Omaha daily bee., 1892-07-08
Inhu ntial and representative Citizens
Spend Several Hours in Consultation.
VARIOUS PHASES OF THE QUESTION
Every Aspect OF the Complicated Matter
Discussed and SCvara! New Plans Pro-
posed-Nicws OF Different Men
on the subject

dent Davis occupied the chair, and upon the
convenng of the meeting stated its object.
Thomas L. Kimball stated that it was gen
erally understood that work upon the depot
could not be resumed so long as the restrain.
ing order preventing the delivery of the
deeds Tho Burlington would put no more
money into the depot until the land question
was settled. The Union Depot company
had, he SAID, asked the city for
the decd 1t had been agreed to, but when
the injunction was issued that of course
made the proposition impossible. 1t was
proposed that deeds conveying the grounds
to tho depot company should be made and
held in trust until the depot was completed.
MIR. Kimball had heard Mr.. Ames, one OF the
heaviest stockholders, say that he thought
arrangements could be made for the com
plction of tho depot.
About the Depot Proposed.
Mayor Bcmis was in favor of a union
depot. The company had agreed TO build a
S5OO,O0O DEPOT, but tho contemplated struct-
ure and the one partly built meant the ex-
penditure of only about Sl50,00O. The mayor
thought the best thing for Omaha would be
to have a depot at Ninth and Farnam streets.
One thing he knew was that the city of
Omaha would not be satisfied with the pro-
posed depot on which work was stopped
some months ago.
Mr.. Kimball replied that some time ago
the representatives of the railroads, some Of
the councimen ana members of the citiZen's
committee met and discussed the plans and
specifications. He did not think the plans
represented depot that was Il sham
Engineer Rosewater, who was at the meet
ing referred to by Mr.. Kimball, was called
for He sad the plans we're EXHIBITED and
that they seemed to indicate a solid, SUB
stantlal building. The appearance would be
conspicuous, and the data Indicated a very
fair building.
c. W. Hamilton asked if the building
would cost SlGO,OGO.
MIR. Rosewater replied that he had not
seen the estimates of the architects, but he
thought from his observation that the build
ing might cost S4OO,000.
~ II. Dufrene said a good many people
had the impression that the depot was IA
cheap affair He had been an architect all
his life. He had examined the plans and
had come TO the opinion that when com
pleted the DEPOT would be as fine as any,
thing west of New York. If the company
built the depot for less than 800 600 it might
consider itself lucky.
5. II. Morse had ooked at the depot and
had seen the plans. The debating of the
depot was not the question. What Omaha
wanted was the depot. The question to deal
with was the deciding of the grounds
Mr. kimbal said the agreement was that
the city should surrender The $500, coo guar
antee bOnd., turn over the Sl5O,OOO of viaduct
bonds and the lands to be decided to the
depot company wncn the building was COM
pleted. That was the talk with the COM
mlttee.
Rights of the City Maintained.
Il. Rosewater said the city had voted $780,
600 in bonds To aid III the construction OF a
depot and vaduct. All action was enjoned
M tn hn
they had not rendered definite decision
Continuing. Mr. ROsewater said there was
an agreement that all roads should enter
the city over the bridge upon reason
able terms 1t was now asked, he SAID
that the city should release its rights If it
was an assumed fact that the rival bridge
would be constructed, he would not favor
:elinQuishlng the rights of the city. The
people had voted bonds to the Nebraska
Central. They had become eXasperated
aud would have voted S3,0OO,0UO if 1t had
been asked.
Within the past few days there had been a
revival of the depot project, ana the Ninth
and Farnam street location had been dis
cuSsed. Ii 1t could be secured it would be
free from the complications surrounding tho
construction of the otner depot. Mr.. Rose
water thought that the proposed depot might
accommodate the business OF the city but
could not be so practicable as one less than
four stories in height and having more space
on the ground.
&. W. Hamilton said that he could not
throw any light upon the depot question. 1t
was the wrong idea TO deed the property
away to the roads. If two great roads like
the Union Pacific and the b. 81 Nj. could not
afford to give Omaha depot, he was in
favor of going without one until something
froZe over. 1t was too much like bows play
to compromise. The roads had made bar
gain and they should stand by it. II was
time for Omaha TO take a stand and not
hn IL,
were donated, tho Union Pacific told
something about transfer on the
olher side Of the river. Mr.. Dillon was
here aud a committee waited on INN TO learn
about tho transfer. Mr.. Dillon said that 1T
was absurd to talk anything of the kind, but
within three months the transfer was placed
on the other side of the river.
LAS far as am concerned continued Mr.
Hamilton, 81 am in favor of now holding the
roads to their bargain. If they can stand it,
we can"
DIsgrucefuI Treatment.
Mr.. Hamilton said that 1t was a disgrace
that Omaha did not have depot The CITY
had given the Union Pacific boads lands in
front OF the city and lands throughout tho
county.
"lf we nave made bargain" said Mr..
Hamilton, "lot us live up TO it, but if not let
US stop right here"
DR.. Mercer had male an investigation of
the subject and found thatthe depot company
sons; that all roads were TO cross the bridge
and come into the city under certain condi-
tions. When Mr. Clark took hold of the
road he decided that his company did not
want the Rock Island to enter the city ac-
cording TO terms of the contract. Then he
set about TO break the contract II was
broken. Rails were torn up, which
exasperated the people. That resulted ia
Jonn ID. Howe enjoinlng the transfer of the
Land, and Ernest Stuht enjoinng the deiy-
cry of the Sl5O,0O0 of viaduct bonds. This
resulted in looking no tho depot question,
and 1t was found that the building was not
being constructed according TO plans. The
injunction was based upon the fact
that the plans were changed,
and chat the building was commenced
upon plan different than at first contem-
plated The matter was discussed with
Messrs. Clark, Kmoan and Holdrege.
They agreed that the bonds would be
abandoned, suits were TO be withdrawn, the
deeds were to be placed in trust, and roads
were to be allowed TO cross the bridge. Mr.
Howe declared that he would not relent.
Ought to DO Something Pretty soon.
The matter was dropped for TWO months.
Another committee OF five was appointed and
had conference with the officials. What
that committee accomplished DR.. Mercer did
not know. The doctor was sure that some
thing should be done ana done at once.
Whether or not the depot was too high he
could not say. Some Of the Off
cias had told him that they
were willing to abandon the grounds.
as they were more valuable for trackage
than for depot purposes. That portion of