The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-02-21
The Railroad Ordinance Ayain.

The Railroad Ordinance Again.
Mr.. Editor:
While others are talking about the
Railroad Ordinance. | hope you will
allow a humble citizen TO say a few
words in regard TO this subject. | do
not propose to use a long Introductory,
but come at once to the subject.
An important feature of this or
dinance is its failure to define where
this road shall be placed-what part
OF the street it shall occupy-how the
track shall he laid, above. below. or
on grade-in the middle, to one side,
or in any manner Or form does it de-
fine in the slightest particular any
material thing in which the city and
its citizens must and always will be
deeply interested, viz: the proper and
legal control of every part of any and
all streets, alleys and public passways.
Under the proposed ordinance Jay
Gould can build his road without any
control, except at the street crossings.
lie may run his road along these streets
as it suits him. occupy any part he
pleases. lie may build above or be-
low grade. along the sidewalk, or in
the middle. in fact any part of the
streets and the city al be set idly by.
and like the poor boy at the frolic, say
nothing.
1t is well, just at this j~uncture. to
give fair warning to the City Fathers,
that they must protect the city and
its citizens. and it must be well and
thoroughly done, before a particle of
track is laid where protection is ne
ccssary-and it appears that protec-
ton will be necessary over almost
every foot of the proposed route.
This regulation and protection must
be fully and freely laid out before the
streets. alleys and public passways are
occupied by anybody's railroad. If
this Is not done. and the city should
at any time thereafter desire to estab-
lish any regulation for this road-it
would do so at the end of a bill of
damages.
The city has already learned the fact.
that when it wants to regulate a rail
road. a lawsuit flashes up with Cleo
trical rapidity. 1t is therefore mete
that all lawsuits, all trouble. all vexa-
ton, should be prevented by a care
fully prepared and well digested Or
dinance which will be a full and COM
plete protection TO the city and its
citizens, also by making timely pro-
vision for enforcement before any
track is laid.
This is the only way for the safety
of the people.
Before closing this article l desire
to add my objection to the proposed
road or any other road crossing the
Levee. There is one already there
and that Is one too many. The Levee
proper should never have been dis
turbed by a railroad-and if another
one is suffered TO no it with all its
business-then woe he unto the CON-
mission business now done on the
Levce-and woo be to business rela-
tions with passing steamers.
If any part of u river front Is to
be honey-combed by another railroad,
for gracious sake do not permit 1t to
further disturb our Leyee as now COM
pleted and in process of completion.
If the road must come along the street
reserved on Aquamsi front-thcn
when it reaches the foot or south end
of Main street, have it run along this
street to its northern terminus. This
will nOt disturb the river interest
which is so valuable to cur city, and
still be n blessing in disguise to the
business interests of Main street. Jay
Gould being a m%agnanimous man
would kindly order his passenger and
mail train to stop at the pOst-ofice
and leave the mails, stop at the st.
Charles for the accommodation OF pas
sengers, order his freight trains to
stop along on Main street and deliver
freight-all of which would undoubt-
edly be lovely and the goose would
hang high" LEvEE. !