St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-01
KICKING like STEERS.
Property Owners in the Sew
enth Ward Are Simply
Wild.
They Are Being Assessed for
the Erection of Selby
Avenue Bridge.
Onslaught to Be Made on the
City Council This Even
ing.
New Blood to Be Introduced
Into the Chamber Of
Commerce.

The proposed assessment upon the
property owners throughout the major
portion of the Seventh ward for the
Selby avenue bridge is stirring up an
internecine strife that is likely to shake
things up the coming few weeks. A
public indignation meeting of the prop
erty owners who have been assessed for
this improvement by the board of pub
lie works has been called for tomorrow
evening at o'clock in the council
chamber. Indignation will run ram
pant, the property owners will make
the welkin ring with their protests
against what they deem an arbitrary
action.
1t is contended that the property own-
ers have been assessed for benefits
that cannot accrue in any possible con-
tingency. 1t is declared that if the
property that has been assessed can be
affected by the construction of this
bridge, it must be deterioration of
value, for the reason that it will open up
a vast territory Of Midway lands to the
market to the end that the Seventh
ward property will be thrown practi-
cally out of the market, because the
property beyond the bridge can be
offered for sale at so much less money.
1t is urged that property very remote
from the proposed bridge has been
heavily assessed on the theory that 1t is
benefited, whereas it is stoutly averred
that the only parties that can be bene-
flied are those holding lands beyond the
crossing and the city railway company.
AS matter of fact, it is asserted the
bridge is to be constructed for the
especial benefit of the Selby avenue
cable line extension, and not for prl-
vate traffic. The board of public works,
it is claimed, has already awarded the
contract for the erection of the bridge
even before available money was in
sight This contract is for S90,646. Of
this amount $4,000 has been approprl-
ated by the city council, and 1000 IS
to be paid by the st. Paul City
Railway company, for the reason that
the adaptation to the cable lines pur-
poses Will necessitate expenditures Ill
that amount for iron and other mater,
iaIs so that the cable may be laid
thereon. Then the balance, or $50, 646,
is to be assessed against property which,
in the discretion of the board OF public
works, is to be benefited by the struct-
ure.
1t is claimed on the part of the prop
erty holders that none east of the Mil
waukee Short line can be benefited,
and if assessed for cent, it will be
fragrant injustice. They declare that
the money for the improvement should
be provided for by the council by APP
propriating it from the general fund of
the city-that is, for the amount over
and above what can be justitiably
assessed against the Midway property
lying beyond the bridge. 1t is argued
that if the board of public works can
assess property in this way they can
build bridges at every street, and also
compel property owners of st. Anthony
hill to bear the burden of cost. 1t is
contemplated to begin all Injunction
against the board of public works If it
is thought necessary to adopt an ex-
tremo measure.