The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-12
Incorporated as a railroad company,
but as a construction company.
f s STEPHENS

but as a construction company.
F. s. STEPHENS.
Ex-Commissioner Stephens said he
had recently returned from Los An
geles and could testify to the neces-
sity of constructing q road to that
place. 1t takes money to build rail
road, but it should be controlled by
home people. 1t should not be allowed
to go into foreign hands, as for. exam
pie, the electric light companies of our
cities, who only worked on the people
like sponge-squeezing all they can
out Of them.
Mr.. Stephens thought, however, the
resolution presented by Mr.. Dale was
not sufficiently restrictive. There was
nothing in i that could be construed
| to compel the company TO build 100
miles out of Salt Lake City. They could
go to the Utah & Southern. for ex-
ample. and say to them, I'VE will ex-
tend your line 100 miles and we will
get a block in Salt Lake
Now" continued Mr.. Stephens, IT
am in favor of giving the square. but l
am in favor that the chair should ap-
point a committee to draft resolution
that would protect the city and give
the road sufficient protection as we'll"
Judge COlborn interrupted Mr. Steph-
ems, asking if it would not be a benefit
| the coast even though the extension
was made on some other road running
directly into Los Angeles.
Mr.. Stephens thought it would be
some benefit. Now" he continued,
Il have got a gentleman interested to
practically admit that they do not in
/ tend to build the line out of the city
\ storm of questions was at once
hurled at the speaker by O'Meara. Mr.
E-M
Baskin.
The resolution of Dale. ne said. was
in such shape that it would indicate
the necessity of calling upon someone
| outside of the council to bring it with
in legal terms and in any way bind
ing.
WHITTEMORE'S GREAT EXPERT
ENCE."
County Attorney Whittemore spoke
against the proposition. He was
man of great experience. he said, when
it came to railroad building and he did
not want to see the old Fort block
given away. The city was a great deal
in debt and the square was about the
only good property the city owned,
From the attorneys talk it looked as
though he was interested in some 9TH
er enterprise that had its eye on the
square He said by giving the site
away the city practically barred every
other railroad company that would at
tempt to come He said it was worth
100000 for any railrCal company right
today. 1t had been fondly hoped by
him to use the square for the construc-
ton of union depot. Don't by all
means, act hastily" he closed, but
carry out the idea embodied in Mr..
Stewards resolutiOn-give to the first
i
out of the city the property.
PRESENTED ANOTHER SCHEME.
The cat was let out of the bag, how
ever. When everybody hoped he
would come to a close he said he stood
before the meeting as a representative
of another road that had under con-
temptation the building of line to the
coast. His company had not asked
for a bonus of that block, but it was
going to build.
Dale interrupted, 'Mr Whittemore,
will you kindly give US the name of
the company that You represent, or
/ the name of the client you rbpresent?"
Mr.. Whittemore hedged for awhile
but finally replied that he had been'
working for the past three years with
the Los Angeles Terminal company,
the only concern in all this western
country that had beaten the Southern
Pacific. His company had unlimited
capital behind it and was far more
able to build the road than the one
under discussion. The company he
represented owned $7,O00000 worth of
property in Utah and they stood ready
to extend the road to Los Angeles. If
the block was given away what induce
ment could you offer for any other
company?
O'Meara-We could buy another
block anywhere down there for 100000
and present it to the company.
WhittemOre-What are you going to
buy it for when you are turning your
policemen away and are having a hard
time to pay your officials?
O'Meara-The city is cutting down
expenses, it is true, L don't know about
the county (applause) but I think the
promoters of this enterprise would
furnish the money by subscription.
Major Wilkes, of the Utah Midland,
spoke briefly about his company's
plans.
A. H. CANNON
A. H. Cannon then arose to close for
the company He was sorry so many
mis- statements had been made. He
was in possession of vouchers to show
that the company had abundant funds
to build the road. The company, he
said, proposed to incorporate for the
construction of road from here to the
southern boundary of the state 1t
was the purpose to build the line
through to Los Angeles, and he had
vouchers and papers in his safe TO
show that he was backed up by what
he said.
The company did not ask for an op-
ton on the square for TWO years. He
was willing that any committee from
the council would be appointed to see
that the contract was carried out.
Stewart-Why, then, Mr.. Cannon, if
YOU are earnest in your talk, why not
be willing to accept my resolution?
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS L think there is a
purpose behind it all that has not been
brought out yet
SURVEYORS IN THE FIELD.
This ratified Mr.. Stewart and he re-
NAMED in his seat for some time. Mr..
Cannon stated that surveying parties
were now in the west, going over the
route, and when any other company
said they had engineering parties in
the field he questioned the truth Of the
statement.
"Our party now" he said. lis be
tween Saltair and the ridge Of the
mountains
Mr.. Cannon referred to the petitions
presented, asking for the ceding of the
square, and challenged any one to show
that even one of them was attained
by fraudulent representation.
Mr.. Stewart had read from the arti-
cles of Incorporation showing the many
objects of the company for the purpose