Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-10-09


people on Dayton's Bluff, was again
brought to the attention of the board OF
directors of the chamber of commerce
yesterday morning by Mr.. WilIus, from
the committee to whom the matter was re-
ferred. He read the following report,
which was the subject Of some discussion:
MR. WILLIS REPORT.
GENTLEMEN: Your committee, to whom
we referred the question Of ascertaining
what temporary relief may be provided in
the form of convenient and safe travel, be-
tween the business portion of the city and
the district lying east of Trout Brook val
ley, during the reconstruction of Seventh
street and Hoffman avenue, beg leave to
report as follows:
The subject of constructing permanent
fill on Seventh street, to take the place OF
the present bridge over Phalen'5 creek, has
been discussed in the common council
from time to time during the last four or
five years, certainly long enough that all
the plans and preparation necessary IN the
construction of the work might have been
fully completed, and that all the different
questions pertaining thereto might have
been fully and carefully considered.
During all this time The people have
been led to believe, by positive assurances
that every part of the improvement could
be made without materially interfering
with public travel upon the street.
Il was therefore no little surprise to the
public when they found themselves all at
once deprived Of further use of the bridge
forming the connecting link between the
eastern and western part of the principal
busin esartery of st. Paul, when at thesame
time hey found barrierdIaw1acros5 lower
Third street, leaving a district with some
10000 people without any means of COM
municatiou with the business of the city,
other than the famous Fourth street tun-
mel, and this roadway IN d state that it did
not offer the first conditions for convent
ent foot travel, nor the safety of teams.
1t is true that public Indignation has at
last aroused the city authorities to take at
least some action in providing for the con-
struction of sidewalks, street Zig hts. etc,
but no adequate provisions have been
made to this date to relieve those who are
required to drive through the tunnel of
constant anxiety and danger from serious
accidents. But even under the most favor
able conditions regarding the safety of the
tunnel, it will never serve for as long q
time as year or more, to accommodate
the large travel that has heretofore passed
over the Seventh street bridges. The
grades of all the streets leading from
Commercial street to the top of the first
plateau of the bluff, for fully two squares,
are far too steep for convenient travel and
almost useless for heavy teaming.
The results OF this condition of affairs
must necessarily involve serious injuries
to public and private interests. From
numerous inquiries among wholesale and
retail dealers and others there seems to b e
no question of doubt but that since the
Seventh street bridge has been closed
values of most of the real estate east of
Phaelen creeks, and also rents, have suf-
fered quite shrinkage. Houses occupied
by good tenants are being vacated. Farm
ers who formerly brought their produce
TO this market and bought their supplies
here are now going elsewhere and the loss
in this trade is making itself felt more
particularly among the retail dealers on
Seventh street, some Of whom depended
almost entirely upon this trade.
We understand that many of the people
SO affected are taking legal advice, with a
view to prosecute the city for damages, and
it is perhaps an open question if the city
cannot be held liable.
The city engineer estimates the time
necessary to complete the contemplated
improvements on Seventh street at not less
than one year.
No one will assume that the city has not
the legal right to enter upon and close a
street, for reasonable length of time, for
the purpose of making certain necessary
public Improvements. But there is doubt
less limit to municipal authority in this
direction.
A court would certainly inquire into tn
necessities OF the proceedings, and, if the
question was raised, it can probably be
shown that for more difficult and more ex-
pensive public works of this character have
been constructed and reconstructed with
out depriying the people for a year Or
more Of the use of the roadway.
Your committee feel that the best inter
ests of the city demand that Immediate
provision be made for q temporary wagon
bridge nearest possible the location of the
present Seventh street bridge, view
which meets the concurrence of q majority
of the people most directly interested. The
city engineer estimates The cost of such a
bridge at $4,000. We also recommend
that the construction of a permanent
bridge over the railroad tracks on lower
Third street receive the early attention and
consideration Of the city authorities and
that prompt steps DO taken by the COM
mon council to place the proposed perma-
nent work on Seventh street under con-
tract without further delay and to push
the work to the earliest practicable COM
pletion. Respectfully submitted,
Z. WILLIUs,
Chairman Special Committee.
WHAT TIE PEOPLE SAY.
Mr.. Willius supplemented his report by
the presentation of large number of in
terviews with the leading business men all
along Seventh street, AMI all around the
vicinity OF the bridge on both sides of the
creek. The substance of these interviews
is given as follows:
A. r. Kiefer, owner of business build
ings and others-My interests are mater
tally affected. My renters complain that
business is nearly suspended. I am will
ing to accept most any safe and conven-
lent communication across the creek.
Samuel Sternberg-My business over
there is affected. Have lost nearly all nv
trade from Dayton's bluff and the country
trade across the bridge. Would suggest a
temporary bridge be built to enable teams
ND Got 10