Minn PR*] FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF Park Commissioners OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS FOR THE YEAR ENDING March 14, 1887.VIEW IN CENTRAL PARK. FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF Park Commissioners OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, FOR THE Year Ending March I4, I887. MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.: TRIBUNE JOB PRINTING COMPANY. 1887.OFFICERS—1886-7. CHARLES M. LORING, President. DORILUS MORRISON, Vice-President. RUFUS J. BALDWIN, Secretary. [See last page of cover for Board and Officers for 1887-8.] PARK COMMISSIONERS—1886-7. ALBERT A. AMES, Mayor, Park Commissioner ex-officio. EDWARD M. JOHNSON, Chairman Council Committee on Public Grounds, ex-officio. ROBERT PRATT, Chairman Council Committee on Roads and Bridges, ex-officio. EUGENE M. WILSON, elected April 6, 1886, for three years. JOHN C. OSWALD, elected April 6, 1886 for three years. ANDREW J. BOARDMAN, elected April 6, 1886 for three years. BALDWIN BROWN, elected April 6, 1886, for three years. BYRON SUTHERLAND, elected April 6, 1885, for three years. DANIEL BASSETT, elected April 6, 1885, for three years. CHARLES JOHNSON, elected April 6, 1885, for three years. *CHARLES A. NIMOCKS, elected April 6, 1885, for three years. CHARLES M. LORING, elected April 1, 1884, for three years. GEORGE A. BRACKETT, elected April 1, 1884, for three years. DORILUS MORRISON, elected April 1, 1884, for three years. WILLIAM S. KING, appointed April 25, 1885, for two years. *Resigned May 15, 1886. REPORT. During the year covered by this report the parks and parkways under the care of the Board of Park Commissioners, with the areas of the parks and length of the parkways, have been as follows: First Ward Park, 10.08 acres. Prospect Park, 20.52 acres. Riverside Park, 19.78 acres. Central Park, 33.50 acres. Murphy Park, 3.33 acres. Elliot Park, 4 acres. Franklin Steele Square, 1.54 acres. Hawthorne Park, 1.13 acres. Oak Lake Park, 1.33 acres. Lake Harriet Park, 50 acres, 365 acres lake. Lake of the Isles Park, 152 acres. Lake Calhoun Terrace, 6.33 acres, 400 acres lake. Lake Harriet Boulevard, 3.50 miles. Lake of the Isles Boulevard, 3.57 miles. Hennepin Avenue Boulevard, 1.33 miles. Kenwood Boulevard, 0.68 miles. Stinson Boulevard, 1 mile. Central Park Boulevard, 0.35 miles. Total area of parks, land and lake, 1,023.84 acres. Total length of parkways, 11.18 miles. The cost of these several parks and parkways from the origin of the Commission to the date of this report, exclusive of interest on city bonds, as been: For acquisition of lands $428,077 73 Improvements, superintendence, administration, and expenses of the Board 200,855.25 Total $628,932 98 Less amount received from benefits collected, and other sources than bonds and tax collections 84,606.92 Total cost of park improvements $554,326 06 The present market value of the lands embraced in the system, estimated according to the current prices of adjacent lands, and not including the Hennepin Avenue, Kenwood, and Stinson Boulevards, which are used as public streets, is the sum of $1,308,500.006 FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LAKE HARRIET BOULEVARD Has been completed during the year by the final acquisition of 80 rods along the south shore of the lake, at a cost of $1,034.53, to which Messrs. Thornton and Sutherland have added by gift a drive-way from near the residence of Gen. Reeve, over the high bank overlooking the lake, to a point east of the residence of Peter Sutherland. The space between the drive-way and the shore of the lake has been planted with two rows of elm trees, and considerable has been done in planting and ornamenting the banks exterior to the drive-way. The attention of the Superintendent has been given to such work as was necessary to the completing the architect's plans for the First Ward. Prospect, Riverside, Central, Elliot, and Murphy Parks, all of which have been planted with trees and shrubbery, and all the parks have been kept in good order, and have become attractive resorts. During the winter the ice on the lake at Central Park has been kept in order for skating, and a house erected for the accommodation of skaters has been kept warmed and open, with proper attendants, and the ice has been brilliantly illuminated with electric lights. Great numbers of people have enjoyed the sports of the ice. A band stand has been erected at Central Park, where, through the summer, music has been furnished during one evening of each week by the liberality of the citizens of the vicinity. NEW ACQUISITIONS. During the year lands have been acquired for the Kenwood, Lake Calhoun, and Lake of the Isles park ways. KENWOOD BOULEVARD. This was conveyed to the city by the proprietors of Kenwood Addition, without other consideration than that the boulevard should be constructed and maintained as a part of the park system of the city. It has a length of 68-100 of one mile, and a width of 100 feet, and extends from the intersection of Lake View and Newton Avenues southwesterly and southerly along the picturesque slopes of Kenwood to Lake of the Isles Boulevard, midway between West Twenty-second and West Twenty-fourth streets. When it shall be constructed in accordance with the plans of the landscape architect, with a drive-way of 40 feet and margins planted with trees and shrubbery alternately, according to the views afforded from one side to the other of its exterior boundaries, it will be one of the most unique of the city boulevards, and its vicinity will afford some of the finest residence sites in the city. LAKE CALHOUN BOULEVARD Consists of a strip of land along the east shore of Lake Calhoun, extending from Lake street to Thirty-sixth street, three-quarters of a BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS. 7 mile in length. The title was acquired wholly by condemnation at a total cost $29,757.44. The cost was much the highest of any of the park acquisitions, and in the opinion of the Board quite beyond the actual damages, but as it was fixed by appraisers appointed by the District Court, and seemed essential to the completion of the park system, as a connection between its parts, and commands a large part of the water area of Lake Calhoun, the Board reluctantly acquiesed in the valuation, and paid the amount at which the property was assessed into court, to be distributed to the owners of the property. LAKE OF THE ISLES BOULEVARD. The acquisition of lands for this improvement has been completed, with the exception of one appeal from an appraisal which had been confirmed by the Board, involving damages fixed by the appraisers at $1,000. With the exception of two tracts of land, owned by Geo. H. Lewis and Thomas Halloran, the title to which was acquired by condemnation, the lands were given by the owners. The donors were John Green, R. P. Russell, Alfred J. Dean, Joseph Dean, J. W. McGregor, Bishop Foss, Miss Margaret Horan, Charles B. Peck, James McMullen, and E. S. Corser. Commencing north of Franklin avenue the boulevard sweeps around both shores of the picturesque lake, and connects at the south with the Lake Calhoun Boulevard, and on the west by a branch running between Lake of the Isles and Cedar Lake to the northwest shore of Lake Calhoun. On the northerly extremities of the lake are level areas of 40 acres, which, when drained and filled, will, with the 112 acres of water included within the boulevard, become a most attractive park. The boulevard has a length of 3.57 miles, and will be planted with trees and clumps of evergreens and shrubbery in suitable places. MISCELLANEOUS. During the summer Prof. Fred Law Olmsted visited Minneapolis and inspected its system of parks. At the request of the President, he addressed to the Board a letter, which, from the high authority of the writer on subjects of landscape art, as well as for the value of the suggestions which he makes, is published with this report. The Legislature, at its recent session, amended the park act in several particulars, which are subjoined to this report. The most important features of the amendments are those which transfer the jurisdiction over trees and planting in the streets of the city to the Park Board, and which give the Board the nomination and control of the police for the city parks. The amendments likewise define the control which the Park Board may exercise over the water of the lakes which the park-ways wholly or in part surround.8 FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE A statement of the receipts and expenditures of the Board during the year, as required by the Park Act, is appended hereto. Minneapolis, March 14th, 1887. By order of the Board, C.M. LORING, President. R. J. BALDWIN, Secretary. RECEIPTS. Unexpended balance March 14, 1886.... $ 1,548 77 Total receipts........ 107,793 87 $109,342 64 EXPENDITURES. Expenses......... $ 5,429 20 Hawthorn Park........ 348.03 Franklin Steele Square.... 367.80 Central Park..... 12,139 12 First Ward Park..... 2,033 83 Prospect Park..... 3,461 79 Riverside Park..... 2,307 37 Murphy Park...... 624 46 Elliot Park...... 1,159 73 Lake Harriet Boulevard...... 9,090 70 Central Park Boulevard...... 49 28 East River Boulevard..... 18 96 Oak Lake Park..... 189 62 Lake of the Isles Boulevard...... 7,382 08 Lake Calhoun Boulevard..... 29,757 44 Kenwood Boulevard....... 2,628 85 Franklin Avenue........ 453 08 Exposition Park.......... 13 50 Hennepin Avenue Boulevard........ 2,259 54 Interest on Bonds.......... 19,125 00 Bills Receivable......... 161 15 Trees and Shrubbery............... 3,127 60 Pay Roll balances.......... 295 63 Tools and implements...... 1,166 97 Furniture and fixtures........... 637 50 Payment of moneys previously set apart......... 886 76 Unexpended balance March 14, 1887........ 4,139 75 Refunded assessment of S. Elliot........ 87 00 $109,342 64 BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS. 9 DETAILED STATEMENTS. RECEIPTS. 1886 April 1, General tax collections $ 7,051 48 1, Park assessments 1,949 68 May 7, Trees sold 623 95 31, Trees sold 4 00 July 8, General tax collections 23,507 06 8, Park assessments 27,605 26 17, Ploughing 2 01 17, Damages warded O. B. King, revoked 144 76 31, Bills Receivable 3 66 31, Shovels 11 00 Aug. 30, July pay roll 86 05 Oct. 7, August pay roll 177 85 20, Grading Lake View Avenue 1,500 00 Nov. 20, General tax collections 708 91 20, Park assessments 998 62 30, Shovels 7 00 30, Pay Roll balances 36 58 30, On account house sold 62 59 30, Wood sold 10 75 Dec. 10, Bills Receivable 40 00 24, Proceeds of Loan 12,210 00 28, Balances Sept. and Oct. pay roll 2 66 1887. Jan. 8, Sale of 30 City park bonds 31,050 00 $107,793 87 EXPENDITURES. Expenses. 1886. May 15, Oil $ 5 60 15, 1 ship 1 00 15, Carpet 6 20 15, Jobs at office 2 34 15, Recording deeds 2 00 15, District Clerk's fees 10 05 15, Police Badges 11 62 15, Stationery 1 70 15, Horse board 76 50 15, Chloride of lime 40 15, Official advertising 27 50 15, Shutting off water 4 0010 FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE June 3, Commissions National Park Bank, paying coupons ..........................................$ 11 96 July 3, Engraving and printing annual report.... 130 00 3, Horse board ............................................. 36 00 3, Stationery ................................................. 1 35 3, Stencils ...................................................... 1 90 17, Blanks ...................................................... 3 50 17, Lead ......................................................... 2 85 17, Blacksmithing ......................................... 11 00 17, Horse board ........................................... 18 00 17, F. S. McDonald, County Auditor, for entering assessments ............................... 400 00 Aug. 7, Blacksmithing .......................................... 