The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-28
PROPoSED TO RUN THE BELT LINE
VIA THE NEW FEDERAL
BUILDING
ROUTES TO BE INSPECTED
BY THE COUNCIL SPECIAL, COM
MITTEE FRIDAY AFTERNOON,
NOV. 9.
HOW TO REACH THE UNION DEPOT
fhe Chief Puzzle Now Demanding
Attention at the Hands of the
Committee.

The special joint committee of the
common council appointed for the pur-
pose of comforting with representatives
Of the commercial bodies and officials
OF the street railway company, relative
to the feasibility and desirability Of
securing the construction of a belt line
that will provide street railway faciIi-
ties at the union depot, held its first
meeting yesterday afternoon in the
council chamber. The committee con-
sists Of Assemblymen Kirke, Thompson
and Reardon, and Aldermen Shepard,
Kenny. Donahower and Lindahl. All
were present save Aid Lindahl. The
street railway company was repre-
sented by Vice President Goodrich and
M. d. Mum. r. A. Kirk and Gen. ].
W. Bishop represented the chamber Of
commerce and ]. A. Gregg and Herman
Scheffer the commercial club.
Nothing definite was accomplished at
the meeting, as the resolution under
which the conference was held does
not embody any detailed plan
Mr.. Mum suggested that the commit.
tee would doubtless find it advisable to
look over the ground before discussing
any proposed route for the belt line or
union depot loop. While it was true
that all present were familiar in a
general way with the streets in the
business district, yet a close examina-
ton Of the ground would undoubtedly
reveal certain conditions and obstacles
that might otherwise be overlooked
X. A. Kirk agreed with Mr. Mum
that the matter merited careful consid-
GRAFTON. 1t was extremely important,
and no action should be taken until it
had received a thorough Investigation
j. A. Gregg, representing the CONNER
clal club, thought that the proposed
| belt or loop ought to be constructed 50
as to embrace a large portion of the
| business district
Assemblyman Kirke moved that a
subcommittee, consisting Of three mem
bers Of the assembly and three from
the board of aldermen be appointed to
go over the ground with the officials Of
the street railway company and report
the result Of their investigation to the
joint committee and the representatives
of the commercial bodies.
This proposition did not receive a
second. w. H. Lightner thought that
a smaller committee could do more eff
fective work He suggested that it
consist Of only two or. three members
and such a committee go over the
SIOu1u Will Tie engineer Oh the street
railway company or any other compe-
tent engineer, ii deemed more advisa-
BILE, with, view to ascertaining on
what streets it would be most practi-
cable to construct the proposed belt
line, and also to learn whether it was
feasible to run street cars down Sibley
street to a point directly in front of the
union depot entrance, where the hack
stand is located. Mr.. Lightner was
confident that all citizens of ST. Paul
favored the extension of the street rail-
way line to the union depot, if such d
change could be brought about.
Gen.. Bishop expressed the opinion
that in case a new line is constructed
the new postofffce should not be forgot
ten. The cars should be operated so as
to reach it, and in order to accomplish
this, they should run on Market street
from Seventh street.
The discussion closed at this point,
and, on motion of Assemblyman
Thompson, the committee as we'll as
the entire body adjourned, to meet one
week from Friday, at p. m. sharp,
at the corner of Third and Jackson
streets, for the purpose Of going. over
the ground with the representatives of
the street railway company.