Daily globe., 1879-06-09
An OMINOUs VERDICT.

IN OMxNOUS VECkDxC1.
The Sunday GLOBE recorded verdict
against Ramsey County, which was rendered
on Saturday, that deserves more than
passing notice. In an effort to condemn
land for a road, a commission of competent
and Intelligent gentlemen awarded the owner
of the property taken serenity ydollags. The
owner appealed from the commission to
jury, and obtained verdict of t,oenty-ssr
hundred dollars. VEs 2R 5neaF 1885
It is no exaggeration to say that such a
verdict is alarming. It is the manifestation
of a spirit which has already cost st. Paul
millions of dollars, and but for which we
would to-day have one hundred Thousand
inhabitants. We drove the Milwaukee & St..
Paul terminus away from ST, Paul by excess
sive valuation, of worthless property. That
company designed to make this city, their
headquarters with. their extensive
shops, Offices and works incidental to
a terminal point of great railroad.
They sought to secure some of the low
swamp flat in the upper part of the city
property absolutely valueless unless an enor.
nous expense is incurred in filling it, an OK
pense which only railroad can incur. They
secured the award of commission; but the
property owners appealed to the courts, and
there were citizens ready to swear the valua-
ton up, and jurors ready to increase the
dose until the company abandoned the
whole matter. That was ten years
or more ago, and to-day the prop
erty lies a. low swamp fiat,
unoccupied and not worth the taxes, to the
owners .s,;l ...s s,4. .s.srTs.,...ss.s
If q healthy public sentiment had existed
here-if there had been a determination on
the part of our citizens to compel fair play,
st. Paul would to-day have been city double
her present diminsions. If st. Paul had
levied tax and bought that property even
at the exorbitant valuation placed upon it in
the courts, it would have been o good in
vestment. ~ El5 %.sE%tt] i2 -aii*;s
The reason why we attach especial i'm
portance to the verdict on Saturday is be
cause we have two or three commissioners
appointed, or about to be appointed, to ap
praise land for railroad purposes. It is simpl,
the due process of law to condemn private
property for what is practically public use
We have the terminal advantages Of two and
perhaps three great railroads depending
upon these condemnation proceedings. We
cannot afford and must not repeat the folly
of the past. Itis absolute ruin for tn,
city to place these fancy valuation
upon property. The property desired i
comparatively worthless as it stands, and i
by giving it away its improvement can b
secured it would be wise policy. But tn
owners are not asked to give their property
they are simply asked not to place fctitiou
valuation upon it which will drive improve
ments contemplated to other cities. It
time that there was such a public sentimen
credited as will prevent either witnesse
or Jurors from being found who viii
pursue this suicidal policy of eztravagan1
valuations. If such policy is to be pu,
sued as that which drove the Milwaukee /.
st. Paul company ut of the city, no valua
tion can be fixed which will be too zoao to in
dicate the real value of property ten year
hence. ,syszrFefei4 ~ 7..I!s. IA .,aEr