5 55 7, Police Badges .......................................... 10 00 Sept. 18, Horse equipments ................................ 2 35 18, Publishing ordinances ......................... 8 00 18, Stationery .............................................. 1 70 18, Envelopes .............................................. 3 00 18, Oil ........................................................... 2 85 Oct. 9, Saw filing ............................................... 1 50 9, Horse board........................................... 22 00 9, Blanks...................................................... 10 00 9, Repairing tools ...................................... 9 00 9, Saw filing................................................. 1 20 Nov. 6, Oil ............................................................ 6 55 6, Horse board ........................................... 18 00 6, Staples .................................................... 1 13 Dec. 4, H. W. S. Cleveland, landscape architect 100 00 4, Horse Board........................................... 20 00 4, Repairing Tools ...................................... 6 50 4, Repairing Tools ...................................... 49 35 4, Blanks ...................................................... 9 00 11, Commissions National Park Bank, paying coupons.......................................... 11 96 11, Horse Board .......................................... 22 00 11, Recording deeds .................................. 10 50 11, Stationery ............................................. 4 24 11, Discount on loan ................................. 210 00 11, D. Fish, salary as attorney ................... 833 30 11, W. M. Berry, salary as Superintendent... 2,083 30 11, R. J. Baldwin, salary as secretary.......... 1,200 00 $5,429 20 BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS. 11 HAWTHORNE PARK. 1886. May 3, Labor .....................................................$ 4 38 15, Labor ..................................................... 50 00 June 3, Labor...................................................... 116 23 July 3, Plumbing .............................................. 9 52 3, Pay roll June .......................................... 34 50 Aug. 7, Pay roll July ........................................... 25 00 Sept. 18, Pay roll August .................................... 27 50 Oct. 9, Pay roll September .............................. 25 70 Nov. 6, Pay roll October.................................... 25 00 Dec. 4, Pay roll November .............................. 30 20 $348 03 FRANKLIN STEELE SQUARE. 1886. May 15, Labor in April .......................................$ 4 38 June 3, Labor in June ......................................... 57 75 July 3, Plumbing ............................................... 9 52 3, Pay roll for June .................................... 42 50 17, Plants ..................................................... 27 02 Aug. 7, Pay roll for July .................................... 40 00 Sept. 18, Pay roll for August ................................ 43 75 Oct. 9, Plumbing ............................................... 6 66 9, Pay roll for September .......................... 42 70 Nov. 6, Pay roll for October ............................... 40 00 Dec. 4, Pay roll for November ........................... 53 15 $367 80 CENTRAL PARK. 1886. May 3, Pay roll December, 1885 ......................$ 183 95 3, Pay roll December, 1885, ice ............... 272 04 3, Pay roll January 1886, ice ..................... 496 01 3 Pay roll February, ice ............................. 176 45 15 Pay roll March.......................................... 313 68 15 Pay roll April ........................................... 1,749 86 15, Bulbs........................................................ 9 00 15, Hardware................................................ 1 45 15, Labor ...................................................... 60 33 15, Compost ................................................. 5 00 15, Screens ................................................... 40 00 15, Plumbing ................................................ 38 53 15, Cedar posts ............................................ 12 5012 FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 15, Electric lights..................................$ 136 00 15, Lumber............................................ 442 25 15, Use of Roller................................... 6 00 15, Grass seed 160 00 June 3, Pay roll for May.............................. 3,534 67 July 3, Plumbing......................................... 9 51 3, Wire, etc., for fence........................ 16 24 3, Lumber............................................ 20 17 3, Pay roll for June.............................. 595 85 17, Plumbing......................................... 2 75 17, Posts................................................ 10 00 17, M. Ring, work on bridge................ 143 60 17, Electric Fuse 9 38 17, Painting bridge............................... 21 12 Aug. 7, Stone................................................ 30 55 7, Grass seed....................................... 16 00 7, Arbitrator's fees.............................. 10 00 7, Dynamite.......................................... 40 00 7, Pay roll for July................................. 409 29 Sept. 18, Lumber............................................. 12 38 18, Plumbing.......................................... 22 59 18, Paints................................................ 33 45 18, Oil...................................................... 4 76 18, Painting............................................ 42 40 18, Band Stand...................................... 430 50 18, Electric wire..................................... 10 37 18, Pay roll for August.......................... 871 36 Oct. 9, Costs of Assessments.................... 165 00 9, Advertising assessments............... 24 00 9, Serving notices of assessments.... 76 50 9, Plumbing.......................................... 14 52 9, Cobble Stone.................................... 5 50 9, Hardware.......................................... 7 30 9, Carpenter work................................ 4 71 9, Grass seed......................................... 111 25 9, Pay roll for September..................... 469 16 Nov. 6, Drawings for band stand................. 25 00 6, Dimension stone............................... 13 00 6, Lumber............................................... 23 81 6, Pay roll for October.......................... 256 09 Dec. 4, Pay roll for November...................... 319 02 4, Taxes on Badger land....................... 97 91 4, Lumber............................................... 101 23 4, Engineering........................................ 3 00 BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS. 13 Dec. 4, Bulbs...................................................$ 12 00 4, Wire..................................................... 10 13 $12,139 12 FIRST WARD PARK. 1886. May 3, Pay roll for December, ice................$ 7 75 3, Pay roll for January.............................. 60 85 3, Pay roll for February............................ 19 40 15, Pay roll for March................................. 13 25 15, Pay roll for April.................................... 103 85 June 3, Pay roll for May..................................... 423 85 July 3, Water pipes........................................... 86 66 3, Pay roll June..................................... 531 50 17, Fence posts............................................ 10 00 17, Lumber................................................... 74 24 17, Redemption from tax sale................... 10 00 Aug. 7, Pay roll for July...................................... 336 28 Sept. 18, Pay roll for August................................. 126 20 Oct, 9, Pay roll for September.......................... 117 90 Nov. 6, Pay roll for October............................... 77 00 Dec. 4, Pay roll for November........................... 35 00 $2,033 83 PROSPECT PARK. 1886. May 15, Pay roll, April........................................$ 421 43 15, Grass seed........................................... 240 00 June 3, Pay roll, May......................................... 1,201 28 July 3, Engineering.......................................... 21 25 3, Landscape architect............................ 30 00 3, Pay roll, June......................................... 215 80 Aug. 7, Grass seed............................................. 40 00 7, Pay roll for July...................................... 320 92 Sept. 18, " August................................. 276 07 Oct. 9, " September.......................... 290 87 9, Engineering............................................ 5 50 Nov. 6, Pay roll for October............................... 271 68 Dec. 4, " " November........................... 32 12 4, Lumber.................................................... 54 85 4, Grass seed.............................................. 40 00 $3,461 7914 FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE RIVERSIDE PARK. 1886. May 3, Pay roll, December, ice $ 6 75 3, " January 28 77 15, " March 2 50 15, " April 218 50 June 3, " May 240 80 July 3, " June 174 74 3, Engineering 18 50 3, Landscape architect 30 00 17, Posts 28 17, Disbursements of R. Schutzka 2 65 Aug. 7, Pay roll, July 735 05 Sept. 18, " August 455 93 Oct. 9, " September 165 55 9, Paint 82 9, Sewer Pipe 67 75 Nov. 6, Disbursements for P. Schutzka 9 28 6, Pay roll, October 110 50 Dec. 4, " November 39 00 $2,307 37 MURPHY PARK. 1886. May 15, Grass seed $ 40 00 15, Pay roll, April 65 85 July 3, " June 240 19 Aug. 7, " July 59 00 Sept, 18, " August 80 79 Oct. 9, " September 45 33 Nov. 6, " October 8 75 Dec. 4, " November 84 55 $624 46 ELLIOT PARK. 1886. May 15, Pay roll, March $ 26 25 15, " April 185 37 June 3, " May 86 80 July 3, " June 125 80 3, Plumbing 9 51 Aug. 7, Pay roll, July 103 70 Sept. 18, " August 415 11 Oct. 9, " September 80 95 9, Paints 1 45 BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS. 15 9, Engineering $ 3 67 9, Plumbing 16 07 Nov. 11, Pay roll, October 54 25 Dec. 4, " November 50 80 $1,159 73 LAKE HARRIET BOULEVARD. 1886. May 3, Pay roll, January $ 33 75 15, Costs of appraisal 120 00 15, Grass Seed 80 00 15, Pay roll, April 718 93 15, Damages for land to Thornton & Sutherland, 1,034 54 15, Pay roll, May 1,916 75 July 3, " June 1,313 55 3, Engineering 39 13 3, Landscape architect 10 00 17, Engineering 14 88 Aug. 7, Lumber 5 36 7, Pay roll, July 1,431 01 Sept. 18, Wire for fence 90 14 18, Pay roll, August 466 10 Oct. 9, " September 1,052 65 9, Engineering 4 25 9, Painting 21 25 9, Lumber 25 00 Nov. 6, Pay roll for October 132 75 Dec. 4, Pay roll for November 549 05 4, Engineering 27 12 Dec. 11, Engineering 4 50 $9,090 70 CENTRAL PARK BOULEVARD. 1886. Aug. 7, Catch basins $ 12 63 7, Mason work to catch basins 36 65 $49 28 EAST RIVER BOULEVARD. 1886. Dec. 11, Taxes of 185, on lots of H. W. Young $ 18 96 OAK LAKE PARK. 1886. Oct. 9, Pay roll for labor in September $ 189 6216 FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LAKE OF THE ISLES BOULEVARD. 1886. July 3, Engineering.....................................................................$ 63 60 July 17, Engineering..................................................................... 26 75 Sept. 18, Damages for lands of Thos. Halloran.......................... 301 17 Oct. 9, Costs of appraisal........................................................... 167 00 9, Advertising appraisal...................................................... 72 50 9, Engineering...................................................................... 170 37 9, Pay roll for September.................................................... 