Omaha daily bee., 1888-05-29
THE RAILROAD PROJECT.
A Committee Appointed to Formulate
n Specific Plan.

n Specific Plan.
The meeting OF the Union club last evening
was called TO order by MIR. Frank Colpetzer,
who stated its object TO be 10 take the initial
steps to secure for Omaha a northwest rail
way, a union depot and q bridge open to the
use of all railroads. He said 1t was con-
templated to ask Douglas county TO vote a
bonus of 81, 00O, 900, to be placed in the control
Of wise, trusty men, TO be paid to the railroad
corporation complying with the conditions
imposed. Mr.. Colpetzer had talked with
many citizens and had heard 40 objections.
There were legal difficulties in the way, but
he believed they could all be met. He invited
the gentlemen present TO give their opinions
informally.
A running discussion followed, chiefly en-
gagged in by Messrs.. Colpetzer, Joseph Barker,
q. M. Hitchcock, George Barker, II. W.. Gray,
Thomas Fitzpatrick and A. =. Hopkins.
In answer to a query Mr.. Colpetzer said no
plan of action had been drafted.
Mr.. Hitchcock raised the point that the
subsidy must be voted to some corporation
in existence at the time. He believed the
plat of a road had to be filed before an
election took place that the people
might know exactly what they were voting
upon. He knew this difficulty had been a
stumbling block in the way of many enter
prises.
Mr.. Colpetzcr believed that, with an
honest intent, the legal obstacles could be
surmounted. The only question with him
was: viii Douglas county vote the bonusl
The gentlemen present had no doubt it
would, providing a plan could be presented
that would command the confidence of the
people as effective and not liable to abuse.
Mr.. Colpetzer thought Mr.. Hitchcock's OBJ
lection could be met by voting the bonus TO n
local corporation-the Nebraska Central, for
instance-with an understanding that it
should give up the subsidy to another COM
pany, il unable to meet the conditions
itself.
Mr.. Hitchcock, carrying the idea further,
suggested that the Nebraska Central might
transfer to the county's nine trustees a ma
jority of its stock in trust, to insure the per
Torrance of its covenants. He thought
Omaha must look to a trunk line for relief,
but it might use a local company as a figure
head.
Mr.. Hopkins suggested that the club make
an explicit statement of the needs of Omaha,
| and then take an unofficial poll Of the county
to see if the bonus could be carried. He
| thought the sentiment of the voters could be
obtained in ten days by a vigorous canvass.
| He believed il would be SO overwhelmingly
favorable to the proposition as to give ample
assurance to the railroads that an election on
the bonus would carry. MIR. Hopkins said he
had been told by one of the county commls-
sioners that they would not submit a PROPOSE
ton to vote bonds to be put in the hands of
trustees. The reason given was that some
way would be found to get them out of the
| control of the trustees without complying
with all the conditions, if at all onerous.
Mr.. Joseph Barker said that there need be
no hope of carrying the proposition TO bond,
unless it were distinctly understood that any
and all railroads should have the right to use
the proposed bridge, the depot and the track
through Omaha at fixed and fair charges.
The Union Pacific has promised this many
| years, but unfortunately has been unable to
do it. The city must do what it has been
waiting ten years for others to do. He had
heard men worth from $500 600 to millions
say they would back the enterprise if they
can be convinced of its honesty and effect
iveness. Douglas county Will not tolerate
any doubtful scheme. Omaha must have a
| free bridge, a free depot and a free right of
way in and out of the city. 1t needs a rail
way to the northwest and another to the
| southwest. The roads using these terminal
facilities will pay a reasonable interest on
the fixed charges. The size OF Omaha pre-
too valuable. An official of the Milwaukee
a bridge was not so much a
difficulty as the gang of spectators who
would buy up land and demand 100 per cent
profit. He asserted it would cost his com
pany s2,000,000 to get into Omaha. Mr..
Barker said managers of other roads had
told hin that if Omaha would form a COIN
pany and provide terminal facilities they
would be glad to come in and pay a hand
some dividend on the investment.
MIR. Gray moved that a committee of seven
be appointed to formulate a plan of action,
prepare a form of propositions to be sub
United to the voters and report at an ad-
| journed meeting.
The motion carried without dissent, and
Mr.. Colpetzer, who had acted as chairman by
tacit consent, designated as the committee
DIR. George l.. Miller, }. c.. Gown, Joseph
Barker, G. M. Hitchcock, f. w. Gray, Her
man KountZ and A. p. Hopkins.
The meeting then adjourned to reassemble
| next Monday evening,