Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-10-11
BOARD OF TRADE.
TIE RAILROAD QUESTION sFULLY
DISCUSSED.
The "Sawdust" Committee Submit Their
Report Which is Ordered Printed-The
Committee Instructed to Make More
Detailed Report of the Sawdust Investi-
CATION.

AACPOGU "n1Cn 10 VEO6C0Q GI1uC6O-ln6
Committee Instructed to Make More
Detailed Report of the Sawdust Investi-
cation.
A special meeting of the Board of Trade
was held in the rooms yesterday forenoon,
principally for the purpose of listening to
the prepared report of the sawdust investi-
cation committee.
Vice-president Brooks took the chair.
Col. King was first to speak. He was
happy in the thought that the committee
had discovered an important fact, and that
was that there was no reason why Mime
apolis should not enjoy the privileges
of navigation. He said ssThe
time is coming when we must organize
and perfect the system proposed by the
committed" So far as the river, stage of
water, channel, ETC., is concerned there is
no serious hindrance.
Eastman suggested that this was not
formerly the case and hence it must be all
owing to the sawdust which is set afoat
Col. King thought it was true, and all
smiled.
Secretary Sturtevant suggested that it
would be good idea to petition to
congress to expend one half OF the
$250,OOO above the rapids to perfect navi-
CATION for the benefit of the mills.
j. B. Bassett explained that he had for
merly introduced resolution in the board
which had been voted down, to ask the
represents tives in congress from this dis
trict to appropriate sum of money to re-
move the boulders from the bed of the
river in order to perfect the navigation.
He did not think it best to be aggressive
to the interests of st. Paul, but thought
something should at once be done in the
matter.
Mr.. Chute explained that the government
had conducted survey of the river
and had estimated that it would require
$29,500. Another scheme which had been
suggested. and which was plausible one.
was to build a lock and dam at Meekers
island. This would cost S95O,000.
Secretary Sturtevant said that there was
land grant in the way. That must first
be coded back to the government.
Mr.. Chute said that the steamboat COM
panies would much prefer that the navi-
cation was effected without lock and
dam, land for sanitary reasons, and owing to
the fact that all the sewers of the city
enptied into the river, it would seem bet
ter not to build dam.
Mr.. Pillsbury didn't think that would
make any material difference with the
sanitary condition of the city.
Mr.. Pillsbury then addressed the board
respecting the matters between the city
and the railway companies. He
gave a full review of the matter.
Respecting the difference he said that
concessions had been made by both the
city and Mr.. Hill, and that everything now
appeared to be harmonious. The ordi-
nance passed by the council settled the
difficulties.
Col. King explained that he had been
informed that the railway company in
tended to reject the ordinance mentioned.
Mr.. Nettleton thought the council was
biggling about a small matter. st. Paul
was perfectly willing to make the conces-
sions required by the railway company.
He would urge the council to settle the diff
ference by granting the railroad what it
asks without further delay.
Mr.. Pillsbury said the city wanted the
railroad companies to take care Of the
bridges under which they passed, but the
companies thought it was not their duty to
do so. After the bridges were built they
did not want to keep them in repair for
the use and benefit of the city. Mr. Porter,
of the Omaha road, is fully as dissatisfied
as is Mr.. Hill.
John DeLaittre thought the railway
companies should keep the abutments in
repair.
City Attorney Benton said the legal OBJ
legations rests upon the railroad COM
panies to build the abutments and the
bridge, while the city must build the ap-
proaches. It was then the duty of the
railway companies to build the bridge.
Fifty years hence those bridges must be
worn out; an iron bridge will wear out. If
it is the duty of the railway to build them
now, it is just as much their duty to rebuild
fifty years hence when they are worn out.
In Chicago the legal rights of the railway
companies have been established, after a
test, upon exactly the same basis as the or
dinance in question. The Milwaukee road
is willing to come here and do the same.
The city cannot do one thing by this road
and another by another road. All must
be treated exactly alike.
Col. King was the next speaker. He said
the council had the railway company by
the throat, and they should let loose their
grasp. If the city can't afford to build
those bridges fifty years hence, the people
had better move out.
Maj. Camp followed in the same strain.
He did't want any further delay. He ar
gued that the value of real estate would
decline in the interim more than the
amount of the expense of caring for
the bridge for 100 years. If
the arrangements had been concluded
last spring it would have benefited the
city 100000, and would have added 1000
to our population.
Mr.. Brooks detailed many of the pres
ent inconveniences of the shippers which
Y ID be obviated.just SO soon as the rail
way companies could perfect their present
intended arrangements.
John DeLaittre thought it would be a
good idea to hold a mass meeting of the
citizens before the next council meets, and
pass resolutions to be presented to the
aldermen, giving the popular expression
of the people. The suggestion met with
general favor, and upon vote date will
be announced to-day for the holding of
such meeting.
John De La1ttre offered the following
resolution, which was unanimously adopt