, 1874-04-19

| To the Editor Of The Chicago Tribune:
] SIR: Having tEespassed 60 abuntantJy here
tofore upon this threadbare subject, / feel IL i
| an apology were due the public for any further
| iutrusion on my part. Still, the subject is 81
| important, and the apathy on tho part Of tbf
Council so conspicuous, that am emboldcned
| to add few words to what has already beep
! end.
There can be no question that public opinion
IN regard to this Lake Front question has been
! gathering volume aud force. Nothing can be
more ce1taln than that public opinion will in the
end assert its power. Public opinion. in this
age OF general reading and thinking, is alvays
rights and this is particularly tho case when tie
passions OF men are not aroused and when their
! minds are free from prejudice.
The reasons for selling portion Of the Lake
front TO the railroads have 80 fully been ex-
pressed TINT it is needless to repeat them These
reasons are SO complete aud logicnlly unansyor-
able that they may be considered as universally
admitted.
Then the sum offered for the three blocks has
been SO closely scrutinixed aud 80 carefully or
au1ned By those best abla to form reliable
opinion, that lts adequatenosa may be deemed to
have been demonstrated.
The necessity and value to the business in
terests OF the city OF such depot as the mil
road companies propose to build, no ono has had
the boldness to deny.
That the city needs the money, is q fact which
requires no proof
1t has been reported that certain Of the Alder
men have entered into combination to extort
from the companies considerable sum in the
Ehape OF blackmail. l nm compelled to aay. in
Justice to tho Aldermen, that lean find no actual
basls for this report and am frank to add,
that % not tolleTe IN the existence OF such
combination. After tho experience Of the past.
1t does not seem probable that any Alderman
would, for ga mess of pottage," betray tha
interests Of the city, particularly the face Of
inevitable newt discovery and disgrace. THIS sus-
the ground Of SIMPLE improbability.
1ut there is fear, on the part Of many Of the
Aldermen, that the railroad companies IRE not
acting in accordance with the principles Of CON-
n mon honesty and good faith. 1t is to bo hoped
questionably, it evidence could be produced con-
TlctlnE the companies of any attempt to defraud
the city, should be among the first to denouuce
them, regardless Of anything before said in their
1avor. What has been said has been said in the
belief that they we're acting honestly md, IN to
this time, hare seen nothing calculated to shake
such conviction.
4 test, however, will soon be applied, which
Will shed Light upon this subject, and determine.
bevond the shadow OF o doubt, whether iha
railroad companies are acting honestly or not.
II they are really acting in good faith, an op- |
portunity will, in all probability, coon ba pre- |
5ented to them to get possession of tho three |
BLOCKS on such terms IS they have themselves |
proposed.
! have been crcdib1y informed that one of tba
Aldermen will o11er resolution ut the next I
Meeting OF the Council, which will have tho A. |
Get OF bringing this question to final issue Of |
ome sort. This resolution will provide for the |
condemnation OF the property III due form n I
aw,-as the same time guaranteeing to the COM
'anles an appraisal not exceeding $500. coo
tne land, therefore, is all the railroads
., 'ant, tney VII not hesitate to comply with the
: & ~ fueh 80 an arrangement, and particularly