The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-08
A CONFERENCE HELD.
Northern Pacific Officials and
Councilman Meet.
NEW DEPOT PLAN CONSIDERED.
The City wflIfn9 90 vacste Marion
Street Under Proper Restrictions
presidents Winter Present.


and VII leeye for the East th1s msrrtng-
Besides President Winter the following
gentlemen were On the special train wsfsca
came in yesterday Chairman e. p. Adj
ans. OF the reor ganizaxion committee,
Genera AAnaser j. W. k-ndrick. Genersi
Superintendent ii. c. Kimberley. General
Superintendent u. W. Dickinson. Receiver
E. II Aehenry AMI W. A. Underwood
New York counsel for Recesve- Btlr.slgh-
Last evening these gentlemen held an
Informal conference IN the council cham
oers with the members OF ths city coan-
Gil ana the city advisory board 10 discuss
the proposed vacation of Columbia and
Marion streets. between Railroad ard
Western avenues. the only oo~ aacle now IN
the way Of the purchase OF the two
blocks bounded by Columbia and Aaaisan
streets Western and Railroad avenues.
and bisected by Marion street. This Is
the frs time the new council members
have been caled upon 10 wrestle with
railroad problems. and most Of The dis
cuss4on vas carried on between the rail-
road men ami the old members or the
council and the advisory board. Those
from the council who wrestlea with the
question were CrSchton. Chapman, Dodsis.
Galsol. Herman. Hurd. james. NAvin,
Rude and Rudy. The city advisory board
was REPRESENTED by Mayor Wood. Copper
alton Counsel Brown and Acting CITY En-
g8aeer Cotteriu.
The object OF tha gathering was 70 give
the company's officials some idea Of the
feeling Of the city council. ana before al
touraiQg a motion % James was adopted
that it was the sense OF the meeting mat
It would he best for the interests OF the
city for the company TO put its depot On
the blocks specified. and as the blocks
were too short for the purpose. that Ma
ri0n street. between Western and Rail-
read avenues be vacated. with. II possible,
erzfs
company from taking possession unul
ready TO begin work on a passenger depot.
ard providing for the reveTting 10 the cry
OF the street should such work be aoan-
dCDed. The only opposition 10 tins came
from NaYin and Crichton. who voted Ne
Rude did not vote. The railroad dignl-
taries were not present when this fesolu-
ton went through. having left about nalf
an hour previous. TO allow the city officials
present an opportunity 10 discuss the mat
ter without their presence.
Cairman Crichton called the meeting 90
order, stating that while he hardly knew
the cause of their gathering, he Was Will
ing 10 meet any proposition submitted by
the railroad. In a spirit Of fairness. both
10 the company and city. Mr.. Underwood
In responding expressed regret that Mr..
Burleigh was not present, and stated that
he was acting for him He then briefly
mentioned the details of the proposed I'M
provement. how Burlelgh had an option
on the two blocks from the present own
ers, and had obtained authority of the
Eastern bondholdsrs 10 make the pur-
chase. IL the city consented TO vacate CO.
lumb!a and Marion streets. The option
is for Sls7,ooo he said. and there are 40
feet in each block. making $50 feet In all
This would not be enough unless Marion
street. that bisects the property, were va
Gated. 1T was thought best" he said,
h. ~ "a
here TO get an expression OF opinion from
this body You know the value TO the
city,"
rs the use of this property intended for
a passenger dcpot?" asked Mayor Wood,
with an accent on passenger.
mot for any other purpose" replied
Mr. Underwood; "the Northern Pacific Is
not buying land for speculative purposes"
II thought perhaps for freight" said the
mayor.
mot as understand it," was Under
woods answer.
A description OF the property was given
by Cotterill. He explained that the blocks
between Western and Railroad avenues
were but 100 feet long, the Northern Pa
cinc franchise on Railroad avenue tnclud-
ing twenty-five feet of this distance. This
would leave really only rs feet 10 be va
Gated
To bring the matter clearly before the
of purpose, Chairman Crtchton asked
.why this property was wanted?"
President Winter responded. Il believe
Mr. Underwood has said all | could" he
said. cit is the desire OF the Northern
Pacific 10 acquire those two blocks at the
prices named. and the vacation OF the two
streets, including the twenty-five feet on
which the franchise lies. our object is
solely the construction of a passenger de-
pot, and the property would be OF no value
10 us otherwise. What will be done ana
how soon. Il is impossible 10 say. Ger
talnly that much money would not be sx-
pended without that intent
deep silence psrvaded the chamber as
he finished, and II continued for several
moments His words were evidently be-
ing dieested. After some discussion Chap
man asked slowly: Mr.. Underwood. II
that property were held for an indefinite
length OF time would you not be likely TO
make a freight depot Of 1t, which would
BE- detrimental 10 the cify7"
Mr. Underwood replied: "Of course. I
only represent Mr. Burieigh. bat under
stand e viii be a passenger depot"
Further than this neither President
Winter nor Underwood would 60 the for
mer stating that the company's plans were
SO Indefinite that nothing could be prom
ised The city representative evieeatly
wished 10 hind the railroad men
IN some way. bat several expeli-
ents suggested we're stated by
James to he OF no avail. because
when vacated. the street being on tide
lands. would revert 20 the state which
would sell 10 20 the Northern Pacific and
end the power Of the city TO impose any
conditions or enforce the carrying out of
any promises. Another point made ~
James was that the vacation Of the
street between Western and Railroad ave-
nues would practically he a vacation 81
the continuation OF the streets across
Raflrosd avenue. which begin nowhere
sna end now here" and having no end Gu
ths INLAND could not Be considered streets
t-orporafion Counsel Brown ala not sur
4afr this fd@a. holding that = street WIS
= street. and II regularly plated the cut
tag out CO any portion would no. a1ot
the rest
Nfavo- Wool was faa frs 20 ~ixres. tha
,,se,asS~ess q Wasting Columbia as wei
"a Marion street. ''of course we feel
.safo,s= Of any vacation q streets" Re
aass "ans while I realize the important
advantages OF having a passenger Depot
a. tAe tight place, a. adequate reason
does rssf occur % rs@ whv Colurassa street
ss.nt3 he fnc3u3si. L - a very valuable
street. Anz while So vsrntion would ADJ
80 thfrsv-txc feet 70 the depot site ths
rs-v uosl.a sosa ore - SIS most important
s,-.,~.sss xnfar.s Unless & IA very urgent.
a. nos Sc ably it shoaIa % s-c.aisS- -
Sc as&As for = statement Of tie nIzns FOR
she Assae.rg ans % this President Wiz
ter rescon3s<;
.-~rat = raast 3iG3cuis - snszs-. Our
- las are indefinite We haws a gNn-
go ss~a % re kfa9 - seDos % ta corr
s.~p~-ss. ard K carried out that stress
uos1l5 ae Requires. We soul be willing