Omaha daily bee., 1874-05-26
HOW, THE CONTRACT WAS
KEPT.

Nearly five years ago, Omaha en-
tered into q contract with the Union
Pacific Railroad Company, for the
purpose Of securing the erection OF
commodious Depot buildings and
general offices In this city. BY the
conditions of this contract, Omaha
obligated herself to donate to the
Company the lands now designated
on our city map, as the Union Pa
eifc depot grounds, and the Com
pany bound themselves to cause the
erection upon these grounds, of de-
pot buildings and general offices,
valued at not less than $l25,OOO.
Under the specific terms Of this con-
tract these structures were to be
completed and occupied within two
years after the transfer to the Com
pany Of the title to the depot
grounds property.
And now let us briefly review how
this contract was kept by each of
these contracting parties. In other
words, let US examine the manner
in which each of them have COM
piled or have sought to comply with
their solemn obligations. Assum-
ing that the contract had been Il.
tered into In good faith by the man.
agsrs Of the Union Pacific, Omaha
strained every nerve to fulfil her
part Of ths agreement at the earliest
possible moment. Not only did her
citizens tax themselves to their ut
most capacity by voluntary contri-
buttons, but they also assumed o
heavy bonded Indebtedness that
has saddled a burdensome tax
upon the present generation
and proved an incalculable incu-
bus upon Omaha's progress and
prosperity. Does any sane man be-
lieve that Omaha would have as
sumed these burdens without the
repeated verbal and written assur-
ances on the part of the Union
Pacific managers that they not only
proposed to carry out their part of
the compact to the letter, but that
they intended to erect buildings
superior to and more expensive
than those designated in the original
agreement. Thus Omaha was in
duced by cheap promises and false
pledges to part with her bonds and
property.
Patiently, meekly, and silently,
she has for years born her yoke
until patience, humility, and silence
have ceased to be considered attri-
butes Of virtue. More than two
years ago, our citizens were RECALLED
with magnificent plans of the great
Omaha depot, that was to be, and
when these plans appeared In Gro
fut's transcontinental World, the
measure of our ambition was brim-
fal and overlooking. Twelve
months passed, and those plans
were supplemented by others less
extravagant, but more substantial.
Those plans have in their turn been
admired, pulled and shelved.
When Horace F. Clark visited
Omaha twelve months ago our
citizens received the most solemn
aagursnces that these plans would
be practically executed within four
months. Six months later we were
assured by Mr.. Sickles that al
though Ii was too late i'm the season
10 complete the depot and head
quarters buildings, we could rely
upon their completion during the
prssent spring. And now Presi-
lent Dillon desires us to be patient |,
md all will be right.
II has been the same old song !,
Durant to Dillon, and who can
Name our citizens il this song has
ost Its original charm upon them? {
win all come out right" says !
,resadsnt Dillon, but Omaha refuses
o bslieve this prediction until it :
hall b verified. i
2readent Dillon complains about
= hsavy TAXATION, and yet he does {
'ot ssem 10 comprehend that his
ompany b the chief cause of it, q
9th directly and Indirectly. Oma- ]
- already paid more interest
pom her Union Pacific indebted !
- than would have been required :
} build thsir depot and headquar-
buildings. We are safe In \
1otner peopositaon NAT Omaha e
ould today be willing to under
he the building and completion of 8,
zee buildings In the most sub o
antial manner n the Union Pacific |"
ould surrender the bonds, or re-
nd their equivalent. =
Again, II the Union Pacific had G
lthfully compiled with their con-
sct Omaha would to-day contain q
five to eight millions more b
fable property, andtaxstion would u
We been reduced in proportion a,
tn increased property valuation. a.
Uniting that the bridge tax is | n