St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-25
FOR AND AGAINST THE ~"
Property Owners on Certain Streets Are
Kicking Very Hard.
1T HURTS THEIR PROPERTY
And the Talk, They Say, Has Already
Caused Mott ceable Deprecia-
ton of Values.

Many people urge that under some
terms or other the franchise should be
granted which will allow one or all of
the companies which want to build an
elevated railroad in st. Paul to do so.
But there are many people who pro-
test against granting any franchises and
who do not hesitate to say so. They are
owners of property along the streets
named in the ordinances for the roads
to be built on. Protests and petitions
have been signed and turned into the
council in large quantities, in which it
is represented that the streets along the
route would be ruined.
The road would form sort of a
shed over the street," say the men who
object, land would forever prevent
building on those lots that are vacant.
Who wants to live OF do business on
street where the lamps have to be kept
lighted by day as well as night. We
kick, and kick hard, at having our prop
erty ruined in this way"
People who want the elevated built at
any cost, people who have no prop
erty on the streets named, say to the
property owners: ''Let them build the
road, then you collect for what you are
damaged, in the courts, ii necessary"
That will be too far in the sweet bye
and bye" reply the kicking property
owners. when the ordinance is passed
how long will it be before the road is
completed? Some years at least. After
the road has been built how long will it
be before the actual damages can be
computed? More years, according to
the experience of New York. After
the damages have been computed how
long will it be before we get our money?
Still more years. We can't stand this
waiting, The property will be dead
weight on us. Even with the talk that
has been made now, before any action
whatever, there is a sort of StagnatiOn
i'll the real estate market on property
affected. 1t isn't right that these ordi-
nanceS should pass. They are devised
for real estate boomS in the suburbs"
Then the property owners say they
will employ counsel and labor with the
committee Oh streets and others of the
city fathers.
With those who have no property that
will be touched it is very different.
Some do not know or care to bother
themselves about the ordinances. 9th
ers want quick and cheap tranSporta-
ton to the city'S outskirts. They say:
''The great benefits that will come to
the city must not be sacrificed because
~ HdpDtlS W spun CcIldIu pIop6liS {.
People need d means of transportation
swifter than horse cars out to where
rent does not eat up all one can earn.
Go in and build the roads,"
Some talk in this wise: ''Let the COM
pany that wants a franchise first buy its
right of way: then let it give bonds that
it will complete its road, and also let it
be bound by the ordinance under which
it builds, to contribute part of every
fare it may collect to the city treasury.
On these terms go in and build elevated
railroads"
A part of this pleases the man
who owns property along the
line. He wants the company
to buy its right of way. Petitions
touching on this point have been drawn
up and signed. The pigeon hole of the
committee on streets is full OF them.
Meantime the committee on streets
listens to arguments Oh all sides. There
will be some new aldermen sitting in
the council chamber in little while.
Perhaps they will have these questions
to settle, for the old council is conserva-
tive, these DAYS.