St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-18
\ DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.

There is very decided d1fference OF
opinion regarding the granting of track and
station privileges to railroads inside of the
new state fair grounds. While the project
has some friends there are those, and their
ileges should not be granted to any one or
more companies, and certainly not under
the announced policy of President CLARK,
which is calculated to prevent any railroad
desiring an entrance to lay tracks and to
build stations inside the premises of the So
ciety for its separate and exclusive use.
The occupancy of the property which
would be required by three or four different
railroads will materially reduce the terri
tory donated by the county of Ramsey for
state fair purposes, and for no other. The
noise and confusion consequent upon the
frequent arrival and departure of trains in
the immediate vicinity of the race track and
the exhibition buildings would be far from
pleasant and by no means desira-
ble The railroads were not al
lowed an entrance to the Centennial
grounds in 1876, nor have passenger
trains as rule been allowed to
run into state or county fair grounds
elsewhere at any time. The privi-
lege of track for the delivery and re-
moval of exhibits is all that is necessary
in this direction. Any track inside
the grounds of any agricultural society,
whether county or state, should be owned
and controlled by the society. This plan
would tend to prevent and generally to alb
solutely prohibit discord between rival
railroad lines and could but secure the
good will of all in the interest of the So
ciety, and must inevitably result in a
spirit of harmony instead of stimulating
hostility. This policy must necessarily re-
dound to the common good of the common
wealth. There is also some consideration
due to the city of ST. Paul and her citizens,
who are owners of the property in the
vicinity of the state fair grounds, and Ham
line university, half a mile distant. These
are considerations which should not be for
gotten. And there is the property fronting
on Smelling avenue, which, by the way, is
very important street, running north and
south, which is very valuable and is con-
sidered most eligibly located and desirable
for immediate improvement, owing to its
proximity to the railroad and to the state
fair grounds, Como park, the new shops
Of the ST. Paul & Northern Pacific railway
and Hamline university. Why should this
valuable property be cut up with railroad
tracks which would be used but two or
three weeks in the year? 1t is reasonably
certain, from the rapid development of ST.
Paul in that direction, that Smelling avenue
will be occupied in a short time with street
car tracks extending from short line sta
tions to the fair grounds and perhaps
thence into Como park, a most inviting
central point for street car extensions. Any
of the railroad lines between ST. Paul and
Minneapolis can promptly and comfortably
deliver passengers destined to the fair
grounds at stations on or near Smelling
avenue. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St.
Paul would be the farthest away from the
grounds, and yet passengers who travel
upon that line could be delivered promptly.
The Manitoba would be but about twenty
five hundred feet distant and the st. Paul
& Northern Pacific about fifteen hundred
feet. By this arrangement everybody would
be amply provided for by whatever line he
might traverse from either city. An ar
rangement could doubtless be easily made
with the ST. Paul g. Northern Pacific for
the use of its spur line for the delivery and
removal Of exhibits.
Considering the proximity of the main
line tracks Of the Manitoba and the new
line Of the st. Paul & Northern Pacific the
depreciation that must necessarily result to
adjacent property by reason of the laying
Of additionak trackage for temporary use;