914 23 20, Paid Thos. Dailey for grading contract......................... 250 00 Nov. 6, Pay roll for October......................................................... 4,275 13 10, Pay roll for November in Part........................................ 598 36 Dec. 4, Balance pay roll for November...................................... 136 75 4, Engineering....................................................................... 318 12 11, Engineering...................................................................... 59 00 11, Advertising notice........................................................... 30 00 $7,382 98 LAKE CALHOUN BOULEVARD. 1886. July 3, Engineering.....................................................................$ 51 10 17, Engineering..................................................................... 2 00 17, Costs of appraisal........................................................... 240 00 Aug. 7, Advertising notice.......................................................... 12 40 30, Advertising notice........................................................... 18 00 Nov. 30, Deposit in District Court for land damages................ 170 55 Dec. 11, Livery for court appraisers........................................... 3 00 11, Disbursements of attorney on appeal........................ 16 25 11, Costs; McCrory appeal................................................... 100 80 1887. Jan. 8, Deposit in District Court for land damages................ 29,143 34 $29,757 44 KENWOOD BOULEVARD. 1886. Oct. 9, Pay roll for September...................................................$ 394 63 Nov. 6, Pay roll for October......................................................... 2,214 00 Dec. 4, Engineering....................................................................... 19 62 $2,628 85 FRANKLIN AVENUE. 1886. Nov. 6, Pay roll for October........................................................$ 153 05 Nov. 10, Pay roll for November..................................................... 300 03 $454 08 BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS. 17 EXPOSITION PARK. 1886. Dec. 11, Engineering $ 13 50 HENNEPIN AVENUE BOULEVARD. 1886. May 15, Pay roll, March $ 39 00 15, " April 440 75 15, Grass seed 40 00 June 3, Pay roll, May 119 57 July 3, " June 420 70 Aug. 7, " July 307 25 Sept. 18, " August 236 45 Oct. 9, " September 33 27 9, Costs of assessment 75 00 9, Advertising notice 9 00 Nov. 6, Pay roll, October 21 00 Dec. 4, " November 62 55 4, Engineering 5 00 11, Sprinkling for season 450 00 $2,259 54 INTEREST ON BONDS. 1886. June 3, Interest on $425,000 bonds, due July 1 9,562 50 Dec. 11, " 425,000 " " January 1, 9,562 50 $19,125 00 BILLS RECEIVABLE. 1886. May 15, For grass seed $ 3 66 Sept. 15, For labor at Exposition 117 49 Oct. 9, For labor at Washburn Home 40 00 $161 15 TREES AND SHRUBBERY. 1886. May 15, Two hundred evergreen trees $ 100 00 15, P. S. Peterson's bill of trees 2,352 00 15, F. W. Kelsey's bill of trees 130 00 15, Freight on shrubs 14 45 15, Freight on trees 240 00 July 3, Ellwanger & Barry's bill of trees 110 15 17, Fred. W. Kelsey's bill of trees 98 50 Aug. 7, Kelly, Lock & Co.'s bill of trees 82 50 $3,127 6018 FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PAY ROLL BALANCES. 1886. Aug. 30, Payment of balance returned to Park Fund, $ 81 20 Oct. 9, " " " " 68 25 8, " " " " 77 66 Nov. 5, " " " " 68 52 $295 63 TOOLS AND IMPLEMENTS. 1886. May 15, Three tree prunes $ 3 00 15, Chalmers & Williams' bill 88 92 15, Burt & Lote, repairing 65 45 15, Miller Bros.' bill 350 52 July 3, Miller Bros.' bill 28 55 3, Lawn mowers 78 80 3, Horse 82 90 17, Horse 24 00 Aug. 7, Tree prunes 1 75 7, Miller Bros. & Fletcher, bills 184 36 7, Horse 6 20 30, Horse 24 90 30, Boards 4 50 30, Miller Bros. & Fletcher, bills 35 93 Oct. 9, Wrench 45 9, Horse 16 60 9, Atomizer 12 00 9, Water pail 4 00 Dec. 11, Hose couplings 13 88 4, Miller Bros. & Fletcher's bill 40 46 4, Plows 99 80 $1,166 97 FURNITURE AND FIXTURES. 1886. Nov. 6, 150 park settees $ 637 50 PAYMENT OF MONEYS PREVIOUSLY SET APART. 1886. July 8, A. M. Dole $ 348 00 28, O. B. King 144 76 May 15, Frank M. Thornton 394 00 $886 76 PARK ASSESSMENTS. 1886. Sept. 18, Amount refunded to j. S. Elliot $ 87 00 BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS. 19 LETTERS OF PROFESSOR OLMSTED. RELATIVE TO THE GENERAL DUTIES OF PARK COMMISSIONERS AND INCIDENTAL MATTERS. To the Park Commissioners of Minneapolis: SIRS: Public accounts having interested me in your operations, in planning a trip to the Pacific, from which I am now returning, I gave myself a few hours to look it over. Your president, having kindly aided my purpose, was pleased, as I was leaving, to ask me to give you a critical opinion upon what I had seen. I do not think that criticism based on cursory observation of such works is likely to be of value. Moreover, the more important points of the policy that you are pursuing are probably determined by considerations of expediency, the force of which a stranger to the special public opinion of your local community is not likely to fully realize. Instead of the views desired of me, therefore, I propose to offer you a few suggestions upon the basis of the duties of Park Commissioners. I venture to assume that what I can say on this topic will be of some interest to you for the reason that Park Commissions are new institutions; the duties of no other class of public officers are so laxly defined by common or by statute laws; there is much confusion in the public mind in regard to them, and widely different notions on the subject prevail in different commissions, and at different times in the same commission. The subject has engaged my attention in an unusual way because I have been for a short time at the head of the oldest Park Commission in the country; have had official connection with twelve other commissions; have organized and superintended several important park works, and in four successive journeys have compared views with gentlemen responsible for such works in other countries. The park works to which I refer are of two classes—parks and parkways. Taking up, first, the duty of commissions with respect to parkways; that part of it which is least apt to be well understood may be better realized if it is asked, Why has it been thought desirable to depart at all, with regard to this class of highways, from the old methods of laying out, planting, and decorating the streets, squares, and other public places of a city? If we go back far enough in the history of all old cities we find that the place of business of a banker, a merchant, or a great manufacturer,20 FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE was ordinarily under the same roof with his dwelling, and it was customary for all classes of mechanics and craftsmen, as well as all sorts of traders to have their beds and take their meals in their shops. Consequently there was no such distinction known as that which leads to the use with us as such terms as "business streets," and "residence streets," or "business quarters," and "residence quarters." There was then no occasion in laying out new streets or extending old ones to consider whether one part of the town might with profit be occupied or used in any materially different way from another. Hence, the custom became established, whatever the advantages of the borders of a growing town for business purposes in one direction, or for domestic purposes in another, of laying out streets with little regard for them. Not only has there been a great change in the manner of life of the people of towns since this period, but with a little reflection it will be obvious that a much greater change is near at hand as a result of the long series of inventions and changes in methods of doing business that is and is yet to be associated with the introduction of railroads, street cars, telegraphs, telephones, postal, express, and messenger service, and new methods of fire and police protection. It is certain that people in general have as yet hardly begun to adjust their modes of life to the advantages thus offering, yet a sufficient change has already occurred (if it is considered in connection with the previous change through which cities have come to be largely divisable into business streets and domestic streets), to reveal a tendency of social progress which it would now be almost criminal to disregard in extending the street system of a growing city. What is the direction of the tendency so far as it is at present revealed to us? Three things appear plainly. First, it is to concentrate and consolidate facilities for all sorts of business, except that of the retail supply of daily domestic wants, in such a manner as to save long local transportation in movements of merchandise and to save long running about for personal conferences during business hours; Second, the tendency is to disperse the fixtures of domestic life even to such an extent that the men of affairs of a city when they leave their places of business may have a considerable degree of a class of luxuries that till lately have been exclusively associated with rural residences, and that have been enjoyed almost exclusively by men free from the daily cares of business in towns; Third, to make the means of communication between the new semi-rural residence quarters of a city to be thus established, and its business quarters of such a character that passage along them shall be a pleasing and refreshing element of daily life. The tendency in these directions appears not simply in the increasing number of villa residences, small and large, to be seen in the country surrounding a city; in the growing custom of laying out a broader class of suburban streets and planting lines of trees upon them and in BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS. 21 that of setting back the fronts of new buildings and having plats of garden ground before them, but also in what is commonly regarded as simply the caprice of fashion, or turn of taste, that has been leading to a style of building for dwellings in all parts of our cities, that is in strong contrast with the style that was in favor thirty years ago, differing from it most conspicuously in a manner that then would have been thought more appropriate to costly country houses. This fact will be conspicuous in a comparison, for example, between the dwelling houses built before the war in Washington with those built since. It may be seen in the more luxurious dwelling houses now building in Chicago, several of which are in styles wholly appropriate to rural villas. It may be seen in hundreds of houses in your own city. The tendency appears even where people are still living in the old houses of the old streets of old cities, as, for example, in the growing use of living flower and foliage decorations in windows and balconies. All these, and other symptoms that I will not take time to enumerate, indicate more than the coming in of a passing fashion; they indicate the rapid progress of a permanent change of habit, of taste, and of commercial demand in respect to the situation, the surroundings and the approaches of the dwellings of the people of towns. This being the case it would be imprudent for a growing city to allow provisions for its further enlargement to be made by the old methods exclusively. It would be still more imprudent to trust that the personal interests of outlying land owners, acting competitively, and naturally inclined to subordinate broad and distant public aims to narrow and immediate local and personal aims, will accomplish what the permanent interests of the community as a whole demand. What are called parkways, if judiciously designed, are likely to become the stems of systems of streets which will be the framework of the permanent residence quarters of our cities in the future. The