Omaha daily bee., 1886-10-16
TIE BEGINNING OF THE BOOM.
The Proposed Ordinances Which Are Caus-
ing Such Stir.
3 W G L AIRS ARE q S Y.
Some Minor / AcCidcnts-tio lose Of the
Sunday SCHOOL Convention
Personals and lm-
persO ais.
URGL LARS ARE BU SY


10 lllc mon racine, mas calSeu no lllilt
commotion. The residents along that
avenue are especially aroused, and all
citizens are mtcrCSscd. Some time ago
move was made to have Twelfth ave
nuc given up to the Union Pacific, to
allow the company to run Its track up to
Main street where freight depot was
to be located for the accommodation of
the many heavy shippers whose ware.
houses are on lower Main street The
council passed an ordinance giving the
company the right of way on certain
conditions, the freight rates being fixed
the same as from the transfer, and other
clauses being inserted, which the com.
pany did not like. For some such reasons
the company declined to accept the ordi
nance within the ninety days fixed in
which il could be accepted. The matter
was therefore dropped When the citi
Zens appeared before the railway com
missioners of the state last spring, and
made known their grievances before
them, one OF the causes as stated was
that the Union Pacific had not kept its
promise in regard to building freight
depot ut Main street. The matter was
canvassed thoroughly at that timc and
the arrangement made that if the citizens
would secure the right OF way for the
company, along some route which the
Union Pacific would deem advisable, the
freight depot should be put in. AZ Il re.
suit OF this agreement, the citizens com
mittee present an ordinance, through Mr.
Wright who is both member of the
committee, and attorney for the com
pany. The ordinance provides for the
right of way along Tenth avenue, from
Third street west. Also for a freight
depot at the corner of Sixth street and
Tenth avenue.
The city council has very wisely de-
cided to await the expression of the SEN
timents of the people before taking ac
ton on the ordinance, but there is an
evident disposition on the part of the
council to give away the avenue for that
purpose.
Mayor Groncweg outlined bis views
upon the subject in his inaugural, in
which he urges the council to be liberal
in its treatment of the railway companies
III their endeavors to do anything which
would help the city. At the same time
the rights of private citizens should be
protected He does not look upon the
giving up of Tenth avenue with much
favor, but he will surely oppose it if some
means are not taken to protect the prl
Tate citizens who have property on that
avenue. There are some who have put
the earnings of years into homes on that
avenue, and they will surely be entitled
to some damage. For the city to give
the railway company the right-ofway
over the avenue may be Il good thing for
the city, but even should it so prove, it is
not enough for the city to simply give up
the avenue with the mere promise of the
company that the city shall not be liable
for any of these damages, but that the
company will settle them. Mayor Grone-
veg feels that some arrangement should
be made SO that these property owners
shall be satisfied, and get their rightful
damages secured before the company is
allowed to occupy the avenue. For the
city to give up the avenue and then leave
the property owners to secure their dam
ages as best they could, would be a hard
ship to many. 1t would leave these citi-
zens to fight their battles, if any are to be
fought, single handed, and would place
these citizens in a condition of compare
tive heIplcssness for few of them are in
condition to stand the expense of pro
longcd litigation. If the Union Pacific
company intends TO do the fair thing by
these citizens it can do So first rs well as
last If the question of damages can be
arranged satisfactorily with the property
Low opposition to the scheme, then one
ul.,. obstacles will be removed
OF the greavH~ e" riven some assur
Until these citizens ny h" protected
ance that their interests win ~ inter
they will surely protest against the ~,,.,r
prise, and they will find many symEc"lH'"
ers, among them, without doubt, the
mayor himself.
Another objection which is heard
against the move is the running of more
tracks across Main street. Main street
is an important and busy thoroughfare
and should have as few railway tracks
crossing it as possible. If railway tracks
cross it at Tenth avenue then there will
be a block which will be dangerous
pocket, for on the north will be the Union
Pacific tracks and on the south the Chi
n mystery to many why the Union Pacific
needs to cross Man street ut all. If the
| freight depot Is to be a block west OF
Man street, it does not appear plain
why it should be deemed necessary TO GO
two blocks east OF Main street. Some
claim that the Union Pacific want to get
track up to the bluffs, so as to haul dirt
for approaches to the new bridge and
| for other Improvements, but this would
only temporary necessity. Others pre-
dict that ere long the Union Pacific will
have line running east of Chicago, and
| that it wants to have the greater part OF
the right of way through this city secured
| now.
The suggestion has been made also thai
| the Tenth avenue route should be aban
doned and another chosen, which would
not affect SO much residence property
| There is talk favorable to condemnation
of lots on the north side of Eleventh
avenue, that avenue already being Occu
pied by tracks, and the lots not being val
liable. 1t is thought that this is practica
BILE and that it would do away with thu
| Tenth avenue difficulties.
Now is the time for the discussion o
all these difficulties and complications
The city council should be informe,
freely of the feeling of the people, ant
when so informed they will doubtless ac
in accordance with what thus seems TO
| tho best interests of all. There is a dis
position to make sacraiices if necessary
in order to helD along any change whic
will increase the business facilities of tn
city and advance ITS commercial inter
ests. The time has gone by for blocking
the wheels of progress here, but while a
want TO see enterprises encouraged, ther
is a feeling that too much care cannot b
exercised in giving valuable franchise
to great corporations. In order tolnforl
the readers what the proposed ordinanc
contains, ii is given IN almost its entiret
as follows;
That the right of way for a single Z
double track railway, with the necsssar
switches, turnons, and side tracks, ovel