The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-21
THIRD AND SUMMIT
ASSEMBLY, DDcLAREs FOR THAT
ROUTE FOR THE MERRIAM
PARK LdNE.
VOTE STANDS SEVEN TO ONE,
PRESIDENT DEN ARosIs,' ALONE orros- ,o
ORDINANCE.
RESULT OF THE CONFERENCE

Held Earlier in the Day Between
City officials, Street Railway and
Property Owners.
1t really looks now as though the
cable line would be changed to an
electric line and the residents Of the
Seventh ward and Merriam Park
would be given the proper street car
facilities so long demanded. There Is
but one difficulty in the way. and that
Is that the board Of aldermen may
see fit to block the programme at the
solicitation Of some of the Summit
avenue property owners. The street
railway officials have publicly an
nounced that If the ordinance changing
the cable to an electric line Is passed
by the council and permission given
them to operate cars via Third street
and Summit avenue, they will accept
the measure and make the change.
This was definitely decided upon yes
terday, at least by the company and
a number of citizens who are interest
ed in having the proposed change
made. Yesterday afternoon Vice Presi-
dent Goodrich, General Manager HELD
and Superintendent Smith, of the
street railway company, held a con-
ference with r. A. Kirk and s. L.
Moore, from the transportation COM
mittee Of the chamber Of commerce,
and Aid. Shepard and Assemblyman
Kirke. The gentlemen from the cham
ber of commerce were given to under
stand by the street railway officials
that the only feasible plan, If a change
was desired from the cable to an cleo
tric line, was to allow cars to be
operated on Third street and Summit
avenue. Both of the chamber Of COM
merce representatives were opposed to
this route. but they were prevailed
upon to make an inspection Of the
same. and accordingly the party ad-
journed to the vicinity of Selby and
Summit avenues. "A careful survey Of
the ground was made, and the result
was that the chamber Of commerce
committee admitted that the proposed
route was not such q bad one after
all. President Goodrich explained that
the tracks would be placed on the east
side Of Summit avenue after the turn
was made from Selby avenue, and that
by this means there would be left
good roadway. It was agreed that the
street car company would have en-
gineers stake out the proposed space
to be used for the tracks on Summit
avenue and Third street within the
next few days in order that those in
terested could have good idea OF
just how much Of the street would be
taken up.
AS a result of the conference, Assem-
blynnan Craig last night introduced In
the assembly an ordinance which is an
exact copy of what is known as the
been discussed SO extensively since 1t
was introduced in the board of alder
men four months ago. The ordinance
provides for the changing Of the cable
to an electric line and the operation Of
cars from Broadway and Fourth street
to University and Prior avenues, the
only deviation in the route from that
now taken by the cable line being that
the cars will run ON Third street and
Summit avenue instead Of the Selby
avenue hill.
After the ordinance had been read,
Mr.. Craig moved a suspension Of the
rules, and this was agreed to by all
of the members present with the ex-
ception of President Arosin. Mr.. Craig
then moved that the ordiL ance be placed
on it's final passage. President Arosin
objected and thought it should first
be referred to a committee, as it had
not been properly considered, and he
saw no reason for railroading the meas
ure through the assembly the first time
it was brought up. He certainly had
not considered the ordinance, and for
this reason would not feel like voting
for it. Mr.. Kirke said the representa-
tives from the chamber of commerce
and the street railway officials had gone
over the route, accompanied by several
members of the council The railway
officials had agreed to. accept the ordt-
nance if it was passed, and for the best
interests of the city, and especially
those living in the western portion Of
it, he favored the ordinance. The rail-
way officials had also stated that they
would not accept the ordinance provid-
ing for the operation of cars on Nelson
and Summit avenues. Mr.. Kalman, one
Of the property owners who had been
strongly opposed to the running of cars
on Third street and Summit avenue,
and had threatened to bring suit in the
courts if the ordinance was passed, had
agreed not to make objections to the
route.
Mr. Craig thought the claim that the or
dinance was a new one and had not been
considered was not correct. 1t had been
discussed in the newspapers and by the board
of aldermen, in open meetings. which had
been attended by all the members OF the
assembly as WELL
President Arosin said his opinion was that
the object in passing the ordinance was to
have the measure hung UP in the board Of
aldermen and thus prevent the paving Of
Fourth and Third streets. which had been
ordered by the council He called attention
to the fact that the aldermen had similar
ordinance before them, and 1t had laid
there for over four monhs without any action
being taken.
no attention to what the board of aldermen
had done with the ordinance. II that body
refused to pass 1t after the assembly had
acted on 1t, tho fault would be theirs. not the
assembly's.
The roll call on the ordinance showed six
of the eight members voting for its passage
and two against. Those voting no were
Messrs, Dix and Arosin. President Arosn
announced the ordinance passed. but those
Interested took different view. for half an
hour later on motion OF Mr. Dix. the vote
considered and the measure was again
passed by vote Of Z to 1, the only negative
vote being cast by President Arosin. It was
explained that this action was taken for the
reason that, under the charter, it requires q
three-fourths vote OF the members OF each
right to Law tracks on streets not already oc-
cupied by them. When this was learned. and
as only six votes had been recorded as favor
Ing the ordinance missionary work was done
with Mr. Dix with the result that the nee
essary vote was secured.
II a