attractiveness of these quarters, the degree in which those engaged in the business of a city will find in them relief from the fatigues of their various occupations, and take pride and pleasure in the improvements that they may privately undertake in association with them, will be an element in the prosperity of cities of great importance; of far greater importance, for example, than the situation and character of their public buildings. This consideration suggests the real nature of the duty of Park Commissions in respect to Parkways and from it is to be inferred what responsibilities, powers and duties they are called to assume. The essence of the duty of Park Commissions in respect to Parks may be come at in a similar manner. With respect to parks, that is to say, so called in distinction from all those classes of grounds with which cities were more or less furnished before Park Commissions were made a part of the machinery of city government. Thirty years ago there were no such parks in America, and the few in Europe did22 FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE not originate in any popular demand; they were not the property of the cities that made use of them. They had been formed and held for private purposes and so far as they were adapted to serve any others had become so by accident. To realize how rapid and how distinct the demand for these parks has since come to be, it is only necessary to consider that already nearly every considerable city in the civilized world has become possessed of one. London has acquired six thousand acres of park lands; Paris about three thousand; Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Brussels, Amsterdam, Florence, each considerable areas. Let us look, however, more particularly at what has occurred in America. When, in 1858, New York set about making a park of 760 acres there was reason for the apprehension that the undertaking was not merely ahead of the times but that it would saddle the city with a piece of property much larger than it could ever be profitable for it to maintain. The manner in which the park soon came to be used, however, proved the existence of a popular want, the extent of which no one, even of those who had been most active in promoting the scheme, had suspected. And this first park was found to add so much to the value of the city as a place of residence, and indirectly as a place of business, and to its wealth and tax paying capacity that the government has since without serious opposition, acquired land for several additional parks, the entire area of her park land being now upwards of 4,000 acres. Philadelphia during the same period has acquired 3,000 acres of land for park purposes, and Brooklyn, Boston, Buffalo, Baltimore, Montreal, Chicago, St. Louis, San Francisco each from 500 to 2,000 acres. What is at the bottom of the popular want that is to be served by these large bodies of land? What is their distinctive essential purpose that could not be served on "greens," "squares," "commons," "gardens," and "play-grounds," of from five to fifty acres, that various cities had before possessed? Say it is an opportunity for recreation. But for what kind of recreation that could not be had upon the smaller grounds, or that could not be supplied by means that had been in use forty years ago? There is but one answer that will bear discussion. The kind of recreation that these large parks supply, and that nothing but these large parks supply, near a city, is that which a man insensibly obtains when he puts the city behind him and out of his sight and goes where he will be under the undisturbed influence of pleasing natural scenery. The more simple and purely natural the scenery, consistently with reasonable convenience in the use of it; the more unsophisticated, the less adulturated with artificial objects of interest, the more valuable the park. Hence, other things being equal, within reasonable limits, the larger the park the better, because the larger it is the smaller relatively; the less numerous and the less conspicuous will be the elements BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS. 23 counteractive to the influence of scenery of a natural character. Yet, because the most important condition of permanent value in a park is that it shall be self-contained (that is, that the recreation of its natural scenery shall not be disturbed and neutralized by the mingling with its proper scenes of objects of a different character, such as houses situated on high ground about it, and that cannot be planted out), an area of a certain extent situated favorably to this purpose will be much more valuable than another much larger, the boundaries of which are less happy in this respect. For the same reason a small park may be more valuable than a comparatively large one if it happens that the small park has been better planted with reference to the object of excluding artificial or urban objects from view and disposing of its natural elements in a manner to bring about by their growth, broad, simple, ingenious, and unaffected passages of natural scenery. The same principle should control the situation and the form of all buildings and other constructions on a park, consistently with convenience and a suitable expression of it; which would not in all cases allow them to be absolutely hidden away; that is to say, they should be as much as possible sequestered, unobtrusive, and by all means made assuredly subordinate in interest to the natural elements of scenery. In short, this principle must be cordially accepted, as the central principle of all genuine park work. If it is not, every public servant having to do with a park may be a law unto himself, and there is no limit to the waste and extravagance that may be indulged in at the public expense for the gratification of private tastes. What other clear practical working limit upon the outlays of a Park Commission can be found? There is none, and wherever and whenever and to the degree that the principle has been disregarded in parks the consequences have been regretted. There has been no case within my knowledge where, when the project of a large park has come to be discussed, there has not been lamentation that the want of it had not been recognized and provided for some years sooner; and again and again I have been pointed to opportunities that had been lost for taking advantage of natural conditions of rare value for the purpose. Nor do I know a single case where a park has been well formed and brought into use that thinking people have not found reason afterwards to regret that its boundaries had not at the outset been determined more carefully and judiciously with reference to the distinctive object I have advised to be had in view. There is in the neighborhood of Minneapolis such a wealth of opportunities for finding ground for a park that would possess the supreme quality that I have termed self-containedness, and the city has taken up the question of a park so early in its career and with so much obvious enterprise, and has at its command, in Mr. Cleveland, so experienced and excellent a professional counselor, that it is reasonable to hope that it 24 FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE will not meet with a similar experience. Yet a caution against mistaken economy in the respect indicated may yet be timely. Within fifteen years after the first boundaries of the Central Park of New York had been established and the land within them acquired, the importance of a few small additions to its area had already become so much more evident than they were to the original projectors, that one after another, provision was made for taking them. The cost of doing so was more than two million dollars greater than it would have been had they been included in the original scheme. Again, the boundaries originally advised for two of the Buffalo parks by the landscape architects employed were contracted each at one point. This was done on the ground that the pieces thrown out could be of little importance and that they would cost more than they were worth. But after the park had come into popular use a different understanding of their value came to prevail so strongly that, after long agitation and many miscarriages, each has lately been acquired at a price ten times greater than would originally have been necessary to pay. This is the cost of a small piece of ill-considered economy through a misconception of the true elements of value in a park, after a short period of years, in a city which cannot have been gaining in population at the rate your city is sure to do. Another error into which park commissioners have been apt to fall, grows out of a propensity to confuse the object of providing people with the refreshment of natural scenery with that of providing good places for driving and walking, and a series of pleasant things to be seen from those places regardless of the object of proper park scenery. In the New York park at one time a large number of trees were planted by the road sides in a formal way at regular distances, and in the manner of common urban street plantations. Afterwards their inconsistency with the general informality of the proper park scenery was recognized and they were cut down. For the same reason substantial structures of masonry and bronze statues on granite pedestals, first so placed to be out of concert with the natural landscape, as a proper professional adviser, like Mr. Cleveland, would at once have seen, have since been demolished or removed, and there is a growing public opinion that other objects valuable in themselves but clashing, where they stand, with the main purpose of the park, should be disposed of in some other manner than they are. In the early days of park undertaking, the mistake is sometimes made of regarding the way through it as its more important features; especially the driving ways. It results that roads are sometimes laid out in such a manner as to greatly injure the natural advantages for rural scenery, compelling embankments as artificial in character as those of railroads, to be formed on the shores of otherwise beautiful waters; dividing verdant features with a result like that of drawing a BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS. 25 piece of chalk across the face of a painted landscape, or nullifying all opportunities for breadth, unity and tranquility of rural character. There is no more important rule in park making to be derived from the principle that has been laid down, than that roads must be regarded simply as implements for making the enjoyment of natural scenery available and must be laid out, maintained and used at the least practicable expense to the scenery. It may, therefore be well that it should be pointed out that at first, in the history of a park, most of those using it are likely to come in carriages, especially so if the park roads are better, simply as roads, than can be had elsewhere; ultimately, however the walks of a park are much more used than its wheelways and if due consideration is not given in laying out the park to this condition, revisions of the plan are likely to be afterwards demanded such as cannot be made without great destruction and at sore cost. It is of the highest consequence that enjoyment of the best scenery of the park should be had from its walks. It is even desirable that there should be attractive passages of scenery available to those who walk, that cannot be reached by those in carriages. It is so for this reason: considering a park as an institution for the sanitation of a city, inducements are needed to draw many who will come to it in carriages to leave them and take walking exercise. Lastly, it may be pointed out as a logical inference from all that has been said that it is the duty of a Park Commission to open the way to new, not to follow old customs; to lead public opinion, and not to tag after it. If it is not prepared to move in advance of the people of whose interests it is placed in charge, nothing is more certain than that after a few years its labor will be regarded very ungratefully and the question will often be asked, "Why could they not have used a little more foresight and got a little more out of the inherited ruts?" Respectfully yours, Fred'k Law Olmsted, Landscape Architect Union Pacific Railroad, 6th October, 1886.26 MINNEAPOLIS PARK SYSTEM. MINNEAPOLIS PARK SYSTEM. AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE DESIGNATION, ACQUISITION, LAYING OUT AND IMPROVEMENT OF LANDS IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS FOR A SYSTEM OF PUBLIC PARKS AND PARK WAYS, AND FOR THE CARE AND GOVERNMENT THEREOF—AS AMENDED IN 1885 AND 1887. