The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-19
THE RAILROAD SNARL
Another Attempt to Straighten
Out the Right-of-W
ADJOURNED TILL NEXT YEAR.
Inc Northern Pacific Wants to Com
piete Its Line-Waiting for Pres
fdent HiIPs Arrival.

man, Pontius, Miller and Korn, delegates Null
doom and Willis and Alderman Bogardus wero
ESQ presently met yesterday afternoon for the
purpose OF considering the ordinance granting
right-oi-way along Railroad avenue, between
washington street and Yesler avenue, TO the
Northern Pacific & Puget Sound Shore railway.
Inc oregon Improvement Company was repre-
sented by j. c. Haines and c. ]. Smith, the
Seattle d Montana by T. r. Shepard and the
Northern Pacific & Puget Sound Shore by A.
r. Burleigh accompanied by /. A. Nadeau.
Clty CLERK Miller read the ordinance, which
mas been frequently published. Its main pro-
vision is that the Northern Pacific shall have
right-of-way along Railroad avenue for q width
OF thirty feet from Washington street to point
Where II can connect with the Seattle, Lake
shore Eastern railroad. The only change
since the ordinance was before considered was
the proposed abandonment of that portion of its
right-of-way which forms a crescent just south
OF W ashington street. aud so makes TWO cross
ings of the right-of-way of the Seattle & Mon
tana railroad
Alderman Korn said this ordinance had been
agreed upon between the Northern Pacific and
Mr. Clough.
Mr.. shepard said he knew to the contrary;
Mr. Cough had agreed to an ordi nance upon
certain conditions. The Northern Pacific for
several blocks has a franchise for thirty feet on
the east side of Railroad avenue: sixty feet was
coupled by the Seattle & Montana and twenty
two by the Seattle Terminal railway. The
proposition that the Union Pacific should
be moved over, and the Seattle & Montana was
TO suffer a contraction of its width for several
blocks, provided the Northern Pacific would
give up its claim TO the rams horn aud II the
Oregon improvement Company would also give
up its two lines which run alongside the North
ern Pacific. Mr. Hill said he would consent if
the Oregon Improvement Company would, but
that company would not do that unless they
were granted franchise along Railroad avenue
TO Yesier avenue, over space which they &C.
cupy by ownership of land but have no franchise
over. Mr.. Shepard referred TO ordinances l, l45
and 1883, which established and changed Rail
road avenue, and produced plans showing the
complications already existing along the space
sought to be covered by the franchise
Mr. Shepard read dispatch from President
Hill, dated December IS at Spokane, which was
handed to him while in the room. 1t is as fol-
lows:
"Your letter reached me in New York. I am
much disappointed at the proposed action OF
Seattle. We cannot do our terminal business
with less than four tracks, and the time will
come when that will be insufficient, resulting
in business going elsewhere. IL our facilities
are to be limited, or any attempt Is made to
crowd us, We prefer the council doing II before
We have spent any large sum in local improve
ments that we could not use later on. l am
heartily tired of the fast and loose manner in
Mr. shepard said Mr.. Hill would soon be here,
and he asked that action be deferred until then.
A. +. Burleigh addressed the committee at
considerable length against delay. He recited
the proceedings which had taken place since
last April, and the repeated delays with which
the Northern Pacific and Puget Sound Shore had
to contend. His company had spent $4,000 on
the road across the flats, believing that when
the company had shown its good faith
by construction, the city would give the
road right-of-way into the city to connection
with the Seattle, Lake shore Eastern. He re-
minded the committee that his road had been
accused OF being obstructionists, but that it
had shown through all these proceedings de-
sire to give way. He referred to many incidents
which had trsnspired at different times to show
that the seattle & Montana had met every at
tempt to settle the difficulty by new objections.
Mr.. Clough had promised to deal with the Ore
goD Improvement Company, but when Mr.. Hill
came out he said that they had been too san
guine In expecting to make q settlement with
that company, and SO the matter rested.
The Northern Pacific, he said, was anxious to
build into Seattle. IL was ready TO come in the
moment IL was given an opportunity. An cleo
ton is imminent, and unless this matter is set
tied by these city officials, who are familiar
with the complex questions involved, a new
council might have 10 be met and the whole
ground gone over and so fritteriug away an
other year. There Is nothing in the proposed
ordinance that in any way prevents Mr.. Hills
road coming in; and as to the Union Pacific,
1t was accorded full running powers
over the track at reasonable rates,
and il the roads cannot agree it is provided that
they shall go before the council to settle the
matter. He contended that the franchise of the
Seattle < Montana ri the point in question had
expired still, he did not desire to do anything
to keep Mr. Hills road out; he thought its COM
ing would be nm advantage TO Seattle but the
city needed railroad competition above all
things. He strongly urged, therefore, that the
city give reasonable facilities TO the Northern
Pacific. He desired the council 10 say now and
az once. either that the Northern Pacific should
be allowed to come into the city or that the city
should say the railroad should not be permitted
10 run into Seattle.
Mr. Shepard said the Semitic & Montana was
quite willing t. aecede TO the proposition, pro-
vided the Oregon improvement Company would
Join the Northern Pacific IL giving up the bow
across his company's right-oiway. lie pleaded
for delay until President Hill's arrival.
Mr.. Burle.gh condemned some remarks OF Mr..
Shepard concerning the rams horn as cal
cuated TO stir up prejudice. The matter
before the courts tor settlement, the plsce whore
these questions should be settled. The object
was to force the companies into "a terminal ar
rangement with three-fourths OF the stock in
the control OF the Satt1c Il hontana.
MI Korn said every arrangement had been
Y.
late the various steps taken By the committee
with the companies shortly before Judge
Burke went away he said the ordinance would
be drawn in a short time He was no enemy of
the Seattle & Montana but he desired 10 give
the Northern Pacific fair play, as he desired 10
see open competition in the interest Of Seattle.
As a member OF the committee he should persist
il doing justice TO the railroad company and re-
sist further delay.
Mr.. Haines stated the position OF the Ore
gou Improvement Company, which had never
been cons dered In the matter. He thought be-
fore the matter terminated the city would find
IL was entitled 10 some consideration. They
would ind that for distance OF two books, be-
tween Washington and King, the oregon In
provement Company was the actual owner of
the land; for that distance there is no Railroad
avenue; the street had not been condemned
through this property; not one of the companies
had dared rely upon the citys franchise, but
had resorted 10 condemnation proceedings. The
Oregon Improvement Company has allowed
the Northern Pacific n run over its tracks
on what had been called the "telly' line.
The part proposed to be parceled out by the
other companies was now covered by the tracks
OF the Oregon Improvement. Every ordinance
that has ever been granted is void The Oregon
Improvement Company simply asks that the
roads be forced into a terminal company, so as
10 insure all equal and uninterrupted use OF
Railroad avenue for all comers. Other roads
would be wanting TO come in. and II there were
hundred arrangements should be made by
which all could be economically and efficiently
administered. The city proposed 10 take nearly
/ 500 feet Of frontage and give II 10 another line
and not even consult the Columbia & Puget
sound. lie reminded them Of the relations
that had existed for 50 many years between the
city and that read; the company had Away.
been willing to meet the city in any iair ar