The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-02-06
s-'--
THE STATE CAPITAL.
necinl corresnondenca OF the star.

special Correspondence OF Cne 0IhT'
COLUMBUS, o., Feb.6, 1877.
There has been considerable talk of
late upon the bill introduced by Major
Wiltsee, OF Hamilton, to prevent the
Trustees Of the Southern Railway from
occupying
M'LEAN AVENUE
for railroad purposes. The bill as pre-
sented is an innocent-looking little bant-
ling, which of itself might slip through
Legislature without awaking much
comment; but when its real import is
fully understood there is considerable
meat in the little darling. 1t reads in
ertelSO as follows, viz:
|. THAT said Trustees may use or oc-
cupy any street, avenue, alley or public
way, which is less than one hundred
leet in width, but no other, and belong
Ing to saia city, or any part thereof, or
any space Of ground, If said Trustees
shall find it necessary, for the purpose
of the railway; and II the municipal au-
thorities having charge thereof shall re-
quire said Trustees to provide new
street, alley or other way, space or
ground In place OF that so used or occu-
pied; they may acquire by purchase or
cause the necessary improvement to be
made therein"
The change in the law is contem-
plated by the insertion of the words
"which ID less than one hundred feet in
width, but no other" and the restric-
ton 30 expressed means "you shall not
use Mclean aVenue,' which Is one hum
dred leet WIDE.
The reason for the bill is, briefly, as
follows, as we understand il: The
Trustees OF the Southern Railway pro-
pose 10 run the track along Mclean ave-
nue. for certain distance. This is a
main thoroughiare from e ghth street to
spring Grove avenue, being an extern
sion OF Spring Grove avenue southwark
Tor nearly mile and a hall, and which
was constructed at cost OF nearly
$5O0, 900, and the people who live thereon
object to such desecration of their beau
tilul street. Another objection TO such
use Of the avenue is that one OF the large
main sewers, twelve feet in diameter,
has been constructed along Mclean
avenue at cost OF $120, 900, it being the
main outlet for the drainage OF the city
northwest and east OF Millcreek. 1t is
also alleged that the Trustees, contract
ed, two years ago, TO use Horne street
lor the railway from the river 10 Rich
mond street. BY reason of this Gen.
tract, the Board of Sewerage Commits
siOners caused the southern extension
of the main sewer TO be located on the
west side oil Horne street so as TO leave
the rest OF the street for the railroad
track.
II is furthermore urged that Mclean
avenue presents greater engineering
difficulties than does Horne street; and
the northern end OF the railway bridge
over the river being at Horne street,
this latter street seems to be the direct
route. In word the citizens in that To-
cality seem to object to turning a $6u0, 900
avenue into railroad track, which
would seem to be very poor use to put
the street to. 1t is rumored that the
Board OF Public Works are determined
10 tignt the railway TO the bitter end, re-
garding the occupation Of Mclean
avenue by that corporation as a great
outrage on the rights OF the citizens and
d deliberate violation of their contract.
This bill is the first step in the war;
fare. A protest in the name olTthe Board
is said to be in the hands Of the author OF
tha bill.
L understand the question has been
referred TO the Committee on Municipal
Corporations, of which Hon. Gabriel
DIR is Chairman.
Question-Was it only luck, or was it
by The inscrutable workings of Divine
Providence in behalf OF Cincinnati, that
a Hamilton County man got the Chair
manship of the great Getty Committee"
of the House? At all events Mr.. DIR
makes tirst-rate Chairman.
CINCINNATI.