The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-01
TACOMA COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
Railroad Franchise Concession Not Ac-
cented -TAe Big Water >uIt.

Tacoma, rcv 2.-SpeciaL-The most
important matter 80 come before the city
council today ps5 the report Of the har-
bor and water fTo=t committee on the
Northern Pacific Railroad C0mpany's
grant OF a thirty-foot fisat-of-way along
shs water front from the end Of Pacific
avenue 20 Old Tacoma. TIE agreement
carrying with Il tie concession given by
tae company. was transmitted 10 the coun-
Gil last Saturday. II Is signed by Messrs.
Rouse. Cakes and Payne. the old receiy-
ers The committee presented a unani-
NOUS report against accepting the right
of-way In the form outlined IN the agree
nent. The report says:
After a personal inspection made by
your committee We learn that the route
laid out by the engineers IS iEpracticable.
particularly that portion from ~e.evator a
10 Tacoma mill property. The cost to con-
stTuct and maintain such a road would
entail thousands OF dollars. The immense
cost OF construction was so apparent TO
your committee that the city engineer was
not asked 20 make an estimate.
Your committee finds a clause in the
grant whereby the Northern Pacific rail-
road reserves the right for themselves. or
such other persons and corporations as IL
may designate. to occupy the space above
said street by buildings or other struc-
lures. This We consider very objection
able. especially from the fact that in en-
fering Into such an agreement the city
would have no say In the matter.
Your committee further finds a clause
In the grant which states that IL the city
shah fail 10 construct said street within
twelve months from date Of the lndenture,
or maintain the same when constructed.
and such default continue for two years
after demand OF performance made IN
writing. the right and easement granted
shall cease and determine. AS stated
above. the cost TO the city 10 make these
improvements would be many thousands
OF dollars. The city therefore cannot en-
Ter into such an agreement, as IL is now
beyond It's limit OF Indebtedness.
Furthermore. we learn from Mr.. G.. l..
Holmes. Chairman OF the board of tide
land commissioners, that no such under
standing was entered into with Mr.. j. w.
hendrick, general manager. while here in
person. but, on the contrary, Mr.. Holmes
explained 10 Mr.. Kendriek that IL might
be a number OF years before the city would
wish TO construct and maintain this road"
The road as laid out by the Northern
Pacific engineers is quite a distance above
the water, and for a long distance the
street would have TO be ~excavated out Of
. steep blum. Councilman Norton said the
statement was plainly made that the rail-
road company would give the city n right
of-way on level ground and not on the hill
aide. This statement was made last spring
when the council approved the tide land
plat. The report was adopted.
Mayor Orr called the councils attention
10 the fact that no action had been COM
menced by the city against ex-Treasurer
NcCauley and his bondsmen TO recover
the mounts lost in the defunct banks.
The matter was referred 10 the finance
committee and city attorney. with power
20 act. The funds for which Mr.. McCauley
Is held TO be responsible were deposited in
the Tacoma National. Columbia National.
Communication, Commercial. and $1,000
In the State Savings bank. deposited by
mistake. The total amount due from Nc
Cauley is 500. 2S1.s 30.
The board OF public works was instruct
ed 20 expend $500 IN acquiring tho water
rights on tho chcnuis river and Canada
creek, IN pursuance Of the Talbot plan.
Mayor orr also notified the council that
the flagship Philadelphia is I'm port and
tina the council should pay Admiral
Geards'ee a visit. The council requested
the mayor 20 arrange a day next week
me the city officials VIII call on the ad-
mlrai.
The sum OF $50 was placed IN the hands
o. the finance committee for the use Of the
city attorney In paying witnesses and 9th
er expenses In the ml~ilion-dollar damage
tuit.