St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-21
FAVORS A TUNNEL.
The Chamber Of Commerce Again Talks
Of the Selby Grade,
AND ADOPTS THE REPORT
Submitted by the Special Committee
Last Week, Fav0ring a Tunnel
Under Summit Avenue.

At the meeting of the chamber of
commerce yesterday morning Mr.. Nc
Clung'S anarchist resolution. was pre-
scented to the chamber and adopted. ID.
X. NOyes made verbal report of the
progress made in the search for natural
gas. He was of the opinion that the
chance of finding gas in sufficient guam
titles was good. The committee on
streets, roads and bridges reported in
favor of constructing new span to
take place of the long span of the Wa
basha street bridge, and that it be as
wide as the Robert street bridge. This
report was adopted.
THE SUMMIT AVENUE CROSSING.
The report of the committee in re-
gard to the Summit avenue crossing
that was laid over from the asst meet
ing was taken up, and Mr.. Oppenheim
offered resolution requesting the city
council to make contract with the st.
Paul City railway to Immediately re-
duce the grade on the cable line On
nit avenue. He thought there was no
way to do but to be fair with the cable
car company. The present brakes
would generally stop the cars, but some
times they would not. Mr.. Stevens was
in favor of having the council in
Structed to make the contract for
the work, as the road daily threatens
loss of life and property. Mr..
Merrill favored an immediate change,
and thought policeman or a flagman
could be stationed at the crossings. Mr..
Morton stated plan had been devised
to have the tunnel constructed while
the cars were running. Capt. Berkey
favored the tunnel, but was opposed to
any haste. He was Oh the cOrOner'S
jury that investigated the recent acct
dent and at one time the jury was about
to recommend the tunnel. He thought
with tlagman there there would be no
more danger at that point than at any
other point. There was no need of
hurry. Mr.. Rundlett favored the tun-
mel it the damage was not going to be
too much. Mr.. HodgsOn made about
the same statements that he did at the
meeting week ago, and they were not
at all to the liking of the people who
live on Summit avenue. He declared
that there was no more danger at that
point than there was at any other street
crossing in the city. He declared in an
irOnical tone that the cars had been
RUNNING FOR THREE DAYS
and yet not a moneyed magnate of Sum-
NIT avenue had been cut into mince-
meat, nor had single horse fallen
through the slot. Mr.. Cochran thought
Mr.. Hodgson had made very funny
speech on a very serious subject. He
reiterated his statements made last
week about not being able to hear the
gong for block, and argued generally
as to the danger of the crossing: Col.
Barr, the vice president of the company,
was asked to give the chamber the bene-
fit of his views. He did little more,
however, than to answer questions. He
was of the opinion that there was q
great deal of unnecessary alarm,
and said that practical tests had been
made lately showing that the cars could
he stopped without trouble. He regarded
the crossing at Summit avenue as no
more dangerous than at any other point
in the city. Finally resolution, offered
by Mr.. Stevens, was adopted, to the
effect that the ma ority report on streets,
roads and parks on the cable line i'm
provement be adopted, and that the re-
port, with Mr.. Rundlett's statement, be
sent to the council, the latter merely
for information.