Post by L Roebuck on Jul 21, 2006 8:11:19 GMT -5
Dangerous St. Paul Caves Remain Open
Mary Tan
Reporting
Jul 20, 2006 10:15 pm US/Central
(WCCO) St. Paul The network of caves left by 1800s sandstone miners along the Mississippi River in St. Paul was responsible for the deaths of three high school students from the south metro area in April, 2004. The teenagers died of carbon monoxide.
Immediately following the accidental deaths, many in St. Paul proposed that something be done to make the caves safer. In June of 2004, the city's then-mayor Randy Kelly hired an engineering firm to recommend possible solutions.
Over two years later, the dangerous caves remain readily accessible. And the memory of the teenagers who lost their lives in the caves hasn't faded.
"One is awful, but more than one is a tragedy," says Laura Gonzalez, who is not alone in wondering why no significant changes to the caves have been made since those deaths. St. Paul city leaders say the Plato Boulevard caves will remain as they are now. Gonzalez would rather see them blocked off.
Though the city hired a consulting firm at a cost of several hundred thousand dollars to look into ways to block off cave entrances, city leaders have now determined that closing off the 37 mine entrances is simply too expensive a proposition. According to the report done last year it would cost at least $1 million.
Under the city's current budget, St. Paul officials can't afford the expense. Though signs still stand warning the curious of the caves' dangers, they remain open and accessible to anyone.
Article: wcco.com/local/local_story_201231650.html
Dangerous St. Paul Caves Still Open Video
Mary Tan
Reporting
Jul 20, 2006 10:15 pm US/Central
(WCCO) St. Paul The network of caves left by 1800s sandstone miners along the Mississippi River in St. Paul was responsible for the deaths of three high school students from the south metro area in April, 2004. The teenagers died of carbon monoxide.
Immediately following the accidental deaths, many in St. Paul proposed that something be done to make the caves safer. In June of 2004, the city's then-mayor Randy Kelly hired an engineering firm to recommend possible solutions.
Over two years later, the dangerous caves remain readily accessible. And the memory of the teenagers who lost their lives in the caves hasn't faded.
"One is awful, but more than one is a tragedy," says Laura Gonzalez, who is not alone in wondering why no significant changes to the caves have been made since those deaths. St. Paul city leaders say the Plato Boulevard caves will remain as they are now. Gonzalez would rather see them blocked off.
Though the city hired a consulting firm at a cost of several hundred thousand dollars to look into ways to block off cave entrances, city leaders have now determined that closing off the 37 mine entrances is simply too expensive a proposition. According to the report done last year it would cost at least $1 million.
Under the city's current budget, St. Paul officials can't afford the expense. Though signs still stand warning the curious of the caves' dangers, they remain open and accessible to anyone.
Article: wcco.com/local/local_story_201231650.html
Dangerous St. Paul Caves Still Open Video