St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-06
in PARK AVENUE MATTER.
Park Avenue People Make
a Warm Speeches Before
., the Committee.
SOME SPEAK FOR THE ROAD.
Van Slyke Made a Statement
e Of MIR. Hills Position in
e. the Case.


consider the matter of setting aside the
vacation of Park avenue. A number Of
property owners and residents of the
interested district were OH hand to lay
their claims before the committee.
Mr.. Holman appeared as counsel for
the property owners alnng Park avenue
Who are in favor of the Improvement.
A resolution has already passed the
board of aldermen. directing the cor
pOratiOn attorney to begin an action at
once to set aside the vacation.
Mr.. Holman contended. as before the
board, that the vacation was Illegal and
void, not having been had In proper
manner, according to law The prop.
erty owners could not bring an action
in the courts, as decisions were nuner.
GUS which declare that they can only
bring an action where their individual
property is directly involved. The ave-
nue. was still there, aud the individual
property accessible from it. except as to
vacated portion. The property owners
are helpless. Only two parties can take
action. Either the state OF Minnesota,
which controls all highways, or the city
Of st. Paul, which directly controls aud
superyises all highways within the cor
porate limits. must act.
Therefore the property owners ap-
pear before the council to ask it to aid
them for proper relief. ut Is claimed"
said Mr.. Holman, ''that the Great
Northern shops would be.removed from
this city if this action was taken. That
the railway company needs this ground
for the building of additional shops.
But it has all the land needed for the
next sixty years, and this little strip OF
sixty feet of land will not aid towards
the building of additional shops"
Mic POttgieser stated that he had
lived there for twenty-five years. The
property owners had paid four ASSESS
ments for grading, two for constructing
sidewalks and one for building a sewer.
thus making first class street out of
Park avenue. Many had engaged in
various lines of business and were max
ing good. honorable living. When
the shops were opened about 1000 men
We're employed there, but hundreds had
been moved away with their families,
and less than 200 now remain. After
the fence was run across the avenue by
the railway company, several, and him
self included, had to 90 out OF business,
as the traffic had been stopped. Six
! miles of taxpayers were now begging TO
have the street again opened for the
public use.
| James Rocheford stated that for six
years he had paid the city license of
| $1,000 a year for his saloon in connec-
| ton with his hotel. But now he would
be compelled to shut up his place unless
the street was opened.
| James Rocheford said that he was not
| here for the purpose Of begging any
| thing. but to ask simply for their rights.
| Mr.. Hill had no need for the street,
having thirty-tive acres of ground to
| spare. He had never built bridge
| across any street without fight.
| Mr.. heardon asked those present il
| they had knowledge OF the fact that the
| street was to be vacated. All replied
that they did not until afterthe action
had been taken by the council. MIR.
| Reardon informed the committee that
he had no knowledge of the affair until
1t came up i'll the assembly at tile time.
| G. w. HOrr cautioned the people not
| to take steps which would drive good
| industry out of the Ninth ward or out
| of the city. He would be glad to see
the shops in the Second ward if posi-
/ BILE. II vas that policy which had kept
81. Paul back so many years.
Mr.. Dowuey was OIL his feet quick as
! flash. and said that the land sharks
had ruined the city by putting up es-
| adjustments at South st. Paul, st. Paul
| Park and other outside points. instead
! of having them located in the city
| proper.
| Aid. Murphy took the floor on behalf
OF the property owners. lie said the
only reason why MIR. Hill had the ave-
nne vacated was for the purpose Of saw
| ing the S15, 900 which would be required
to build bridge across the tracks. He
was satisfied that the committee would
treat the people properly and fairly in
| the matter.
| On a question from Mr.. Parker, AS
sistant Corporation Attorney Chaplin
stated that ii the street was vacated on
the petition of only one property owner,
then the vacation was certainly void,
| and the city must proceed to take action
in the courts to GUST the wrongful pos
SCISSOR, as there is 10 vacation. The
council. however, must direct the cor
poratiOn attorney to bring the action.
i MIR. Van Sfyke stated that he had
seen Mr.. Hill and he had informed him
that at the time the street was vacated
it was his intention to extend the shops,
but two years of hard times had made
this impossible. MIR. Hill had told him
| that if Park avenue was opened again,
inside of eighteen months not a stone
would lie left Of the shops. Mr.. Van
SHke thought 1t probable to make some
arrangements by which bridge might
1 be built over the tracks and the use of
the street left with him.
i MIR. Lewis moved the committee
recommend tue passage Ut the resolu.
ton. which was done by unanimous
vote. The result was received with APP
\ plause.