The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-30
THE OLD RAMS HORN.
Northern Pacific Asking for
Entry Into the City.
FOUR RAILROADS CONCERNED.
Meeting of Counsel with the judiciary
Committee to straishten Out
Conflicting Claims.

cihc into Seattle to join the Seattle, Lake shore
Il Eastern tracks
Alderman Miller presided. Aldermen Korn
and Ingraham were the other committeeman
present The Northern Pacific was represented
by A. +. Burleigh and Engineer Espey. The
Oregon improvement by J. c. Haines, the Great
northern by Judge Burke and Mr.. Miner, and
the Union Pacific by Colonel W. Ehinger
Judge Jacobs, Commissioner Hebron and
Aldermen Hall, Snyder and Sweeney and Dele
gates Muldoon, Willis, Lansing, Jones, DIR.
Randell and Mr.. Lee J. Pitner were interested
spectators.
Alderman Miller briefly stated the object of
the meeting.
City Clerk Miller read the three ordinances
II Is proposed to introduce. The first is the
grant OF right-of-way to the Northern Pacific &
Puget Sound from Yesler avenue TO Town street.
The second an amendment to the franchise OF
the Portland & Puget Sound railroad union
Pacihc) so as to make its lines conform to the
new arrangement. The third is an amendment
70 the franchise of the Seattle & Montana rail
road to the same extent
Mr.. Burleigh stated what the Northern Pacific
wanted In the general distribution of priv
lieges on Railroad avenue in 1890, the Northern
racine got nothing except the west thirty feet
Oh Railroad avenue South from the southerly
city limits. They got also thirty feet on Railroad
avenue "Y'' and thirty feet on Railroad ave-
ground by piling and trestling When they
got to Railroad avenue North they met strip
sixty feet wide granted to the Seattle & Mon
tana, and were stopped. 1--WE have" he con-
hnued, "some reason to believe the Northern
Pacific will eventually control and own the
Seattle Lake Shore Il Eastern, and it makes
this application in order to make connection
with Yesler wharf, and allow their tracks to
connect Town street and Yesler avenue"
He explained the present condition Of the space
involved. From Town street to street North
there is vacant space; from Weller to Yesler
avenue is a vacant space OF thirty eight feet;
from TO Weller the avenue is full The Seattle
Terminal d Elevator Company has thirty feet;
next east the Seattle Il Montana has sixty feet;
next east the Portland & Puget Sound has
thirty feet. Now, the suggestion of the COM
mittee was that the Portland & Puget Sound be
shifted so as to occupy the west thirty feet OF
the Seattle & Montana track, and the Northern
Pacific continue northeast on the ground OF
the Seattle & Montana, and then on the vacant
space TO Yesler avenue They preferred not to
conflict with other franchises. but the commit
tee thought that moving the Puget Sound line
would avoid crossings. Mr.. Burleigh made
very forcible address on behalf of the grant, as
in the best interests of Seattle.
Mr.. j. H Lewis addressed the committee at
considerable length on behalf of some clients
who had. he said, been unable to obtain salts
Shore railway; and represented that the North
ern Pacific which had acquired 1t, was not en-
titled to any consideration at the hands of the
city.
Mr. Korn said they were drifting beyond their
power. As committee they had only to assist
in arriving at a compromise as to right-of-way
and had no power to interfere in any other
matter.
Judge Burke, on behalf of the Seattle & Mon
tana railway, said the first intimation they had
of the application was given through the news
papers. The ordinances submitted had the
effect, II they were legal, to repeal
their franchise. He would have been
surprised at such an attempt on the part of any
other railroad company than the Northern
Pacific. He need hardly say he was anxious to
see the city benefited by all railroads He had
done what he could to get the Union Pacific,
and was one of those who joined in the $40 900
subsidy to that company.
The situation of the city was so admirable
that it could give hospitable welcome to all
railroads, but it was not good policy to rob
Peter to pay Satan. He did not wish to stir up
any old preiudices. but he would say that the
most deadly enemy of Seattle today was the
Northern Pacific. 1t was not only in the past;
1t is now 1t took the work of the Puget Sound
Shore to Tacoma and threw out of employment
hundreds OF men. We must recognize friends
and recognize enemies. He wanted them not
friend and go over to the city's enemy.
He would show that the ultimate purpose of
this franchise was to shut off the Union Pacific
and Great Northern. The Northern Pacific
already owns the Seattle, Lake Shore Eastern
The control OF that road had passed over to the
Northern Pacific already,
He showed by the map what the effect would
be, which, he said, would be as disastrous as
the fire. II was to shut off the Union Pacific
and the Great Northern as they had shut out
the Canadian Pacific.
He suggested, however, that the Great North
ern might be asked to cede to the city thirty
feet for four blocks, il the Northern Pacific
would give up its tracks now running across
from Washington street to Yesler avenue, and
remove them to the east so as to avoid crossing
the Union Pacific and Seattle & Montana, and
have direst line to the junction with the
Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern.
In conclusion, he thought ii better to await
the arrival of Mr.. Mcknight and Mr.. Clough,
which would be very soon. He reminded them
that every single pledge made by the Seattle &
Montana had been kept. They are now laying
rails at mile day. There was no struggle for
franchises till the Great Northern wanted to
come in.
Colonel Efinger said ii seemed to him this
was not the proper time for this legislation
The city council was invited to enter upon a
path to have a serious effect upon franchises
away part OF franchise what other part is free
from this end? 1t is inexpedient to adopt this
legislation. The road engineers should settle
this difficulty. It is a very delicate and danger
Gus thing for the city council to say, "You take
this, and you give up that" Let the city coun-
Gil declare that these railroads must settle this
matter among themselves, and business inter-
ests will solve the problem. For the present
condition of the Portland & Puget Sound road
il is very inexpedient. II is within their per-
sonsl knowledge that Colonel Dodge had trav-
ersed the ground recently, and he might say
that his report was favorable. The president
and Mr. Clark are now on their way here He
gave II as his opinion, but not as a fact, that
soon after these gentlemen had been here they
would determine when resumption OF the work
should begin.
10 all hope of resumption. 1t would be too big a
price to pay II the directors were to be apprised
OF the fact that this change is to be made arbi-
trarily it might be fatal. The only time for in
reference was when the engineers had declared
they could not or would not agree among them
selves.
Colonel Haines, of the Oregon Improvement.
said his company had not been recognized in
the new psreelling out of lines over which his
company had been running for years They felt
they had right TO be considered. Ii had q rail-
road here long before these other companies
The Oregon improvement aud Columbia &
Puget Sound were warm advocates of a terminal
company, but the holders of franchises said the
city had no right TO curtsil those franchises and
IL was not done. II seemed TO be the opinion of
the legal authority OF the city that the fran
chises can be modified. II part of atrack could
be taken away all could be taken away His
company was willing TO have all franchises
wiped out and terminal company formed, and
make Railroad avenue public highway.