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota: SECTION 1. Creation of Board. That the following persons, to-wit: C. M. Loring, H. T. Welles, D. Morrison, J. S. Pillsbury, O. C. Merriman, A. C. Haugan, J. C. Oswald, W. W. Eastman, Geo. A. Brackett, Judson N. Cross, D. Bassett and A. C. Austin, together with the Mayor, for the time being, of the city of Minneapolis, ex officio, and the chairman, for the time being, of the Standing Committee on Public Grounds and Buildings, and the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Roads and Bridges of the City Council of said City, ex officio, are hereby appointed Commissioners for the purpose specified in the title of this act, and to be accomplished in the manner and with the powers and subject to the restrictions of this act. Upon filing a written acceptance of their appointment, and an oath of office in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Minneapolis the said Commissioners shall meet and organize by the designation of one of their number as President, and one of their number as Vice-President, and shall appoint a Secretary, and shall appoint a President and Vice-President and Secretary from time to time whenever vacancies may occur. Upon effecting such organization, the said Commissioners and their successors shall constitute a department of the city government of the city of Minneapolis, to be known and designated as the Board of Park Commissioners of the City of Minneapolis. The said board shall make rules to govern its proceedings, and may meet from time to time, as it may by rule or vote determine and adjourn its said meeting. It shall adopt a seal, and shall make and publish from time to time, rules, ordinances and regulations for the government of its agents, servants and employes, and for the government and regulation of the parks and park ways which may be acquired under and pursuant to the provisions of this act. A majority of the members of said board shall constitute a quorum, but no action of said board, designating or purchasing or leasing lands, creating a bonded debt, or filling vacancies in the Board MINNEAPOLIS PARK SYSTEM. 27 of Park Commissioners, shall be valid unless voted for by ten (10) members of said board; and a record of its proceedings shall be kept and the said board shall make and publish in the official paper of the city an annual report setting forth their general proceedings, and containing a statement of the receipts and expenditures of said board. The twelve persons hereinbefore named, and their successors shall, with the three ex officio members above provided for, constitute a provisional board of Park Commissioners, to hold their offices until the annual city election in the year eighteen hundred and eighty-four (1884), and until their successors shall be elected and qualified. At the annual city election in the year eighteen hundred and eighty-four (1884), there shall be elected by general ticket twelve commissioners, four of whom shall be elected for one year, four for two years, and four for three years, who with the three ex officio commissioners above designated shall constitute the board of Park Commissioners; and thereafter* four commissioners shall be elected annually, to serve for three years and all vacancies in the office of the above twelve appointed, or of elected commissioners, shall be filled by the remaining members of the board. The said commissioners shall receive no compensation for their services, but may receive such sums for actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing their official duties, as may be audited and allowed by the said board. The board of commissioners shall be authorized to employ and dismiss such attorneys, surveyors, agents and employes as may be necessary, and to fix the compensation of all its appointees and employes, which shall be payable from the fund hereinafter established for the purpose of this act, upon the order of said board, countersigned by the City Comptroller. No commissioner shall be interested in any contract made under the authority of said board, or in any lands to be acquired by said board, except that if any commissioner shall be owner of, or interested in, any lands which may be designated or appropriated for the uses of this act, he shall be entitled to receive compensation therefor as provided herein, but shall not act officially in respect to any matter in which he may be pecuniarily interested. SEC. 2. Powers and Duties of Board [as amended February 26, 1887]. The board of commissioners herein appointed, and their successors, shall have power, and it shall be its duty, to devise and adopt a system of public parks and park ways within and adjacent to the limits of and for the use of the city of Minneapolis, to designate the lands and grounds to be used and appropriated for such purposes, to cause the * An act approved March 4, 1887, provides that this act "is hereby amended by striking out any provisions therein contained relative to the terms of office and times and manner of election of members of the Board of Park Commissioners in conflict with any provisions of the charter of the City of Minneapolis in relation thereto; and in determining the terms of office and the times and manner of election of members of the Board of Park Commissioners, the provisions of the charter of the City of Minneapolis in relation thereto shall govern so far as the same are in conflict with the above entitled act."28 MINNEAPOLIS PARK SYSTEM. same to be surveyed, platted, and the plat thereof to be filed in the office of the city engineer, and upon obtaining title and the right of possession of the same, or any part thereof, to take possession of, hold, govern, and administer the same, according to such plan as the said board may adopt for such purposes. SEC. 3. Power and Authority to Obtain Title to Lands. The said Board of Commissioners, and their successors, shall have power, and it is hereby authorized to obtain title for and in the name of the city of Minneapolis, to any lands so designated by it for the purpose of this act, by gift, devise, purchase, or lease, and shall have power to accept and receive donations of money, property, or lands, for the use of the said city for the purpose contemplated in this act. SEC. 4. Authority to Condemn Land and Method of Procedure (as amended February 24, 1885.) The said Board of Commissioners shall have power, and it is hereby authorized to condemn for the use of said city, any tract or tracts, parcel or parcels of land, or any interest therein, which it may have designated as hereinbefore provided in the second section of this act, and when such condemnation shall have been completed and the lands paid for as herein provided, the title to such lands shall pass and be vested in fee simple in the said city. For the purpose of making and perfecting such condemnation, the said Board of Commissioners shall proceed in the manner following: (1) (As amended February 22, 1887) The Board of Park Commissioners shall give the parties owning the land they desire to condemn at least ten (10) days' notice in person and by publication in the official newspaper of said city, fixing the time and place where they will meet said land owners to appoint appraisers, who shall award the damages which may be occasioned by the taking of said property for park purposes. The Board of Park Commissioners and the land owners shall meet at the time and place fixed as above named, and shall appoint as many appraisers as there may be wards in said city, selecting one from each ward, who shall be a disinterested free-holder and qualified voter of said city. One-half of said appraisers shall be selected by the Board of Park Commissioners, and one-half by the parties present whose land is to be condemned, to view the premises and appraise the damages which may be occasioned by the taking of private property or otherwise in making said improvements. Said appraisers shall be notified as soon as practicable by the secretary of said board to attend at a time to be fixed by him, for the purpose of qualifying and entering upon their duties; and in case any such appraiser upon being so notified shall neglect or refuse to attend as aforesaid, he shall forfeit and pay a fine to said city not exceeding fifty dollars ($50), and shall be liable to be prosecuted therefor before the municipal court of said city, as in the case of fines imposed for violation of an ordinance of said city, and the appraisers in attendance shall be authorized to appoint another appraiser or appraisers in place of any absentee or absentees aforesaid, MINNEAPOLIS PARK SYSTEM. 29 selected in each case from the ward not represented, and possessing the qualifications aforesaid. In all cases of vacancy of appraisers such vacancy shall be filled by the district court of Hennepin County upon the hearing and recommendation of the Board of Park Commissioners, and the parties whose land is to be condemned, which hearing shall be had upon personal notice of at least eight (8) days, or if any of the parties interested in such lands are without the State of Minnesota, and have no place of residence therein, then such notice may be made by publication in the official paper of said city of Minneapolis for at least ten (10) days before the time of such hearing. (2) The appraisers shall be sworn to discharge their duty as appraisers in the matter with impartiality and fidelity; and to make due return of their acts to the board of Park Commissioners. (3) The said appraisers shall, with all reasonable speed, give notice by publication in the official newspaper of said city for at least ten (10) days, to the effect that a plat of the lands designated by the board of Park Commissioners has been filed, and that the said appraisers will meet at a place and time designated by them, and thence proceed to view the premises, and appraise the damages for property to be taken, or which may be damaged by such improvement. (4) At the time and place, according to said notice, the said appraisers shall view the premises and may hear any evidence or proof offered by the parties interested, and adjourn from day to day for the purpose aforesaid. When their view and hearing shall be concluded, they shall determine and appraise the amount of damages to be paid to the owner, or owners of each parcel of property proposed to be taken, or which may be damaged by such improvement. (5) If there should be any building standing, in whole or in part, upon the land to be taken, the said appraisers shall in each case determine the amount of damages which should be paid to the owner or owners thereof in case such building, or so much thereof as may be necessary, should be taken, and shall also appraise and determine the amount of damages to be paid such owner or owners, in case he or they should elect to remove such building, and the damages in relation to building aforesaid shall be appraised separately from the damages in relation to the land upon which they are erected. (6) If the lands and buildings belong to different persons, or if the land be subject to lease, mortgage or judgment, or if there be any estate in it less than an estate in fee, the injury or damage done to such persons or interests respectively may be awarded to them by the appraisers. Provided that neither such award of the appraisers nor the confirmation thereof by the Board of Park Commissioners shall be deemed to require payments of such damages to the person or persons named in said award, in case it shall transpire that such person or persons are not entitled to receive the same. (7) The said appraisers, having ascertained and appraised the damage 30 MINNEAPOLIS PARK SYSTEM. aforesaid, shall make and file with the Secretary of said board of Park Commissioners a written report to said Board of Park Commissioners of their action in the premises, embracing a schedule or appraisement of the damages in each case, with a description of the lands and names of the owners, if known to them, and also a statement of the costs of the proceedings. (8) [As amended February 22, 1887.] Upon such report being filed, the Secretary of the Board of Park Commissioners shall give at least ten (10) days notice (in person), which notice shall be served upon all persons interested in such lands personally and by publication in the official paper of said city of Minneapolis for the same.