St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-18
NOT A PUBLIC NUISANCE.
MEASURE ADVERSE ID HAMM'S
TRACKS IS POSTPONED.
ABOLISH INSPECTORS FEE.

Prospect Good That Soon Builders
Will Pay no More Building In
spector's Fees-Board OF Alder
men Streets Committee Fa-
vors Allowing More Than 1915
a Month for That ID epartm ,nt.
The committee on streets from the
board of aldermen yesterday decided to
recommend for indefinite postponement
an ordinance rep3aling one passed in
June. 1890. giving Theodore Hamm the
right to lay spur track from the
Omaha railroad to his flour mill and
brewery.
Owen Morris, attorney for persons
owning property in the nelghborhood.
VINO claim they are damaged by the
tracks crossing Reaney and Farqnier
streets. made talk in which II urged
that the council repeal the ordinance.
The supreme court. he SAID, had re-
Gently given decision in the Case of
brought suit that the council had no
right to allow private citizen TO occupy
the public streets with railroad track.
M. ID. Mum, who appeared for the
brewing company, held that the spur
track was used only once or twice day
when cars were switched to and from
the plant. The council had the right to
order the track up after thirty days
notice, but it was very questionable if it
a ynn1 I'm If,
The firm had expended several hundred
thousand dollars in their business. and
the right possessed by the council
should only be exercised when the track
became public nuisance. 1t was not
such now, and he was reliably informed
that the objection raised was owing to
personal spite and spleen against the
owners of the industry.
TO back up his argument, Mr.. Mum
read an affidavit from Charles Gustaf-
son, who brought suit against the firm
to compel them to tear up the track. LII
ii GuStafSon stated that the suit had
been started by him at the request of
certain citizens III the vicinity, the
understanding being that in case he
sold his property To Hamm those VIII 0
contributed to the fund to carry on the
Srit should be paid back their money.
He had sold his property. and according
10 the agreement had paid those who
contributed.
Mr.. Morris made the point that while
the ordinance had been passed in June,
1890. no steps had been taken to lay the
track until two years after. Mr.. Hmm
explained this by stating that the firm
| had not been able to purchase the prop
| erfy over which the track was laid until
a short time before it was put down.
The motion to indefinitely postpone
was carried unanimously,and the action
seemed to please greatly large deIega-
ton of business men who were pres ent
at the session.
The proposition from the uilding
Inspector looking to the adjustment of
fees for building permits, was favOrably
considered by the committee, and an
ordinance will be drawn and presented
at the next meeting of the aldermen,
repeating the one now in force, which
requires fee to be paid in ratio with
the cost of the structure for which the
permit is issued.
A delegation from the builders ex-
change was in attendance to urge the
repeal of the fee system.
The committee also reported fdvora-
bly, Oh the resolution allowing more
than 1919 per month for salaries in the
building inspectors department. Aid
Copeland said the intention WAS only o
lave the reduced amount operate in the
/ winter months. Building Inspector
! Gauger said last year that the office ex-
pended 50. 800, and this year the appro
| priation had been cut down to $1,000.
| More help was needed in the office. and
it,was In the best interests of the city to
| repeal the resolution limiting the
monthly pay rolls to 1919.