St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-26
w8EE WEST SIDE LEVEE.
Reasons for the Heat Displayed Sat-
urday Night.


The natural location and rapid growth Of
West st. Paul suggested some time since
the need and advantage of protecting the
lower portion from the foundations of the
river by a substantial dyke or levee, which
would also become serviceable for wharf
purposes and railway termini. Through
the efforts of the citizens an estimate was
obtained Of the probable cost, which
was placed at $92, 900. and an
order passed in the council instructing the
board Of public works to proceed with the
improvement. The matter was referred to
the city engineer by the board of public
works some months since and nothing had
been heard Of it until the meeting of the
West Side Citizens union on Friday even
ing, when, as reported exclusively in the
GLOBE of yesterday, the affair was revived
by a report of a special committee appointed
to ascertain if possible the cause Of the en-
gineer's delay in regard to the survey, de-
tailed estimates of cost etc. The report
showed disposition to charge Commits
SiOner Peters of the Sixth ward with neg
lecting the interests of that portion Of the
city ne is supposed to represent, and further
intimated that the city engineer, as the in
strument of the board of public works, is
purposely holding back the matter to please
the wishes of some
SECRET BUT POWERFUL INFLUENCE.
some party of capitalists anxious to obtain
possession of the coveted strip of land. The
result was that a committee Of ten was
appointed to confer with the board Of pub
lie works and learn what the boards inten-
tons in the matter really are.
The value of such an improvement for
railway purposes was seen several years
ago, by the Minnesota & Northwest
ern Railway company, when by an act Of
legislature the company procured a strip of
fifty feet along the bank of the river. The
grant was made conditionally, and as the
conditions were never carried out the land
was forfeited. Last winter the matter
came up under another company composed
Of Northwestern men and headed by Mr..
Sticllney, the president of the road. The
other members were AIessrs. Lineau, Daw-
son, Langevin, Campbell and Oppenhem.
The matter was referred to City Attorney
Murray to formulate a law. Two or more
bills were drawn up asking for a franchise,
which they refused to accept. The reason
alleged was that they could not raise money
ON the scheme. and none Of the incorpora-
tors were willing to put money into it, SO
10 rights were given in the matter.
WHOSE INFLUENCE Is IT?
A prominent West side citizen said yes
terday that, taking into consideration the
circumstantial evidence in the case, it
was this company which was secretly work
ing against the progress Of the work. 1t
was being done with the hope of Worrying
the people until they would. in disgust. say
give it to the company. He said that the board
of public. works claimed there was not
enough property on Which to assess the
necessary damages, but that was not true.
In the level portion OF West ST. Paul there
We're 5000 lots, and the owners would only
have to be assessed $50 each TO meet the
expense of the Improvement.