St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-11
Curious Position Occupied by
Members Of Assembly Com
mittee on Streets.
Complaints ShoWered Upon
Them by Indignant, Patri-
otto Citizens.
Some Want a Certai n Thing
Done, and Others Don't
Want It.
BlufflteS Determined in Their
Opposition to Electricity
on Seventh Street.

The assembly COMMITTEE on fStreets
met last evening and held a two-hour
session. Mr.. Van Slyke presided, and
there were present Messrs. Elmquist,
Oppenheim. McNamee, Banholzer and
Minea. President Murray. City En-
gineer Rundlett and City Attorney
Phillips were also present. The first
matter brought up was the resolution
from the board of aldermen that the
grading of Third street, from Earl street
to the city limits, be carried out by the
board of public works.
Aid. Bot appeared before the CON-
mittee and asked that no further delay
be allowed in the work. Property own
ers representing 5000 feet of frontage
on the proposed improvement had petit
toned for it, and as the length of the
grading is $4,000 feet, he asked that the
work be ordered.
Tom Martin, agent for Mr.. HenneSey,
who owns land on the line of the i'm
prOvemeDt, made long speech, pro-
testing that the work was not necessary
at all. Attorney McDermott also APP
peared for Mr.. Hennesey, and protested
against the improvement, and that it
would be unjust to his client, who owned
large farm, to have the work dOue.
A heated discussion fOllOwed,in which
MeSsrs. Martin, McDermOtt, BOtt and
others took part, but the committee,
firing of the wrangle, decided to recon-
mend to the assembly that the resolu-
ton be sent to the board of public
works to report if the Improvement is
necessary.
A protest of residents on Ross street,
near Edgerton, against the building of
roundhOuse on Ross street by the
Omaha road. led to lengthy legal
speeches by distinguished attorneys.
Attorney Render appeared on behalf
of the petitioners, and quoted from the
proceedings of the common council in
1889, which showed that at that time the
same protest was presented. and City
Attorney Holman had given his opinion
that the railroad company had no rights
upon Ross street, and had erected a
rOundhOuSe there in violation of law.
The petitioners had paid assessments
for sewers and grading, and the COM
pany was now engaged in building an
other roundhouse. The attorney on be-
half Of the petitioners said that it was
the duty of the city to commence pro-
ceedings against the company for en-
croaching upon public street.
Judge Howe, representing the Omaha,
stated that in 1879 Senator Davis, OH be-
half of the company. had successfully
carried through condemnation proceed
ings to acquire certain lots and the
streets adjacent. He produced certified
copies of the awards made at that time,
and the judgments had never been ap-
pealed from. The title of the company
to the street was perfectly clear. and
the persons who signed the petition pur-
chased their lots after the awards had
been made and the roundhOuse erected.
They knew when they purchased the
exact state of affairs, and now that the
company had started to build another
rOundhOuSe upon property which they
had purchased for the purpose, the old
complaint was started. If the petitioners
felt that they were being injured they
could resort 10 the courts, but he main
tanned that the city could not enter suit
as had been suggested.
After examining the plans presented,
the matter was referred to the city at
tOrney to report upon at the next
meeting of the committee.
A resolution from the board of alder
men, authorizing the paving and sewer
ing of Sixth street from Broadway to
the Sixth street bridge, was recommend
ed to pass.
A resolution from the aldermen, au
thOriZing the grading of York street,
was sent to the board of public works to
report upon.