St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-26
THE BURLINGTON INJUNCTION.

| THE BO KLlN0ION IN0 y NCllON.
The aspersion attempted to be cast upon
the city authorities for suing out an injunc-
ton against the Chicago, Burlington
d. Quincy railroad is as unjust as
| it is ill-timed. If the city govern
ment has made a mistake in this par
ticular it was made in the interest of the
city, and owed its origin to a desire to pro-
! tect the people of ST. Paul. Instead of the
chamber of commerce sitting down on the
movement, as has been represented, that
! body took no positive action in the matter,
and from the tone of discussion it is appar-
ent that the individual members took the
/ same view Of the matter that the GLOBE
indicates. The city of St Paul can
not be too jealous Of its river
rights and privileges, and it is better to err
/ in an effort to protect and preserve them
/ than TO err in contrary direction. While
! it is entirely clear to the mind of an Impair
! tial observer of the proceedings that our
city authorities have been actuated by the
best motives in this matter it is possible
| that upon an investigation it will be dis
closed that there is no necessity for the in
| junction and that the building of the en-
bankment along the river shore will be no
obstruction to the navigation of the river,
| but will be a benefit, as it will aid in
Strengthening the channel-a work that
ought to have been done by the general
! government long ago. In fact, the points
! in controversy are really mere matters
of adjustment betweea the general govern
ment and the railway company than it is
/ hafNypgn no oft nd an co for
as the chamber of commerce is concerned
the opinion seemed to lean toward the prop
Osition thatthe Burlington Railway company
should purchase and present to the city five
acres on the other side of the river in return
for the privileges granted 10 the railway
company on this side of the river. The
difficulty in the way of effectlng this COM
promise is that Spectators have succeeded
in getting a hold of the land on the other
side in anticipation of this movement
and have put the prices up to
such figure that the purchase will proba-
bly, not be made. In view of these facts
there is possibility that St. Paul may find
itself in the condition it was i'm a deal with
the Milwaukee road several years ago
badly left. 1t will be remembered that an
arrangement was made by which the Mil
waukee company. agreed to locate their
! shops here. When the site had been
selected the property holders put the prices
up to such extOrtionate figures that the
company deliberately pulled up stakes and
planted IFS shops at Minneapolis where a
location didn't come so high. There is
always right way and wrong way to do
thing. 1t is to the interest of st.
Paul TO have all the railroads that
it is possible to get TO come right
here. Recognizing the fact that st. Paul
is the railway center of the Northwest
all new lines are seeking entrance here.
Wisdom dictates that the true policy of st.
Paul is to encourage their coming, and to
preserve to itself the prestige of being the
railway center of the Northwest. Conse-
quently it is delicate matter to throw OBJ
structiOns in the way of their coming. At
the same time it is the duty of the city to
take all precautions 10 protect the river and
to keep open its navigation. In considera-
ton of all these facts il is to be hoped that
the city authorities and the Burlington
company will come to a speedy understand
ing whereby satisfactory arrangements can
be made to all parties. Let us avoid litiga-
ton if possible.