Daily globe., 1881-01-16
LOCAL LEGISLATION.

the City Needs to Secure of the Legisla-
ture.
A meeting of the council committee on
legislation, with Messrs. Crooks, Jas.
Smith, Jr., Gilfllan, Sanborn and Wiley,
of the legislative delegation, and repre-
sentatives of the chamber of commerce
committee, was held at the council
chamber at P. NJ, yesterday afternoon,
to consider and act upon legislation desir-
ed at the present legislative session.
The first matter called up was the Sew
enth street crossing of Phalen creek upon
which there were two propositions, one
asking for authority to issue bonds in
SO, 900 to repair and make safe the pres
ent bridge; the other for bonds in $75 900
for permanent fill and change of grade
so as to accommodate street cars, ETC.
JAS Smith, Jr., as chairman of the
chamber of commerce committee, ex-
planned the latter proposition and urged
its importance.
City Attorney Murray said the council
committee, after thoroughly investigating
the matter, had thought the true policy
at this time was to repair the bridge, and
await the railroad development in that
portion of the city before entering upon
any general improvement. The fill and
change of grade desired by proper
ty Sowners east of the run,
would entail a large ex-
penditure of money, how much would
be largely governed by "hat the railroads
should do. Their plans for the future
had not developed, and the committee
thought the true policy of the city at this
time was to make the bridge safe, and
await the railroad development, before
deciding upon any permanent improve
| ment.
Mr.. D. D. Merrill, representing the
bluff property holdegs, spoke in favor of
| legislation authorizing an expenditure
| with culverts, outside of the proportion
which would necessarily fall upon the
| railroads, would be about $75 ,000 The
bluff property holders were being called
upon to bear the proportion of the ex-
pense in the purchase of the water works,
and for sewerage, neither one OF which
directly benefited them, and they thought
the expense of this improvement should
be borne by the city at large. 1t was an
improvement of vital Importance to bluff
residents, and it might as well be done
now as to wait for future developments.
| Mayor Dawson said Seventh street was
to be the great thoroughfare by which
street ears would reach the Dayton Bluff
portion of the city, and therefore the ex-
pense of the improvement should be
placed upon all the property benefited,
and not upon the property Immediately
iutting upon the street.
Aid Griggs thought the appropriation
of $40, 900 to make the bridge safe was all
that ought to be asked at this time.
Mr.. JAS Smith again advocated the
permanent improvement, and closed his
remarks by moving as the sense of the
committee, that bill be prepared for
presentation to the legislature authoriz-
ing the lnssuance Of bonds in $75, 900 for
such improvement, the money to be ex-
pended under the authority and at the
discretion of the city council.
Col. Allen was opposed to the perma-
nent improvement plan at this time. As
general proposition it was all
right and had his heartiest sym
pathy. But the fact should not be lost
sight of that the future Of the valley to
be bridged or filled up, was only partially
developed. The probability was that the
railroad companies would occupy the en-
tire valley, which would greatly reduce
the cost of the permanent improve
ment desired
Mr.. Peter Berkey agreed with the views
advanced by Col. Allen.
| Mr. Gastav Willius said it was unfortu-
nate that the city was surrounded on all
sides by distractions to its development
| On the south and west was the Mississippi
river, to bridge which large sums of
money had been borne by the city at
large. On the east was this run, cutting
off residents beyond it from ready and
safe access to the city. The improve
ment asked for was one for
the general good, and the
expense should be borne by all.
1t was not asked that legislative authority
should be securrd now for the expendi-
ture, leaving it's actual expenditure to be
governed by future developments.
Mr.. Oppenheim could see no impro-
priety in securing the legislation asked
for at this session, leaving the council to
say when the money should be expended.
This would put the city in position to
take advantage of railroad development,
and give property owners interested some
thing tangible upon which to base their
calculations for the future.
Mr.. Cornish was opposed to asking
legislation for any permanent improve
ment at this time Repair the bridge
now, and then wait until it was ascertain
ed just what the railroads were going to
require.
President Rhodes, in the chair, then sub
mitted the motion of JAS Smith, Jr., for
legislative authority for the issuance of
$75, 900 in bonds for immediate permanent
improvement.
Aide, man Griggs moved to amend, to
ask for the issuance of $4,000 in bonds
for the repair of the bridge.
The question being put, Hon. G. d.
Gilfillan declined to vote, explaining that
he was present simply to learn the wishes
of his constituents, and not to act upon
measures to be come before him in his
legislative capacity.
Col. Crooks, Sanborn, Griggs and Wiley
took the same view of their duties as
legislators.
Finally, upon Mr.. Murray's motion, the
matter was laid aside until the next
meeting, and after brief informal dis
cussion, during which it was developed
that no other matter was ready for action,
the committee adjourned until Saturday
next, at 3 Pm.