* (9). The damages appraised shall be paid out of the park fund, and shall be so paid or tendered, or be deposited and set apart in the treasury of said city to and for the use of the parties entitled thereto, within six (6) months after the confirmation of such appraisement and report; but in case any appeal or appeals shall be taken from the order confirming said appraisement then the amount of such damages shall not in any case be required to be paid or tendered or deposited and set apart, as aforesaid, until thirty (30) days after the determination of all appeals which shall have been so taken. The land and property required to be taken for the purposes aforesaid shall not be appropriated until the damages awarded to the owner thereof shall have been paid or tendered to such owner or his agent, or deposited and set apart for his use as aforesaid; and in case the said Board of Park Commissioners shall be unable to determine to whom the damages so awarded should in any particular case be paid, or in case of disputed claims in relation thereto, the amount of damages in any such case may be deposited by order of the Board of Park Commissioners in the District Court of Hennepin county; and said court upon the proper application of any person claiming the award or any part thereof, shall determine to whom the same shall be paid. (10). In case any owner or owners of buildings as aforesaid shall have elected in manner aforesaid to remove his or their buildings, he or they shall so remove them within thirty (30) days from the confirmation of said report or within such further time as the Board of Park Commissioners may allow for the purpose, and shall thenceforth be entitled to payment from said park fund of the amount of damages awarded in such case. In case of removal, when such person or persons *The amendment approved February 22, 1887, makes article or subdivision eight read as above. The balance of the article, before such amendment read: "to the effect that said appraisement has been returned and that same will be confirmed by the Board of Park Commissioners, at a meeting thereof to be named in said notice, unless objections are made in writing by persons interested in any land required to be taken. Any persons interested in buildings standing in whole or in part upon any land required to be taken by such improvement shall, on or before the time specified in such notice, notify the said Board of Park Commissioners, in writing, of their election to remove such building. The Board of Park Commissioners, upon the day fixed for the consideration of such report, or at subsequent meetings to which the same may stand over or be referred, shall have power in their discretion to confirm, revise or annul the appraisement, giving due consideration to any objections interposed by parties interested." MINNEAPOLIS PARK SYSTEM. 31 shall not have elected to remove such buildings, or shall have neglected (after having elected) to remove the same within the time prescribed, such buildings or so much thereof as may be necessary upon payment or depositing the damages awarded for such taking, in manner aforesaid, may be taken and appropriated, sold or disposed of as the said Board of Park Commissioners shall direct, and the same or the proceeds thereof shall belong to the said park fund. (11). When any known owner of lands or tenements affected by any proceeding within this act, shall be an infant, or shall labor under any legal disability, a Judge of the District Court of Hennepin county may, upon application of said commissioners, or of said Board of Park Commissioners, or such party or his next friend, appoint a suitable guardian for such party, and all notices required by this act shall be served upon such guardian. (12). Any person whose property is proposed to be taken or interfered with, under any provisions of this act, and who deems that there is any irregularities in the proceedings of the said Board of Park Commissioners, or action of the appraisers, by reason of which the award of the appraisers ought not to be confirmed, or who is dissatisfied with the amount of damages awarded to him for the taking of or interference with his property, may at any time before such award shall be confirmed by the board of Commissioners, file with the Secretary of said board in writing, his objection to such confirmation, setting forth therein specifically the particular irregularities complained of, and containing a description of the property affected by such proceedings, and if, notwithstanding such objections, the said board shall confirm the award, such person so objecting shall have the right to appeal from such order of confirmation of the board to the District Court of the county of Hennepin, at any term, within ten (10) days after such order; such appeal shall be made by serving a written notice of such appeal upon the Secretary of said board, which shall specify the property of the appellant affected by such award and refer to the objection filed as aforesaid, and by also delivering to said Secretary a bond to the city of Minneapolis, executed by the appellant, or by some one on his behalf, with two (2) sureties who shall justify in the penal sum of fifty ($50.00) dollars, conditioned to pay all costs that may be awarded against the appellant. Thereupon the said Secretary shall make out and transmit to the Clerk of the said District Court a copy of the award of said commissioners, as confirmed by the board and of the order of the board confirming the same, and of the objection filed by the appellant as aforesaid, all certified by said Secretary to be true copies, within ten (10) days after the taking of such appeal. But if more than one appeal be taken from any award it shall not be necessary that the Secretary in appeal subsequent to the first, shall send up anything except a certified copy of the appellant's objection. There shall be no pleading on such appeal, but the court shall determine in 32 MINNEAPOLIS PARK SYSTEM. the first instance whether there was in the proceeding any such irregularity or omission of duty prejudicial to the appellant and specified in said written objections, that as to him the award or appraisement of the appraisers ought not to stand, and whether said appraisers had jurisdiction to take action in the premises. The case may be brought on for hearing in eight (8) days notice, at any general or special term of the court, and shall have precedence of other civil cases, and the judgment of the court shall be either to confirm or annul the proceedings, only as the same affects the property of the appellant proposed to be taken or damaged, and described in said written objection. From such determination no appeal or writ of error shall lie. In case the amount of damages awarded is complained of by such appellant, the court shall, if the proceedings shall be confirmed in other respects upon such confirmation appoint three (3) disinterested freeholders, residents of said city, appraisers; to re-appraise such damages. The parties to such appeal shall be heard by said court upon the appointment of such appraisers and the court shall fix the time and place of meeting of such appraisers; they shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of their duties as such appraisers and shall proceed to view the premises and to hear the parties interested with their allegations and proofs pertinent to the question of the amount of such damages; such appraisers shall be governed by the same provisions in respect to the method of arriving at the amount of damages, and in all other material respects as are in this act made for the government of appraisers appointed by said board. They shall, after such hearing and view of the premises, make a report to said court of their appraisal of damages in respect to such appellant. The award of such appraisers shall be final, unless set aside by the court for good cause shown. In case such report is set aside, the court may in its discretion re-commit the same to the same appraisers or appoint new appraisers, as it shall deem best, but no appeal or writ of error shall be allowed from any order of the court, in the premises; said court shall allow a reasonable compensation, to such appraisers for their services, and make such award of costs on such appeal, including the compensations of such appraisers, as it shall deem just in the premises. In case the court shall be of opinion that such appeal was frivolous or vexatious, it may adjudge double costs against such appellant. The Board of Park Commissioners shall have the right at any time during the pendency of any proceedings for the acquisition of lands for any improvement authorized by this act, or at any time within thirty (30) days after the final order by the court, of all appeals taken in such proceedings, to abandon all such proceedings in respect to the whole improvement or any part thereof, whenever they shall deem it for the interest of the city so to do. [As amended Feb. 22, 1887.] Provided, if they abandon all such proceedings in respect to the taking of such land for such purposes and MINNEAPOLIS PARK SYSTEM. 