The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-03-25

fcrp - 1ru. but = 1Es not vilaine . sur-
render "a now and receive uhatavsr b 1T
-after ~ great nav q paper railway
corporation has sprsad ifsslf ovsr Railroad
avenue.
sws ne not askizg anything bat our
yixhsx. We do NOS understand that we
or the Puget Ecund Shore road have
conceded . contract to reIinquish the
r;ght-of-x1ys and move into Railroad
svenue. Some citisens thought % and put
IL on record in the injunction eases pend
ing. We are content 20 say that W did,
hat Il 50, Ne want equal facilities 70 those
Ne surrender"
Councilman Nieu-The Seattle & Mon
tana Railway Company. when II made
application for . franchise. promised great
things for the city and also stated what use
they would make OF the franchise, and
there il No statement that they wanted 70
get 10 I'll parts Of the city. would like 70
say in reference 10 the old right-of-
way that Immediately after the ere there
we're . great many questions sprung
on the council The replatsing of the city
vas one, and it Was very important that
many of the streets should be widened and
sfraightened, and many conferences were
held with the companies applying for .
franchise. While there was no contract,
there was q tacit understanding to agree
TO tine relinquishing Of the old rights-of- way
If IL could get certain rights on Railroad
avenue. Many Of the grantors have ig-
nored that agreement and have placed in
functions on proceedings, bat the council
has acted in good faith. Ordinances in
blank were prepared for the companies, but
the franchises were rejected. Though
they have waived that right and sprung
another, think the council is still disposed
to do what Is fair in the matter
Mr.. McNaught-In reply to Mr.. Niesz' 8
very fair remarks would say that in JAM
uary found twelve or thirteen injunction
Of the Puget Sound Shore road was con-
pleted, took pains to see his honor, Mayor
Durie. and others, and say to them that We
would move to Railroad avenue and re-
iinquish the old claims as soon as there
was . reasonable assurance given that We
would be allowed to remain there and use
it for railway purposes. The tide land bill
had not then passed, and the harbor line
bill is not yet passed, and there is q
question as TO the space the state
reserves inside the harbor line. which there
is no bill 10 define, If / am not mistaken;
so that the position Of the city, and its
authority and right to put us on Railroad
avenue and give Us an uudisturbed pos
session Is serious question 1t depends
in great measure on what will be the har-
Dor line. Mr. Nicsz now says there are two
bills touching the extension of streets and
the laying of them along the harbor line.
but presume that does not mean beyond
or on the harbor line.
Councilman Durie-One of the bills Is to
permit OF establishment of streets along
the harbor line.
Mr.. Mcknight know that. but what
little knowledge have of the meaning OF
the law and the rights of the government,
l do not think il would be allowed to place
them so IS 70 cover the harbor lines.
Councilman Niesz-f in the interests Of
commerce, the government would grant
the right to place streets on the harbor
line. That's the meaning of the bill.
Mr.. McNaught-There is still question,
but We would be content to 60 in Railroad
avenue and take our chances outside.
Councilman Niesx-Is this case similar
to the man who drew an elephant at the
lottery and didn't know what 10 do with
it? We would like to know what improve
ments the Northern Pacific proposes in re-
turn for the franchise. None have yet
been named.
Mr.. McNaught-we guarantee to lay
one track the length Of the right-of-way
granted inside of six months, and a. much
more - the business Of the city will war
rant.
Councilman Niesz - Mr.. Mcknight
talks about retaking Railroad avenue and
forming . terminal company. | would
like TO ask him what method he would
propose. The object when We established
Railroad avenue was to make it q thor
oughfare for all the railroads coming to
Seattle. The council did not feel compe-
tent TO originate an ordinance for the con-
troll of the avenue, and even though we
held several conferences and made many
proposals. the franchises we did prepare
were not acceptable. The reason we gave
the Seattle d Montana so many feet was
because they said they would require as
much, having s.0o0 cars to handle here,
this being their terminus. These. how
ever. are railroad problems, and can prob
ably be solved better by railroad companies
than by rancbmen or conncilmen.
Mr.. Mcknight: The problem is an in
teresting one. The city has the power or
can acquire it for municipal purposes in
general, and railways are TO a great extent
municipal affairs. The city could provide
that Railroad avenue be operated by q ter
minal company composed of citizens; or
better. tho terminal company could be or
ganized the same as in ST. Paul. Minneap-
oils and other large towns. Ii could be SO
organized that any railroad company CON-
ing here in the future could use il on the
same terms as any company now has; but
the terminal company cannot be organized
successfully where one company owns all
Ii would be a jug handled affair, where one
company would be liable to the terms the
other company might propose. The coun-
Gil might. l think. consult skilled counsel
and submit . policy that would be salts
factory TO all. This. however, will take some
months. and IL would be better for all con
eerned TO put the Northern Pacific in a
position where il can go on with the tracks,
yards and warehouses needed to carry on
its business here. II in the future il is the
desire OF the city 10 take possession OF the
property and franchises given to this COM
pany, We now agree that the property and
rights so acquired may be taken possession
Of and given to the terminal company at
actual cost We do not. however, want to be
made use of in this way unless ali other
railroads are treated in the same way.
Councilman TwicheIi - Win Mr.. Nc
Ssught please explain what he means by
an exclusive right on the outside TWEEN ty-
two feet
Mr. McNaught - The same RIGHT as