Daily Republican., 1884-04-22
sign tbsir names toget rid he one
who brings them,

who brings them.
If Council would agree to pas this |
ordinance on Thursday, If theyhad a |
petition to that effect, he would pyree
to start out and obtain five hundred
names to paper asking them to dtso.
Right Of way agent Captain Ssith
said the Company were willing toRay
double price for the houses on Sbtt
street, and had already secured fouApf
them.
L. G. Vandergrift, Ess., the attorn$
for the property owners in the vicinitS
opened his argument by saying tha,
when the Company was granted per1
mission TO pass through this city, their
attorney prepared an Ordinalice in ac-
cordanee with the plans furpished by
their own engineer, which provided
that they should lower the grade Of
Scott street and cross twelve feet above
the bed of the street. This WAS passed
by Council, but now the Company come
aud ask for something else, aud all the
property holders want Is that they
shall bs compelled to adhere to their
original plans The COnlpany knew
when their engineer made plans III that
manner they would want 1t changed,
because they could save money by 70
doing. ll. I|y,i ,A~f,,f T.
II this proposed ordinance passed
Council, and the Company were allow
I cd to cross at grade, II would put these
houses down eight feet, and shut off all
the view which they now enjoy. He
contenjed that the way in which the
option was obtained, 1t did not amount
to anything, as the Company had,
thraugll their agents, prevailed on these
property holders t0 name price at
which they would soil on or before the
1st OF May, and II this ordinance should
become o law, they will have the work
done by that ttms. and not need the
property, and the owners would have
| no redress.
He understood that this Company had
boasted that it had passed through this
State at three hundred and twenty
thousand louars less than 1t expected
to. Captain Smith replied that there
was not q word of truth in 1t, and
wanted to know where Mr.. Vandegrift
obtained his information. He edecliMed
to give the name of his informant .,
present, but said he had every reason tC
believe the statement was true. ....
Mr.. Vandegrift spoke earnestly on
the danger of grade crossings, and said
that even Mr. Bird himself admitted
they were dangerous, and had ex'
pressed the wish that all railroads were
obliged to cross above or below grade
He thought the danger of a lady passing
under railroad bridge would not be ai
great as though she had to Cross tn,
road at grade, where trains were passing
every few minutes. He reviewed Mr.
Birds argument very fully, and whel
he closed Mr.. Bird replied and sale
that tie purport of Mr.. Vandegrift'
largument was that the Company Il
going to build this road anyhow, ant
Council must put II in the hands o
few men in the Seventh Ward, b
that 1t can he well squeezed, becaus
it is a Railroad Company. That woul'
not be right or just, and he did no
think Council would do SO.
Il All land belongs to the State, ant
: although men may have deeds, tn
State only allows them to hold the lam
, until IL wants it, and then 1t can tax
the land back again, by paying tbel
Just compensation. The State gave thi
Company the power to pass through
!, and by the right of eminent domai
!, take whatever land they needed, an
a then recompense he owners for it, br
J It did not provide that the Compan
, should be obliged to pay double tn
!. worth Of it.
= Mr.. Vandegrift made a brief repl!
and Mr.. Farrell said that both lawyer
, had admitted that these property holt
ers would be entitled to damages, an
! although one Of the attorneys had take
:, occasion TO reflect on Council,
. thought that body was fully competei
\ to protect all property owners.
II Council then, on motion Of Mr.. Plcl
els, adjourned to meet again ON We
= nesday evening at 7.3O O'Clock.