St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-03
AN III PROTEST
To the Cable Assessment, Made by
GaIhy Avauuo EraahOIdorS ~

To the Cable Assessment, Made by
Selby Avenue FreehOlders.
"TheY say the assessment is for the
bridge, but it is really an assessment
for the cable line" said w. d. Cornish
last night in the meeting of citizens to
protest against assessment for the Selby
avenue bridge across the Milwaukee
tracks, and the manifestations of APP
proval with which the comment was re-
ceived showed that those present were
of the same opinion. 49,;
About 100 interested property owners
had assembled in one Of the municipal
court rooms to take S me action against
being assessed for the Improvement,
the board of public works having sent.
out notices that a hearing would be
given to realty holders Thursday after
noon, July 8, at 2 o'clock. The board
proposes to assess all owners of lots ION
Selby avenue, and also those upon the
two parallel streets both north and
south of that street. The bridge is esti-
mated to cost 500, 900, and of this
amount the property owners from st. Al
bans to Prior avenue are expected to put
up S62, 900. So the interested parties
called the meeting, of which w. d. Cor
nish was made chairman and w. P. Hill
lard secretary. The subject was dis
White, E. A. Hendrickson, w. D. Cor
nish, John Shannon, L. Reardon, MR.
Prendergast, Conrad Miller, Mr.. Ken
nard and others. 1t was stated that the
improvement was almost wholly for the
benefit of the cable line, since the grade
Of. Selby avenue, originally cross
ing the tracks on a level,
had been raised to such
a height as would leave let's close to the
bridge approaches from ten to fifteen
feet below the street; that the assess
ment was wholly disproportionate
chose not interested and those actually
damaged bearing the same burden),
whereas, the street railway company.
which required the bridge for the ex-
tension of its line to the Midway dis
triet, paid but a nominal sum. Mr..
Miller suggested that the street car
company should pay for the whole I'M
~provement.a as it received the entire ben
eft, and from the way he was ap-
plauded, it was quite evident every
man of the 100 present thought so too.
Mr.. Reardon said he thought the board
of public works was limited to taxation
for public Improvement, and that its
proceeding in this instance was illegal
since this was not a taxation for inn
provement, but a cOnfiscation. Mr..
Hendrickson suggested a committee of
ten to wait upon the board, which led
Mr.. Prendergast to suggest that the
committee formulate a plan of action,
else they would be bulldOZed by the
board of public works. Mr.. Ken
nard suggested that if an assess
ment was to be made for the improve
ment it should extend southwark to the
Grand venue electric line. and not be
confined to the narrow strip the board
had marked out. A gentleman stated
that the plans for the bridge had been
drawn wrong by the city engineer, nee
essitating the taking down of three
piers, and asked if those assessed had
to pay for the cost Of the mistake, which
led Mr.. Hilliard to the reading Of a list
of outside incidental expenses, footing
up s., 464. Mr.. Reardon insisted
the board Of public works had
not the power to assess in this instance
and suggested that all sign a paper en-
towering the committee to act, each
contributing to fight the assessment.
THE cable liDe," said he, las l under
stand. has already received a bonus of
$780, 900 to build its line"
Chairman Cornish said if anything
WAS u .Dt dCCOulDllSueu ll6T6 MuSI DC
no clashing of diversified interests.
They must pull together for a common.
end. In accordance with a motion lie
appointed the following committee,
which will meet at 10 o'clock to-day In
one of the council committee rooms; .5.''
w. F.. Root, E. II. Murrey. F.B.
Wedge, E. A. Paradis, F. c. Sewers, Il.
A. Campbell, Conrad w. Miller, John
w. Shannon, representing property
owners west of the bridge; w. d. Cor
nish. John w. White, w. p. Hilliard,
M. r. Prendergast, Timothy Reardohh, :
Charles Michaud, w. H. Albin, C. P.
Coleman. representing property owners
east of the bridge. -
The committees will act in c~onjune-
ton. Mr.. Pendergast moved that the
committee proceed upon the basis that
the improvement was one for which the
whole city should pay. and that it should
not be paid for by local assessment,
which unanimously passed.
The following protest was drawn up
by Mr.. White.
To the Honorable the Board of Public
Works of the City of st. Pan We, the I'M
dersigned property owners along the line of
the property alleged to be benefited by the
building of the bridge and approaches at
Selby avenue across the right of way of the
Chicago, Milwaukee 4 st. Paul Railway COM
pany, respectfully protest against the assess
ment as made by the board, on the ground
that the said improvement is one for the BEN
eft of the public at large, and not for that of