St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-19
TO WIDEN KoNDo STREET
In the Interest of Rapid Transit
PrOperty Owners Favor If

OHHGFS FaVOr L.
To widen Rondo street, between
Western avenue and Smelling avenue,
and make it a broad boulevard, is the
proposition that was considered by the
board Of public works last night. This
plan would open the middle part of
the city and connect the rapid transit
section along Selby avenue with the
territory on University avenue, where it
is proposed to establish rapid transit by
electricity the coming summer. The
widening of RondO street would make
an entire line of rapid transit by cleo
trio cars through the heart of the city
possible. About three-fourths of the
people along the proposed line on
RoudO are heartily in favor of the pro-
position. Among them is the board of
managers of the reform school, which
owns blocks l, 2 and z, between Lexing-
ton avenue at its junction with St. An
thony avenue anu ROndO street. The
block is 50 feet wide at i S base and runs
to a point 295 feet distant. 1t is pro-
posed to donate what is necessary for
the widening of the street and the re-
nlaInder for public park.
Upon petition of three-QuarterS of the
property owners, the board was author
lied to widen Rondo street. The meet
ing last night was held for the purpose
of giving those opposed to the improve
ment all opportunity to state their OBJ
JectiOns and make an estimate of the
damages. Richard l.. German. presi-
dent of the board, stated that map
had been prepared showing that there
were five houses within ten-foot limi6
and twenty-siX houses within a twenty
foot limit of the street as now con-
structed, and it was estimated that
for
houses within the ten-foot limit, and to
move the other houses would aggregate
cost of about $1,000. outside
of the cost of land taken. The
board wanted an expression of
opinion from the property owners
before taking legal action in the matter,
and would hear any one who had objec-
tons to the proposed improvements. j.
S. Sewell said he had barn and some
elm trees that 1t would be necessary to
move, but he favored widening the
street, and only wanted actual damages.
A. l.. carpenter, F. Hauck and others
also favored the project, and would
acquiesce in the will of the people. but
wanted actual damages. A. Manley
and Ii. R0SenhOltz opposed the improve
ment in any event. They claimed
that there was boulevard ten feet wide
along the street that might be used
without crowding their houses back OH
the hill and near to their barns. They
claimed that some of the property own
erS did not want the street to become
business street, but to be reserved for
residence purposes, and keep business
blocks off of it. Besides it would in
crease the LOG" that now existed in
the street aud would cut off their view.
They would not give an estimate of the
damage to their property, because
they did not want the street widened in
any event. Mr.. Wilson stated that nearly
all the property owners favored the i'm
prOvement and were not there to speak
either for or against it. A large portion
of them were willing to pay for the cost
Of the improvement, ana thus connect
the rapid transit th0rOughfare on SelDy
avenue and the proposed one On Univer-
sity avenue. President l.. German
stated that experts would be sent out to
make estimates OF the cost Of removing
the twenty-siX houses within the
wenty-foot limit. and when this was
done the property owners would be no.
titled to appear at subsequent meet
ing, where they would have an oppOr-
tunitv I'm no heard again m tho Suhinat