St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-04
THE NEW RAILROAD BRIDGE.

The first matter considered by the board
was the proposed construction Of ilroad
bridge across the rivsr in front of the city BY
the MINI a. Northwestern Railroad com
pany The subject was presented by Mr.. A.
B. Stickney, who explained to the members
the plans and purposes of the company in re-
gard to the project. He stated that the road
desired to come diagonally across the river,
striking this side a short distance east
of the Sioux City freight depot at the
foot of Robert street. The draw OF the
bridge is to be nearly on this side the river,
and the curve that brings the road arond so
as to strike the tracks on the levee and run
into the depot will be made mostly on the
draw. Mr.. Stickney exhibited a map which
showed all the principal points and where
the bridge will run. Mr.. stickney said that
he desired to have an expression Of opinion
of the members of the chamber regard to the
ACCESSIBILITY Of the location.
Mr. Noyes expressed his hearty approval
and offered the following resolutiun, which
kept the mem beers discussing for full hour
ResolUed That the opinion Of the chamber
Of commerce that the proposed location OF
the bridge OF the Minnesota 81 Northwestern
Railroad company is a proper and judicious
location for the interest OF the city and that
the city council should without delay grant
to said company the privilege Of locating its
track across the city levee, so as to connect
said bridge with the other railroads and
union depot.
Capt. Blakely made motion that the res
olutions be accepted and referred to the com
mittee on the Mississippi river.
Mr. Murray explained that before any ac-
ton was taken he desired to have an express
sion of opinion by the chamber, as the
council would meet on Thursday evening
next, and was desirable to have the council
take action on that evening, if possible.
H. A. Castle wanted to know if, before
taking action, it would not be necessary to
submit the plans to the government of the
United States.
Mr.. stickney replied that the matter of
location, which is all there was before the
chamber, did not have to be submitted. The
matter of the draw, the plans of the work,
and such like matters would have to be
submitted to the United States author-
ties. All that was asked the chamber to do
is simply to say whether or not it regarded
the location as a suitable one.
General Bishop said he had examined the
plans and was Of the opinion that the loca-
ton selected was the best one that could
be made, all things considered. He would
like to have bridge that could also be used
for a wagon road as well as for a railroad
track. He referred to the Kansas City rail-
road bridge which was built so as to accommo-
date wagon travel but that could not be done
here.
In reply to suggestion that the proposed
new bridge at Robert street and the
railroad bridge might interfere with
each other, Mr. Somers stated
that there would be no interference
at all, that the Robert street bridge would be
at such height that the railroad bridge would
not hit it.
Mr.. Delano announced 1t as his opinion
that in fifteen years there would be seven
carriage bridges across the Mississippi river
at this point, and that all OF them would be
high bridges without draw. At the same
time there would be four railroad bridges,
two above and two below. The question
now, however, before the board is as to the
best place for the proposed bridge. He ia
vored Stickney's bridge because it brought
both to the same point on this side. He
urged them not to try TO unite a railroad
bridge with a carriage bridge. OF course the
railroad bridge must be low, and must have
draw. A carriage bridge must be high
bridge, and he expressed the opinion that
the chamber could better consider the mat
ter than a committee could.
DR.. Day contended that an examination of
the map showed that the location was the
best that could be made
Capt. Berkey was in favor of bridge, and
of assisting the railroad to come irto the
city, but while he was thus in favor of the
road he was opposed to crowding this through
without due consideration.
DR.. Day said the matter was not new to our
people, that it had been before the commu-
nifty for long time, and consequently there
was no reacon why it should be sent to
committee.
P. II. Kelly favored the bridge, but wanted
ii sent to committee.
E. F. Drake argued that stipulation
should be put into the ordinance or contract
to the effect that if other roads should wish to
run their trains over this bridge they should
have the right to do SO, under proper restric-
tons.
Mr.. Stickuey said there was no necessity
to discuss the proposition. Such a clause as
would ensure the right of other roads com
ing in over that road could be placed in the
ordinance, end there would be no objection
to it.
Capt. Berkey declared that what Mr.. Drake
had said showed the necessity of sending the
resolutions to the committee. Our levee
front is dwindling down TO a very little.
Nearly al of it had been given away, so that
we now have but very little levee left. In
what was baid by the captain if was under
stood that he reflected quite severely upon
MI Murray, the city attorney, for not
guarding the rights of the city better in pre-
vious similar cases.
clared that the city council and
The city attorney did what
they did after consulting with the
chamber OF commerce and getting the views
OF that body, and that all that had been done
by the council had been first recommended
by the chamber. He declared that Just such
men as Capt Berkey will favor the doing of
certain thing and then when the council
in accordance with that opinion goes ahead
and does it, these same men will condemn
the act The Milwaukee road holds the
lease by sufference, and if told to 90 it
must go.
Mr.. Drscoll desired to know Just what
rights are given away or parted with by the
proposed transaction. He desired 10 have
Mr. Murray make a statement in regard to
this matter. Another thing he desired to
call the attention of the members of the
chamber to was the effect OF the proposed
pier in the middle of the river upon the
changing Of the channel of the
river lie was not an engineer, but he
thought it might cause the water to flood to
the other side, and as there were several en-
gneers in the chamber he would like to
know what they thought Of it.