33 do not take the same, then they shall pay all attorney's fees and expenses incurred by said property owners in all proceedings of said condemnation, which in the first instance may be agreed upon between the Board of Park Commissioners and said land owners, or if said parties should fail to agree then such fees and expenses shall be fixed by the District Court of said Hennepin County after notice of at least eight (8) days to either of such parties by the other party to said condemnation proceeding. (13). As soon as said proceedings for acquiring the title to such lands shall have been completed, it shall be the duty of said commissioners to make, or cause to be made, an accurate description of all such lands as shall have been so acquired, with a statement of the amount of damages awarded and paid to each former owner for the land so acquired, which shall be certified by the President and Secretary of said board, under the official seal of the said board, and be filed for record in the office of the Register of Deeds of said county of Hennepin, and it is hereby made the duty of said Register of Deeds to record the same among the records of transfer of real estate in said county, which records shall be prima facie evidence of title to such land, and of the transfer of all the interests of such former owner in the same to said city of Minneapolis. It shall also be the duty of said commissioners to file with said Register of Deeds correct plats of all such lands as they may acquire for the purposes of this act, which shall be kept on file and of record in the office of said Register of Deeds in like manner as plats of additions to the city of Minneapolis. SEC. 5. Appointment of Park Assessors and Assessment of Benefits. [As amended February 24, 1885.] As soon as the amount required for the purchase and condemnation of the lands selected for any park or park way shall have been ascertained by said Board of Park Commissioners with reasonable certainty, it shall determine what percentage, if any, of the amount so ascertained shall be assessed upon the lands benefited by said park or park way, and it shall apply to the District Court of Hennepin county for the appointment of three (3) freeholders of the city of Minneapolis, as park assessors. Notice of such application shall be given by publication thereof in the official newspaper of said city at least six (6) days successively, the last of which publication shall be at least three (3) days prior to the date fixed therefor, and all persons interested may appear and be heard by the court touching said appointment. After such hearing the court shall appoint three (3) disinterested assessors who shall proceed to assess upon such lots, blocks, tracts and parcels of land in the city of Minneapolis as they shall deem to be specially benefited by such park or park way, whether such land shall adjoin and abut upon such park or park way or not, such sum they shall deem a just proportion respectively of the total sum so to be assessed for benefits; and the determination of said assessors as to what lots, blocks and parcels of 34 MINNEAPOLIS PARK SYSTEM. land are specially benefited shall be deemed to include all the lands so specially benefited. In case of the purchase of lands for any such parks or park ways, or of any part thereof, it shall be competent for said Board of Park Commissioners to agree with the vendor or vendors of the lands so purchased upon a price therefor, which may in addition to the purchase price thereof include exemption from an assessment for benefits upon any remaining contiguous or adjacent lands owned by such vendor or vendors, and in that case such remaining lands shall be free from any liaility to assessment and contribution for benefits to be assessed upon lands as in this act, provided in all such cases a record shall be made by said board specifying the lands so to be exempted, which shall be filled in the office of the Secretary of said board, and may be recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds of Hennepin county. Before proceeding to act under such appointment the said assessors shall make oath before the Clerk of the said District Court, faithfully and impartially to discharge th duties of their said office, and shall then give notice by publication thereof for six (6) successive days in the official newspaper of said city, the last of which publication shall be at least three (3) days before the time of meeting, of the time and place of the meeting for the purpose of making said assessment. All parties interested may appear before said assessors and be heard touching any matter connected with the assessment. The assessor shall have power to administer oaths to witnesses, and shall hear and consider any pertinent testimony offered, and they may adjourn their meetings from time to time until assessment is completed. When completed the assessment shall be signed by the assessors or by a majority who shall concur therein, and shall be returned to and filed in the office of the Clerk of said District Court. The Board of Park Commissioners shall cause to be published in the official newspaper of the city of Minneapolis, at least (6) days successively a notice of the filing of said assessment roll, and that they will, on a day named therein, apply to said Court for the confirmation of said assessment, the last of which publications shall be at least five (5) days prior to said application. Said notice shall set forth the boundaries of the district in which said assessments have been levied, and a copy thereof shall be served personally upon the occupant, if any, of said several tracts or parcels of land described therein, by leaving the same with such occupant or some member of his family, upon said premises at least five (5) days prior to the date of said application. Proof that any of such tracts or parcels of land were vacant or unoccupied at the time when such service would [have] otherwise have been made may be made by affidavit, and the confirmation of such report by the court upon service by publication and copy as aforesaid shall bind the owners and all parties interested in said lands in all respects as though personal service had been made MINNEAPOLIS PARK SYSTEM. 35 upon each. Said District Court shall have power to revise, correct, amend, or confirm said assessment in whole or in part, and may make or order a new assessment in whole or in part, and the same revise, correct, amend and confirm upon like notice. All parties interested may appear before said court at the time of such application and object to said assessment either in whole or in part, but all objections shall be in writing, specifying the tracts or parcels of land in respect to which objection is made, and shall be filed at least two (2) days before the time fixed for the application. Objections which relate merely to the amount assessed upon the premises specified shall not be available unless the court shall be satisfied that the assessors in fixing such amount were governed by improper motives, or proceeded upon erroneous principles, or under an obvious mistake of facts. After the confirmation of such report the Board of Park Commissioners shall cause a copy thereof as amended and confirmed to be filed in the office of the Auditor of Hennepin County, and the copies of such assessment rolls as have heretofore been filed in the office of the Clerk of said court shall be transferred to and filed in the office of said County Auditor. Such assessments shall be a lien upon the several tracts or parcels of lands so assessed for benefits as aforesaid and ten (10) per cent. of the amount thereof shall be due and payable annually. The Auditor of said Hennepin County shall include in the general tax list for the collection of state, county and city taxes ten (10) per cent. of said assessment for each year until the whole sum is paid, setting opposite the several tracts or parcels of land assessed the amount of such assessment in an appropriate column to be headed "Park Assessments," and like proceedings in all respects shall be had for enforcing the collection of the same as is now provided by law for the collection of state, county and city taxes. In case any of the tracts or parcels of land which have been which may hereafter be assessed for benefits as aforesaid, have been or shall hereafter be replatted or otherwise sub-divided, said County Auditor shall have power to apportion the amount originally assessed thereon among the several lots, blocks or parcels into which the same has or shall be so sub-divided in such manner that several sub-divisions thereof shall bear their just proportion of benefit tax as so assessed or confirmed. Said County Auditor shall provide and keep as one of the records of his office a suitable book or books in which he shall enter the several tracts and parcels of land so assessed with a statement of the amounts assessed thereon respectively, and all payments made on account of such assessments together with such other facts in relation thereto as he may deem advisable, and the Board of Park Commissioners may compensate said Auditor for such services in any sum not exceeding five hundred ($500) dollars. If the owner of any tract or parcel of land assessed as aforesaid shall at any time make payment of such sum as being but simple interest at seven (7) per cent. per 36 MINNEAPOLIS PARK SYSTEM. annum would amount to the sum of the several installments of such entire assessment at the time they would respectively become due under the provisions of this section, the said lands shall thenceforth be free from the lien of the assessments so paid and discharged. SEC. 6. Issuance of Bonds. For the cost of acquiring a title to lands for said parks and park ways, if it shall be authorized so to do by a majority of the legal voters of the city of Minneapolis, voting in the manner hereinafter provided, the said Board of Park Commissioners shall have power to borrow from time to time for such times as it shall think expedient, not exceeding fifty (50) years, a sum of money, the annual interest upon which for all the moneys so borrowed shall not exceed twenty-five thousand ($25,000) dollars, and for that purpose shall have authority to issue bonds of the city of Minneapolis, to be denominated "Park Bonds," secured upon said parks and the improvements thereon, which bonds shall issue under the seal of said Board of Park Commissioners, and shall be signed by the President and Secretary of the said board and countersigned by the Comptroller of the City of Minneapolis, and shall bear interest not exceeding four and a half (4½) per cent. per annum, provided however, that no more than two hundred thousand ($200,000) dollars of said bonds shall be issued during the year eighteen hundred and eighty-three (1883), and in no case shall bonds be issued by said commissioners, so that the bonded debt of the city shall exceed the limit fixed by law. It shall be the duty of said Board of Park Commissioners and of the City Comptroller to keep an accurate register of all bonds issued, showing the amount, number and date of each bond, and for the payment of the principal and interest of said bonds the said park and improvements thereon shall be irrevocably pledged with a first lien thereon, and the city of Minneapolis shall be irrevocably bound; and said bonds may be sold by said Board of Park Commissioners upon such terms and for such prices as in its judgment are the best which can be obtained for the same. Provided, that the sums realized by said Park Commissioners from the sale of such bonds shall be equal to or exceed a sum four and a half per cent., upon which shall equal or exceed the amount of annual interest payable on the bonds so sold. SEC. 7. Assessment of Tax for Payment of Interest, etc. The said Board of Park Commissioners shall annually, on or before the first day of October in each year, transmit to the auditor of Hennepin County an estimate in writing of the amount of money necessary for the payment of interest on bonds issued by said board, and that will be required for the purchase, improvement, maintenance, and government of said parks and park ways during the succeeding year, which amount shall not exceed what will be raised by a tax of one (1) mill upon each dollar of valuation of the taxable property in said city, and the said auditor shall proceed to determine what per cent. said sum is on the taxable property of said city according to the assessor's returns, and MINNEAPOLIS PARK SYSTEM. 