St. Paul daily globe., 1889-05-08
President Hill AffirmS That
the Company Is Very
Hard Up.
Aldermen Are Not Inclined to
Be Put Off With Ghost
Stories.
They Want Bridges, and Mr..
Hill Must Come to
Terms.

gnats and summer bugs that drifted
through the open windows into the
council chamber, the board of alder
men was in no mood stnight to tackle
veXatiOus questions when the time for
adjournment approached. 1t was at an
inOppOrtune moment, late in the
session. that the old matter of bridg-
ing Dale street and Park avenue over
the Manitoba tracks was sprung by the
city engineer, and, as result, j. j. Hill
was attacked with vigor by several OF
the aldermen. City Engineer Rundlett,
in his report, stated that the matter of
the Dale street bridge had been referred
to him several times to instruct the
with the work. He stated that in an
interview with Mr.. Hill three weeks
ago, that gentleman had positively re-
fused to do anything about the bridge
at the present time, alleging as a
reason that the company could not
afford to build it. Bearing upon the
question, Corporation Murray submitted
letter from President Hill, of which
the following is an extract:
I'VE have not the money to build this
bridge now, but hope our business Will IN
crease so as to give us sufficient revenue TO
meet our obligations in the near future. Last
June we had between 13, 900 and $4,000
men on our roads; to-day or business is re-
duced TO such an extent that about 4,O0O is
a II that we can employ. The same remarks
will apply with the same force to the Park
avenue bridge"
Aid. Gehan was loud in his denuncia-
ton of the action of the Manitoba Rail
way company, and recommended the
passage of a resolution compelling its
trains to ''slow up" at the street cross
ings, as a measure I to induce
its management to build the
stafeS SrSsfs that tY last AHfey fall Mr. Hii
had told him that he would build the
bridge this spring, but that he now
claimed that on account of the present
financial condition of the company he
could not do it. He also stated that Mr..
Hill desired to appear before the coun-
Gil on his return from the East and per-
sonally explain the matter. Aid. Sulli-
van. as a railroad man, verified the
claims of the railway magnate regard
ing the business depression.
Il can say that the cOmpany'S financial
condition has always been the same regard
ing Park avenue" put in Aid. Gehan, with
considerable warmth. land it has always
been the course of this company to ignore
every REASONABLE proposition maoe Ny the
city,
Aid. Yoerg thought the company
should be compelled to construct
bridges at Dale street and Park avenue,
and asked the city attorney what course
the council should pursue to that end.
Mr.. Murray was inclined to smooth
matters over, and thought that by gen
tie persuasion Mr.. Hill could be induced
to build the Dale street bridge this fall,
if let off on the Park avenue bridge for
another year.
IF we were to let up on him for year,
would he not still refuse to build the
brldges'' questioned Aid Yoerg, las he has
repeatedly violated his agreements with the
city,
This question was too hard for the
city attorney to answer, and he main
tained an impressive silence until Aid.
Gehan insinuated that he had al
ready been instructed to enforce the
resolutions of the council demanding
the construction of the bridges. Mr..
Murray denied that he had been so in
structed. The upShot of the eruption
was that committee consisting OF tho
corporation attorney, city engineer and
Aid. Gehan, Cullen and Minea, was ap-
pointed to confer with Mr.. Hill on his
return, and see what could be done.
Aid. Gehan was of the opinion that if
the Dale street bridge could be secured
this year and the construction OF the
Park avenue bridge assured next year
his constituents would be satisfied, but
he wanted Mr.. Hills promise so to do
in ''black and white.'
A communication was received from
the board of park commissioners asking
that city bonds be issued in the sum of
| $4,000 for the care and maintenance of
public parks, and Sl2.500 for the inn
provement and maintenance of the
Summit avenue boulevard-One-half of
the amounts authorized by the recent
legislature. 1t was also asked that
$4,000 be authorized for the purchase of
park site in West st. Paul. Referred
to the committee on ways and means.
was passed, requesting the park COM
missioners to annul all proceedings for
the condemnation of property for the
Sixth ward park, and that the treasurer
be instructed to report the amounts
paid by all property owners on assess
ments for the park, that the same may
be refunded. On recommendation of
the committee on street lighting reso-
luton was passed, abOllshing the
electric lights that have heretofore been
operated in the Phalen creek district.
The st. Paul Gas Light company was
instructed to make arrangements to lay
gas mains, with the necessary connec-
tions. on University avenue, Iglehart
street and Carroll street, from Rice
street to Dale stIeet. previous to the
paving of these thorouahfares. The
same company was authorized to place
parks, under the same conditions
as were embodied in is con-
tract with the city last season.
The final report of the board of public
works ordering the construction OF
sewer On Temperance street, between
Norris and Thirteenth streets. was OPP
posed by Aid. Gehan, who claimed that
but one property owner on the street
FAVORED THE IMPROVEMENT.
Aid. Cullen asked that the report be
adopted. On vote of the council the
Improvement was defeated by
vote of s to Z, but it was again
taken up and referred to the
committee on streets for investigation.
The ordinance presented at pre-
vious meeting of the council granting
company the privilege of constructing
railway and cable lines upon the streets
of the city was returned by the COM
mittee on streets without recommended
ton. The passage of an act during the
| recent session of the legislature,
in the opinion of the commit
tee, renders the common council
powerless to grant such franchises.
A resolution presented by the commit
| tee on police was passed. authorizing
the mayor to appoint Daniel Lindley as
poundmaster for the Midway district at
salary of $50 per month. The board
of public works reported list of eleven
sewers ordered since Jan. 1, which will
necesstate the issuing of bonds III the
sum of s194, 17S. A bill allowing the
| sum of 81, 1876 for the
SERVICES OF SPECIAL POLICEMEN
ho cfril,n allNJNpd