The enigma of the wayward barrel of acid (my Sunday col)

My Sunday column examined the enduring mystery of a leaking barrel of acid dropped off by someone in a north Minneapolis alley. A neighborhood resident tipped us off about what had happened, so I went to the Minneapolis Fire Department to pick up the incident report from April (below). It was one of the most positive experiences I've had with public records lately: I went to fire department headquarters on the second floor of Minneapolis City Hall and gave the clerk the time, place and subject of the incident. She did not ask me who I was, or why I wanted this information. She fetched the report, gave me the three-page printout and sent me on my way.