37 shall, in the next general tax list for the collection of city, state, and county taxes, in said city, set down the amount chargeable to the several persons, corporations, lots, or parcels of ground, in a separate or appropriate column, and the proper officers shall proceed to collect the same in the manner now provided by law for the collection of city, state, and county taxes, and all the provisions of law in respect to the collection of city, state, and county taxes, and proceedings to enforce the same so far as applicable shall apply to said assessments and taxes; the the said sum of money, together with all other moneys provided for the purpose of this act, shall be placed by the treasurer of the city of Minneapolis to the credit of said Board of Park Commissioners, and shall be drawn by said board from the city treasurer by warrant signed by the president and secretary of the board, and countersigned by the city comptroller, and in no other way, and shall constitute a special fund to be known and denominated the "City Park Fund." SEC. 8. Vacation and Closing of Streets. It shall be lawful for said board of commissioners to vacate and close up any and all public roads and highways, excepting railroads which may pass through, divide, or separate any lands selected or appropriated by it for the purpose of parks, and no such road, highway, or railroad shall be laid out through said parks or any of them except as the said board of commissioners shall lay out and construct or shall consent thereto. SEC. 9. Construction of Bridges and Viaducts. (As amended February 26, 1887.) The said board shall have power to construct all necessary bridges and viaducts over water courses and railroads within or on the line of said parks and park ways. Whenever the title shall have been acquired for the purpose of this act to the lands constituting the shore or shores of any stream of water, lake, or pond, said board may regulate and control the use of such shore or shores and the waters contiguous thereto, and in case such ownership shall embrace the entire shore of any such lake or pond, said board is hereby empowered to take and have exclusive charge and control of the waters of said lake, and may in all things regulate and govern the use of such waters, and may prescribe penalties for the violation of such rules and ordinances as it may adopt for that purpose; Provided, That said board shall not prohibit the use of sail or row boats on such waters. SEC. 10. Removed from Office for Malfeasance. The said commissioners, or either of them, may be removed from office by the District Court of said county, after trial and conviction, upon the petition, with sworn charges, presented by not less than ten (10) reputable freeholders of said city, if it shall appear at said trial that the said commissioner, or commissioners, have been guilty of misdemeanor or malfeasance in office under this act. SEC. 11. Removal from Office for Non-Attendance at Meetings. The office of any commissioner under this act who shall not attend meetings of the board for three successive months, after having been duly 38 MINNEAPOLIS PARK SYSTEM. notified of said meetings, without reasons satisfactory to the board, or without leave of absence from said board, may by said board be declared, and thereupon shall become, vacant. SEC. 12. Expenditure of Money Received for Benefits. The funds which may be received for and upon special assessments of benefits herein provided for shall be paid into the City Treasury as a part of the park funds, one-half of which benefit money shall be expended in the improvement of the park, or parks, on account of the benefits of which such money was assessed. SEC. 13. Lands Acquired Subject to Lien for Bonds Issued. The lands which may be designated and obtained under the provisions of this act shall remain forever for parks and parkways for the use of all the inhabitants of the said city, subject to such rules and regulations as the Board of Park Commissioners shall prescribe, said parks being subject to the lien of the bonds which may be issued for their purchase, which lien, in case of non-payment of said bonds at the maturity thereof, may be enforced by sales pursuant to any decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, [As amended Feb. 26, 1887]. Provided, That whenever the title to any piece or parcel of real estate that has, or may hereafter be, acquired under the provisions of this act, either by purchase or condemnation, and the proceedings for the establishment of the particular park or parkway, of which said piece or parcel of land was designated to form a part, or has been, or may hereafter be, abandoned by said Board, as by this act authorized, in consequence of which abandonment said piece or parcel of land has or may become unavailable as a park of said park system, such lands may be sold and conveyed by deed executed by the President and Secretary of said Board, at such price and upon such terms as said Board may direct or approve. No such sale shall be void, however, unless authorized by the District Court of Hennepin county by its order describing the premises to be sold and entered upon the petition of such Board, after a hearing of all interested parties, upon such notice by publication or otherwise, as such court may prescribe. And such District Court is hereby empowered to make and enforce all such orders, judgments, and decrees as it may deem proper in the premises, and such conveyances so authorized and executed shall vest in the grantee all right, title, and interest of the city of Minneapolis in such lands acquired by such condemnation or purchase. SEC. 14. Police and Police Regulations. (As amended February 26, 1887.) Said board shall have power to adopt rules and ordinances to secure the quiet, orderly, and suitable use and enjoyment of said parks and parkways by the people, and to fix and ordain penalties for the violation thereof, which ordinances shall take effect from and after the publication thereof in the official paper of said city, and the same shall be enforced by prosecution in the Municipal Court of said city, as in the case of other ordinances of said city. MINNEAPOLIS PARK SYSTEM. 39 The mayor of the city of Minneapolis shall, upon request of the Board of Park Commissioners, appoint as policemen such persons as said board may request, and which policemen shall be under the control and direction of said board, and may be discharged by said board, and said board shall provide for the payment of such policemen out of the park funds. SEC. 15. Submission to People. The board of commissioners appointed by this act, or their successors, shall take no proceedings for the condemnation or purchase of lands, or the issue or sale of bonds, until the provisions of this act shall have been accepted by the legal voters of the city of Minneapolis at the annual city election in said city, to be held on the first Tuesday in April, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-three (1883). The legal voters of said city shall vote upon the acceptance of said provision, "Park system, yes," or "Park system, no," which said votes shall be cast, canvassed, and certified in the manner now provided by law, or ordinance, for casting, canvassing, and certifying votes at a city election. If a majority of the legal voters voting thereon shall vote "Park system, yes," then the said board of commissioners shall proceed to exercise all the power granted in this act. If the majority of such voters voting thereon shall vote "Park system, no," the said board of commissioners shall exercise none of the powers specified in this section. SEC. 16. All acts and parts of acts, whether in the charter of the city of Minneapolis or elsewhere, inconsistent with any of the provisions of this act, are hereby repealed. SEC. 17 This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. Approved February 27th, A. D., 1883. AN ACT IN RELATION TO PARKWAYS IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota: SECTION 1. All parkways which have been or which may be acquired in or adjacent to the city of Minneapolis, shall be subject to the control and government of the Board of Park Commissioners, of the said city, in respect to the construction, maintenance, regulation, and government thereof, and to the use, travel, and traffic over and upon the same: Provided, That no street, alley, or public place, or any part thereof, shall be made a parkway, without the consent of the city council of said city. SEC. 2. The said Board of Park Commissioners shall have and exercise all such powers and jurisdiction over and in relation to parkways as now is or hereafter may be, conferred upon the city council in respect to the laying out, opening, vacation, and discontinuance of streets; the grading, paving, and curbing thereof; the construction of side walks,40 MINNEAPOLIS PARK SYSTEM. and sewers, and the levying and collection of special assessments for the cost of the same. SEC. 3 The city council of said city of Minneapolis shall have the same power and jurisdiction in respect to laying water mains along parkways in the said city as it now has in respect to laying the same along the public streets, and the same proceedings for levying and collecting special assessments for water mains along such streets, shall apply to levying and collecting the same for water mains laid along the parkways. SEC. 4. The said Board of Park Commissioners may acquire by gift lands without the corporate limits of said city for the purpose of continuing or completing any system of parkways within said limits and shall possess the same powers and jurisdiction over said parkways as if they were wholly within the city limits. SEC. 5. All acts and parts of acts whether in the charter of the city of Minneapolis or elsewhere, inconsistent with any of the provisions of this act, are hereby repealed. SEC. 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. Approved March 9th, A. D., 1885. AN ACT TO REPEAL SUB-DIVISION TWENTY-NINE, SECTION FIVE, CHAPTER FOUR, OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, AND TO CONFER THE POWER THEREBY GRANTED UPON THE BOARD OF PARK COMMISIONERS OF SAID CITY. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota: SECTION 1. That the twenty-ninth (29) sub-division of Section five (5) Chapter four (4) of an act entitled, "An act to amend and consolidate the charter of the city of Minneapolis," approved March 8, 1881, be and the same is hereby repealed. SEC. 2. That the Board of Park Commissioners of the city of Minneapolis shall hereafter have authority to direct and regulate the planting and preservation of shade and ornamental trees and shrubbery in the streets, alleys, and public grounds of said city, and to appoint, upon the recommendation of its President, a City Forester, whose general duties it shall be to inspect, and, in his discretion, condemn any trees or shrubs offered for sale in said city, to superintend and regulate the planting and culture of the same in said streets, alleys, and public grounds, and to perform such other similar duties as said Board may by ordinance prescribe. Said Board is also authorized to enact such ordinance or ordinances as it may deem proper to carry out the purposes of this act, and shall provide for the proper compensation of such City Forester, to be paid out of the park funds. SEC. 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. Approved February 19, A. D. 1887BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS. MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. OFFICERS—1887-8. CHARLES M. LORING, PRESIDENT SAMUEL A. MARCH, VICE-PRESIDENT ED. A. STEVENS, SECRETARY E. H. MOULTON, TREASURER JOHN T. BYRNES, ATTORNEY WM. M. BERRY, SUPERINTENDENT PARK COMMISSIONERS—1887-8.* ALBERT A. AMES, Mayor, Ex-Officio DANIEL BASSETT, 1889 ALBERT J. BOARDMAN, 1889 BALDWIN BROWN, 1889 †P. J. E. CLEMENTSON, 1889 ‡JOHN A. GILMAN, Ex-Officio JOSEPH INGENHUTT, 1891 CHARLES JOHNSON, 1889 CHARLES M. LORING, 1891 SAMUEL A. MARCH, 1891 §WILLIAM H. MILLS, Ox-Officio ABIEL H. MITCHELL, 1891 JOHN C. OSWALD, 1889 BYRON SUTHERLAND, 1889 EUGENE M. WILSON, 1889 * Terms of office expire first Monday in January. † Appointed April 30, 1887, vice CHARLES A. NIMOCKS, resigned. ‡ Chairman City Council Committee on Public Grounds and Buildings. § Chairman City Council Committee on Roads and Roadways.