Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-03

The council committee streets held an
important meeting, yesterday afternoon, in
regard to railroad matters, or more properly to
devise some means to protect life at the rail-
road street crossings, and to abate the whist
ling steam putting, ETC., along Trout Brook
as petitioned for.
The meeting was attended by Mayor
Dawson, Aldermen Rhodes, Dowlan, Bell,
Brennan. Smith. Grace, City Attorney Murray,
City Engineer Sewall. Messrs. A. II. Wieder,
George l.. Becker. Keogh, Braden, VIM. Lee,
Judge Hale, Ferd. Wlllius. John s. Prince,
Edmund Rice.
The meeting was called to order by Aid.
Rhodes, who introduced the business by asking
Gen. Becker, or any other petitioner, to state
definitely their grievances. and whatever rem
sdy they might wish to suggest.
In response, Judge Hale said the petitioners
didn't ask hasty action, but the best action.
This they wanted after due consultation be-
tween the railroad authorities. council and the
property holders Immediately interested.
Judge Hale then INDUCED in complaint
against the newspapers, saying they
had represented the petitioners as desiring
to have rubber wheels to the cars, etc. The
Judge thought the business should be treated
seriously. RS life had been sacri-
feed. In summary, the Judge said
bridge at Lafayette avenue and reduction of
the grade through Trout Brook. Aid. Smith
wanted to know how much the grade could be
reduced.
Judge Hall answered that at the maximum
point, about IS feet, and ut the crossing of
Lafayette, s to 10 feet. The speaker didn't
want bridge until 1t could be paid for but
he did want some definite and speedy action
in the matter.
Mayor Dawson wished to know whether the
railroad grade could be changed by the city.
Aid. Rhodes explained that grade at street
crossings could be established by the council
but if an alteration were made the city would
be liable for damages. To avoid this he be-
lieved that the railroad companies could be
brought into accord with the wishes of council
and petitioners. The companies would build
the bridges and the city the approaches.
Gen. Becker also held that the city could
make change in grade. But he never contem-
plated an award of damages to the railroad, as
the change in grade would be of Unreasonable
benefit to the railroad companies.
Mr.. VIM. Lee asked if the street grade was
made to suit the railroads or vice versa.
Engineer Sewall replied that the street grades
had been made to bit the railroads.
Judge Hale wanted it understood that the
petition was for bridging all the crossings, not
alone Lafayette avenue.
The discussion here gave way to bit of per-
BOnal tdlk DeIWCtI bcL. DcChtE Slly NJ
torney Murray. The former disclaimed that
any personal feeling had been engendered by
the business, while MIR. Murray thought there
had been considerable, and that he had been
unjustly attacked, when in fact he had done
more than anyone to harmonizs matters.
Mr.. Rice thought the whole business was sus-
ceptible of ready solution. That
could be done by tho
city engineer submitting some definite plan
that could be submitted to railroad authorities
and then action could be taken. General talk
until such plan was made, could and would
not amount to anything.
Mr.. Ferd. Willius fully agreed with Mr..
Rice, and saw nothing but generalization I'M
til such time as some plan was su omitted for
action.
Mr.. HILLS VIEWS.
At this juncture. Manager j. j. Hill of the
st. Paul & Pacific railroad came in. accom-
panied by Vice-President r. P. Angus.
Aid. Rhodes explained the status of affairs
to Mr.. Hill. That the petitioners wanted
street crossings bridged. whisting stopped, in
etc.
MIR. Hill explained that the employees
were told not to whistle any more than
necessary, and in great measure it was wholly
avoided as much as possible, considering the
grade. After all, most of 1.-THE whistliug" was
done on Mr.. Wilder's road-the Taylors Falls
Oaughter) and if he'd join him he thought
that trouble would be obyiated.
In regard to the change of grade of the track
up Trout brook Mr.. Hill explained to get a
uniform grade, fill of three feet at Third
street and six feet at Fourth street would have
to be made, and the cut would begin Just be-
yond Seventh street bridge, bringing the grade
about four and half feet at Lafayette avenue
crossing. So far as change was concerned. it
tfofA pharn oil
provements of the road were built on present
grade, and for the matter of that the same OBJ
jections would hold good in reference to city
street improvements.
Gen Becker interrupted to declare that ''the
lowering of the grade was to obviate the
noise complained of, and that it would be of
material benefit to the companies, as it would
enable them to transport more at less expens o
than now, and with much less noise.
Mr.. Hill continuing said that an alteration
in grade to make it uniform, would bring
about reduction from 81 to SO; two pitches
on the grade of 81 and I03 now existed, and he
questioned whether on a continuous grade of
50 locomotive cokld do any better than now.
1t was well to look the matter s1uarely in the
face, business had almost quad
rupled; during the past year, and,
after all, 'the noise" depended much upon the
number of locomotives used, and these, with
1.-THE prospects" would naturally be increased.
After all, he could see but one remedy, and that
was to build q uniform grade from Jackson
street to the hill, thus making three foot fall
at Third street. To meet the demand of in
creased business the companies would have to
put down two more tracks.
Judge Hale interrupted to say he thought, in
view of the fact that two more tracks were to
be laid, wouldn't it be better to construct the
new grade at once for all tracks. He declared
the noise unbearable from the $40 trains pass
ing daily.
Mr.. Hill declared there were not so many
trains, say half. While We are sleeping SO
many don't pass.
Mr.. Rice-The complaint is that the petit
TONERS don't sleep. daughter
Mr.. Hill said the change, lowering the tracks
was contemplated at an early day. The idea
was to put in new tracks on lower grade, and
use them while the others were lowered. Yet,
after all, such change could not be made a.
asked, for it would put the shops at Mississippi:
street IL feet below grade, and make them use |
less, unless at an exhorbitant expense.
Mr.. Sewall believed the city shouldn't wait
for the railroads. The crossings could be-
bridged in accordance with change of grade by
railroads. As for instance, there'd be =
fall at Third street, and the street should
be brideed according; same fat the four feet
cut at Lafayette avenue.
The next question brought mp was what
part of the bridges the railroads wou'd have to
hnild