Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-12

here in the city. He preferred to change his
vote and go for putting his money in a
high School building. ,
MIR. Smith didn't wonder at gentleman
changing his vote who couldn't see that
building a bridge at Fort Smelling would be
a great benefit to the trade of st. Paul.
People who never came here before would
come if the bridge we're built, and once made,
the experiment would be repeated. The men
who are down on this bridge project are the
very men who have forced upon the city the
purchasing of useless and expensive park
Mr.. GiIillan said from surveys made ,
twenty years ago by Mr.. Sewell, it was safe
to estimate the cost of the bridge at $780, 600.
This, too, with prices of material, &C., re-
duced to the present standard.
MI. McClung controverted brakes idea that
the building of the bridge would not bring
any considerable retail trade to the city, and
said that the merchants on jackson
street were willing to pay literally out of
their own means to secure the bridge. The
people of that section would come here be-
cause they could buy goods cheaper and sell
their produce at higher rates than anywhere
else He alluded to the great increase of
business in the city consequent upon max
ing the bridge here free bridge, and spoke
of the policy pursued prior to that as shut
others who wanted to come here to trade.
We were now shutting our front doors to
the people who lived beyond Fort Smelling.
He thought 100000 would be better invest
ed than by putting it in High School which
was not needed, and which will be voted
down by the people, despite the 18 men of
this chamber who endorse the scheme
Mr.. Ingersou said the expenditure of pub
lie money affects every taxpayer. If that
bridge were built, instead of having 5000
teams a year coming into the city, we should
have 10000. Probably 100000 was too
great an amount, but he was willing to bear
his proportion of the taxation if the bridge
could be built.
Mr.. Drake called attention to the fact that
the bill provided for only fifteen days no
tice for submitting the question to the peo-
pie. The bill had already passed the House,
and as one of the Senators was known to be
strongly in favor of it, and the other was per-
haps not disinclined to support it, he thought
the time had arrived for the chamber to take
some action on the matter.
Mr.. Willius favored the bridge but was OPP
posed to the bill.
Mr.. Lindeke thought 100000 was too
much of an expenditure for the interests in
volved.
Gen. Bishop thought the best disposition
of the matter was to refer it back to a COM
mittee, as in its present form, it hardly met
the appreciation of the chamber. The bill
should be modified and perfected; 100000
is too large a sum. Much larger sums of
money might be expended there, but a
bridge which would answer all purposes
might be built for $4,000. He suggested
the expenditure be made through the regular
channels. When built it is mere conven-
fence for crossing the river. Whether it was
going to better our retail trade remains to be
seen. Where trade goes depends upon the
inducement offered. The bridge would not
bring dealers here and it was dealers we must
look to for trade.
Mr. Rogers gave his ideas upon the sub
ject and was decidedly of the opinion that
the building of the bridge would greatly add
to the city S trade.
building of the bridge at this time was
premature.
Gov. Marshall said he was one of the cor
porators of a bridge there, 25 years ago, and
that II OF Ii years ago the proposition to
build bridge was voted upon and rejected
by the people. He believed with Mr. Drake
that all the trade that would be brought to
the city by the building of bridge there
would not pay interest on the investment.
Practically to St. Paul it made very little
difference whether the bridge was built at
Fort Smelling or Minnehaha. He depicted
, the habit of some members of the chamber
ascribing to others personal considerations in
their actions here. 1t requires moral cour-
, age to get up and advocate any measure in
, this chamber without having ones motives
impugned. He then referred to the Como
park business, and claimed that the idea of
o4ol 4
was considered for three years. He then en-
tered into a detailed account of his connec-
ton with the affair, and closed by claiming
that the city had made a good investment
and that the additional territory brought
into the city limits and taxed had more
, than paid the interest on the amount
, of purchase money.
Col. Hewitt said what the last speaker had
stated was the Immaculate truth.
}. Mr.. Willius offered the following resolu-
ton:
Resolrcd, That our Senators and Representa-
tives in the State Legislature be requested to
revise the bill introduced for the construction
OF bridge at Fort Smelling, and to reduce the
item of expense Of 100000 therein provided,
to the sum Of $25 900, to be raised by direct
taxation-not to be paid until the bridge is
completed.
r Gen. johnson moved to indefinitely post
> pone the whole matter, but shortly after
| withdrew the motion.
Mr.. MeClung advocated Mr.. Willius' mo-
ton, and that being the pending question, on
motion, the words ''to be raised by direct
5 taxation, were stricken out
Mr.. Ingersoll moved to increase the
amount to $4,000, but amid cries of no! no
the motion was put and lost.
Mr.. Lee insisted on the bill being made
more speciic-what kind of bridge was
wanted, whether of iron or wood.
, Mr.. ]. M. Gilman thought it was nonsense
, to talk about building an iron bridge will
$4,000. For his part he favored having
it of iron.
Mr.. McClung said the matter ought to be
e left discretionary, SO as to allow of the
: best bargain being made.
Mr.. Willius' motion was the first adopted
$ On motion the resolution was referred t.
. the committee on legislation with. instruc
), tions to prepare a bill, to be presented mex
: Monday morning, and also requesting tina
J, further action be suspended Oh the bill unit
the report of the committee.
The chamber then adjourned.
: Ed2nunds and the President.
1t seems that some sort of an understand
! ing exists between Senator Edmunds and tn
! President since the late correspondence be-
n tween these gentlemen on civil service